- On Windows 11, open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings, click the “Disable” button to disable the network adapter or click the “Enable” button to re-enable it.
- Alternatively, you can also use Device Manager and Control Panel.
- If you want to use commands, you can manage Wi-Fi and Ethernet adapters through Command Prompt and PowerShell.
Windows 11 makes enabling or disabling network adapters (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) from the Settings app easy. However, you can also use Control Panel, Device Manager, Command Prompt, and PowerShell to complete this configuration.
Although you rarely have to manage the state of the network adapter, sometimes you may need to turn it on and off to troubleshoot connection issues, or some other times, you may want to disable the ones you don’t use for better organization, security, or save energy.
Whatever the reason, you can manage your computer’s network adapter from the Settings app, Device Manager, Control Panel, Command Prompt, and even through PowerShell.
In this guide, I will explain the enable or disable network adapters on Windows 11.
- Disable network adapter on Windows 11
- Disable network adapter from Device Manager
- Disable network adapter from Control Panel
- Disable network adapter from Command Prompt
- Disable network adapter from PowerShell
Disable network adapter on Windows 11
To disable a Wi-Fi or Ethernet network adapter on Windows 11, use these steps:
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Open Settings on Windows 11.
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Click on Network & internet.
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Click the Advanced network settings tab on the right side.
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Under the “Network adapters” section, click the Disable button to turn off the Wi-Fi or Ethernet network adapter on Windows 11.
The network adapter will disable once you complete the steps, and connections won’t be allowed. If you are troubleshooting a connection problem, you can use the steps below to re-enable it.
Enable network adapter
To enable a network adapter on Windows 11, use these steps:
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Open Settings.
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Click on Network & internet.
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Click the Advanced network settings tab on the right side.
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Under the “Network adapters” section, click the Enable button to turn on the Wi-Fi or Ethernet network adapter on Windows 11.
After you complete the steps, the wireless or wired network adapter will enable it to begin accepting connections on Windows 11.
Disable network adapter from Device Manager
To enable or disable a network adapter from Device Manager on Windows 11, use these steps:
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Open Start.
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Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the app.
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Open the Network adapters category.
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(Turn off the adapter) Right-click the network adapter and select the Disable device option.
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Click the Yes button.
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(Turn on the adapter) Right-click the network adapter and select the Enable device option.
Once you complete the steps, the network interface will change its state, depending on you configuration.
Disable network adapter from Control Panel
To disable a network adapter through the Control Panel, use these steps:
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Open Start.
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Search for Control Panel and click the top result to open the app.
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Click on Network & Internet.
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Click on Network and Sharing Center.
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Click the “Change adapter settings” option from the left pane.
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Select the Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter and choose the “Disable this network device” button.
Quick tip: You can also right-click the adapter and choose the “Disable” option.
After you complete the steps, the network adapter will turn off on your computer.
Enable adapter from Control Panel
To re-enable a network adapter through the Control Panel, use these steps:
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Open Start.
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Search for Control Panel and click the top result to open the app.
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Click on Network & Internet.
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Click on Network and Sharing Center.
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Click the “Change adapter settings” option from the left pane.
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Select the Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter and choose the “Enable this network device” button.
Quick tip: You can also right-click the adapter and choose the “Enable” option.
Once you complete the steps, the network adapter will be enabled on your device.
Disable network adapter from Command Prompt
To disable a network adapter through Command Prompt, use these steps:
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Open Start.
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Search for Command Prompt (or Terminal), right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
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Type the following command to confirm the network adapter name and press Enter:
netsh interface show interface
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Type the following command to disable the Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter and press Enter:
netsh interface set interface "ADATPER-NAME" disable
In the command, make sure to change “ADATPER-NAME” to the actual name of your adapter to disable it.
After you complete the steps, the command will disable the specified Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter.
Enable adapter from Command Prompt
To turn on a network adapter through Command Prompt, use these steps:
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Open Start.
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Search for Command Prompt (or Terminal), right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
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Type the following command to confirm the network adapter name and press Enter:
netsh interface show interface
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Type the following command to disable the Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter and press Enter:
netsh interface set interface "ADATPER-NAME" enable
In the command, make sure to change “ADATPER-NAME” to the actual name of your adapter to enable it.
Once you complete the steps, the command will enable the specified network adapter.
Disable network adapter from PowerShell
To disable a network adapter through PowerShell, use these steps:
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Open Start.
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Search for PowerShell (or Terminal), right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
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Type the following command to confirm the network adapter name and press Enter:
Get-NetAdapter | format-list -Property Name
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Type the following command to disable the Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter and press Enter:
Disable-NetAdapter -Name "ADATPER-NAME" -Confirm:$false
In the command, make sure to change “ADATPER-NAME” to the actual name of your adapter to disable it.
After you complete the steps, PowerShell will completely disable the network adapter you specified.
Enable adapter from PowerShell
To enable a network adapter through PowerShell, use these steps:
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Open Start.
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Search for PowerShell (or Terminal), right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
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Type the following command to confirm the network adapter name and press Enter:
Get-NetAdapter | format-list
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Type the following command to disable the Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter and press Enter:
Enable-NetAdapter -Name "ADATPER-NAME" -Confirm:$false
In the command, make sure to change “ADATPER-NAME” to the actual name of your adapter to enable it.
Once you complete the steps, the PowerShell command will enable the network adapter on Windows 11.
What method did you use to enable or disable your network adapter? Let me know in the comments.
Update September 19, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].