How to enable or disable Wi-Fi in Windows 11

Martin Brinkmann
Dec 18, 2024
Windows 11 Help
|
10

Wi-Fi is next to Ethernet one of the main ways of connecting a device to the Internet. A PC needs a wireless adapter or chip to support Wi-Fi. The majority of mobile devices, for example laptops and tablets, support wireless connectivity.

This guide provides step-by-step instructions on disabling or enabling wireless Internet connectivity on Windows 11 PCs. It also lists examples when this may be useful.

The default: Wi-Fi is enabled by default on Windows 11. This means that the device is actively looking for wireless access points to connect to. Once a connection has been established, Windows will try to connect to the access point automatically.

Reasons for wanting to turn Wi-Fi off

  • The device connects to the Internet via an Ethernet cable.
  • You want to or have to block Internet connectivity for a time or permanently.
  • Simplify network management.

Enable or disable Wi-Fi in the Quick Settings

Step 1: Click on the Wi-Fi icon displayed in the System Tray area on the Windows 11 taskbar. You find it on the right side of the taskbar next to volume.

Tip: you can also press the keys Windows and A together to display the Quick Settings.

Step 2: Click on the Wi-Fi symbol displayed in the Quick Settings interface. This toggles Wi-Fi on the device. A blue background indicates that Wi-Fi is enabled, a white background that it is turned off.

Optional: You may also use the interface to connect to a different wireless access point. For this, it is necessary to click on the right-arrow icon in the Quick Settings next to the wireless icon.

Note that I removed the names of the access points. They are displayed next to the strength indicator in the interface. There is also a Wi-Fi toggle on the page to enable or disable Wi-Fi.

Manage Wi-Fi in the Windows 11 Settings

The second option that you have to control wireless connectivity on Windows 11 devices is via the Settings app.

Step 1: Select Start and then Settings to launch the app. You may also press the keyboard shortcut Windows-I instead to launch it.

Step 2: Navigate to Network & Internet. There you find the toggle to turn Wi-Fi on or off. A click disables or enables the wireless connection.

Optional: Click on the arrow icon next to the Wi-Fi icon for additional management options. Here you get another option to disable or enable Wi-fi connectivity. When you disable Wi-Fi here, you get a new menu that allows you to restore Wi-Fi connectivity automatically after 1 hour, 4 hours, or 1 day.

Other options include:

  • Opening the properties of the active wireless connection.
  • Showing all available wireless networks, with options to connect to one of them.
  • Manage all known networks. This gives you options to remove networks.
  • Display the hardware properties of the wireless adapter.
  • Enable random hardware address for improved privacy.

Other options to disable or enable Wi-Fi

Windows 11 users have several other options to control wireless connectivity. These may include:

  • Using the Device Manager to disable the wireless network adapter (which in turn disables all Wi-Fi functionality).
  • Using the classic Control Panel to disable Wi-Fi.
  • Disabling Wi-Fi from the command prompt using the netsh command.
  • Using a physical switch or key to toggle Wi-Fi.

Now it is your turn. Have another tip or reason for disabling Wi-Fi on your computers? Feel free to share it with everyone else in the comments down below.

Summary
Article Name
How to enable or disable Wi-Fi in Windows 11
Description
Find out how to turn off wireless connectivity on Windows 11 devices, or to enable Wi-fi again.
Author
Publisher
Ghacks Technology News
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Comments

  1. Pierre said on December 20, 2024 at 4:07 pm
    Reply

    C’est vrai qu’on est un peu limités lol
    Sérieusement, merci pour l’article !

  2. Anonymous said on December 18, 2024 at 10:22 pm
    Reply

    low quality article … what’s next? how can I pair a bluetooth device? come on!

    1. Seeprime said on December 23, 2024 at 12:53 am
      Reply

      You can cancel your subscription if you’re offended.

  3. Robert said on December 18, 2024 at 7:33 pm
    Reply

    The WIFI can be disabled in the CMOS settings as well. Although it’s not in Windows, it is preferable if a person dual boots from a computer that is wired to the LAN.

  4. Keith S. said on December 18, 2024 at 7:29 pm
    Reply

    You can also do it using netsh — useful if you want to write a macro or have something running in the background that automatically disables it when, say, you plug in an Ethernet cable. To do so, go to Settings > Network & Internet, or use the command “ipconfig” on the command line to find out the name of the wifi adapter (e.g.: “Wi-Fi”). Then type this command to disable wifi:

    netsh interface set interface “Wi-Fi” disable

    You can also re-enable with:

    netsh interface set interface “Wi-Fi” enable

  5. VioletMoon said on December 18, 2024 at 3:33 pm
    Reply

    When I was setting up a printer, I discovered it was easier to connect the printer to the network via Wi-Fi rather than using an Ethernet cable to the modem/router. It was also easier to connect the other computers in the home to the printer using Wi-Fi. Meaning–the computers running Windows 11 have both Wi-Fi and Ethernet. Windows 10 is already on Wi-Fi. Linux is using either a USB Wi-Fi dongle or a PowerLIne adapter.

  6. Bobo said on December 18, 2024 at 3:24 pm
    Reply

    Fantastic. For my next lesson I would like to know how to turn off the computer. I am 173 years old and I always read this blog for solutions to these complicated issues. Also: I always put my sandwiches on the mousey thingy carpet, is that ok?

    1. WinShit11 said on December 18, 2024 at 9:07 pm
      Reply

      LOL

    2. Herman Cost said on December 18, 2024 at 5:58 pm
      Reply

      Perhaps the hard core sarcasm was a bit much, Bobo, but I’ll admit that my first thought when I read the Martin’s article was that it was certainly on the elementary side for this site. I mean if you had trouble figuring out how to turn on wifi: 1) you probably wouldn’t be reading gHacks; and 2) you might have trouble using the internet at all.

  7. Anonymous said on December 18, 2024 at 1:02 pm
    Reply

    very informative, thank you sir

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