This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable network adapters in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
A network adapter (aka: Network Interface Controller (NIC) ) is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to the Internet or local area network.
Sometimes you may need to disable a network adapter if you don't use it, troubleshooting, etc...
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable network adapters.
Contents
- Option One: Enable or Disable Network Adapters in Settings
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Network Adapters in Network Connections
- Option Three: Enable or Disable Network Adapters in Device Manager
- Option Four: Enable or Disable Network Adapters using netsh command
- Option Five: Enable or Disable Network Adapters in PowerShell
1 Open Settings (Win+I).
2 Click/tap on Network & internet on the left side, and click/tap on Advanced network settings on the right side. (see screenshot below)
3 Click/tap on Enable or Disable for the network adapters you want. (see screenshot below)
4 When finished, you can close Settings if you like.
1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Network and Sharing Center icon.
2 Click/tap on the Change adapter settings (ncpa.cpl) link in Network and Sharing Center. (see screenshot below)
3 Right click on the network adapter (ex: "Wi-Fi") you want, and click/tap on Enable or Disable. (see screenshots below)
4 When finished, you can close Network Connections and Control Panel if you like.
1 Open Device Manager (devmgmt.msc).
2 Expand open Network adapters. (see screenshots below)
3 Right click on the network adapter you want, and click/tap on Enable device or Disable device. (see screenshots below)
4 If you are disabling the network adapter, click/tap on Yes to confirm when prompted. (see screenshot below)
5 When finished, you can close Device Manager if you like.
1 Open Windows Terminal (Admin), and select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.
2 Copy and paste the command below into Windows Terminal (Admin), and press Enter to see a list of all network adapters and their current status on your PC. (see screenshot below step 3)
netsh interface show interface3 Make note of the Interface Name (ex: "Wi-Fi") you want to enable or disable. (see screenshot below)
The Admin State column will let you know if the network adapter (Interface Name) is currently Enabled or Disabled.
4 Type the command below you want to use into Windows Terminal (Admin), and press Enter. (see screenshots below)
(Disable network adapter)
netsh interface set interface "Interface Name" disableOR
(Enable network adapter)
netsh interface set interface "Interface Name" enableSubstitute Interface Name in the commands above with the actual network adapter (ex: "Wi-Fi") you want from step 3.
For example: netsh interface set interface "Wi-Fi" enable
5 When finished, you can close Windows Terminal (Admin) if you like.
1 Open Windows Terminal (Admin), and select Windows PowerShell.
2 Copy and paste the command below into PowerShell, and press Enter to see a list of all network adapters and their current status on your PC. (see screenshot below step 3)
Get-NetAdapter | format-list3 Make note of the network adapter Name (ex: "Wi-Fi") you want to enable or disable. (see screenshot below)
AdminStatus will let you know if the network adapter (Name) is currently Up (enabled) or Down (disabled).
4 Type the command below you want to use into PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshots below)
(Disable network adapter)
Disable-NetAdapter -Name "Network Adapter Name" -Confirm:$falseOR
(Enable network adapter)
Enable-NetAdapter -Name "Network Adapter Name" -Confirm:$falseSubstitute Network Adapter Name in the commands above with the actual network adapter Name (ex: "Wi-Fi") you want from step 3.
For example: Enable-NetAdapter -Name "Wi-Fi" -Confirm:$false
5 When finished, you can close Windows Terminal (Admin) if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
