Method and apparatus for automatically detecting and connecting to Wi-Fi networks

An apparatus and methods are provided for automatically detecting and connecting to a Wi-Fi network. In these methods, a wireless device listens for beacons that are sent using a low-power wireless protocol. Once the wireless device detects a first beacon at a first location, the wireless device extracts a first beacon region identifier from the beacon and correlates the first beacon region identifier with a first Wi-Fi network that is located at the first location. Next, the wireless device retrieves a first set of credentials for connecting to the first Wi-Fi network. Once the first set of credentials is retrieved, the wireless device uses the first set of credentials to connect to the first Wi-Fi network.