Create a new WMS connection

WMS layers can be added quite simply, as long as you know the URL to access the WMS server, you have a serviceable connection to that server, and the server understands HTTP as the data transport mechanism.

QGIS currently can act as a WMS client that understands WMS 1.1, 1.1.1 and 1.3 servers.

Servers
Loading WMS Layers
Layer Order
Server Search

Servers

To define a new WMS server in the section, select . Then enter the parameters to connect to your desired WMS server.

You can add some servers to play with by clicking the button. This will add at least three WMS servers for you to use.

Once the new WMS Server connection has been created, it will be preserved for future QGIS sessions.

Loading WMS Layers
Select the button to retrieve the capabilities of the selected server. This includes the Image encoding, Layers, Layer Styles and Projections.
While downloading data from the WMS server, the download progress is visualized in the left bottom of the WMS Plugin dialog.

The section now lists the formats that are supported by both the client and server.
Choose one depending on your image accuracy requirements.

You can select several layers at once, they will be combined at the WMS Server and transmitted to QGIS in one go.

Each WMS Layer can be presented in multiple CRSs, depending on the capability of the WMS server. To choose a CRS, select

Layer Order

On this tab you can change the order of loaded WMS layers.

Server Search

 On this tab you can search for WMS servers. It is possible to enter a search-string in the text field an hit the button.

To visualize the results, select an table entry, press the button and change back to the tab.

You only need to request the list of layers by clicking the button.