How can I switch to WIFI from Ethernet instantly??


  1. Posts : 2
    Windows 10
       #1

    How can I switch to WIFI from Ethernet instantly??


    Hi,
    I run an Ethernet cable to my modem for my Windows 10 PC. But unfortunately I have a lot of drop outs where the internet just stops (something I am taking up with my provider) and I have a pocket wifi to use as a back up.

    My PC can find the wifi and connect but the only way I can get it to connect is by pulling out the blue Ethernet cable from the actual pc. (When I say connect, I mean it is "connected" already but not in use, the small box appears for the ethernet cable rather than the wifi icon)

    I would like to know if there is a way to either run the wifi simultaneously with the Ethernet cable plugged in or if there is a way to "turn off" the Ethernet connection from my pc when it goes down, so that I dont have to keep unplugging it.

    I am not very technically minded and am worried if I go into advanced network settings etc that I might not be able to get the Ethernet working again once it is plugged in and back up and running.

    Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 226
    Many
       #2

    You can have both plugged in and still work. Each NIC is assigned a metric and the NIC with the lowest metric will be used. If in your are the wired NIC is still seen as available but in fact it's having problems the computer will still try and use it unless you unplug the cable. If your computer supports a feature called LAN/WLAN switching that may work in your case that may work or may suffer from the same problem in which the wired NIC is still detected as connected and it won't switch. If you are only having an issue with the wired connection why not just stay on wireless?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Neemobeer said:
    You can have both plugged in and still work. Each NIC is assigned a metric and the NIC with the lowest metric will be used. If in your are the wired NIC is still seen as available but in fact it's having problems the computer will still try and use it unless you unplug the cable. If your computer supports a feature called LAN/WLAN switching that may work in your case that may work or may suffer from the same problem in which the wired NIC is still detected as connected and it won't switch. If you are only having an issue with the wired connection why not just stay on wireless?
    Hi, thanks for the reply.
    Not sure what NIC is?
    What you said though is what I was hoping would happen, the computer would detect that the Ethernet connection is cut/extremely slow and auto-switch to the Wifi but this does not happen, it just stays on the Ethenet connection unless I unplug it.
    The reason I don't want to always use wireless is that I have paid quite a lot of money for a large data plan and would be ripping myself off if I continually used the pocket wifi.
    I play Poker online and having the internet cut out intermittently continually then having to run around unplugging things etc causes me frustration and costs me money.
    I also have 2 screens so when I am playing poker sometimes I will have Youtube open or general web surfing and all of this would cut into my pocket wifi allowance which is expensive and mainly for travelling etc.

    So is there no way to switch between the two or turn off the Ethernet via PC until it comes good again?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 226
    Many
       #4

    Not that I'm aware of. NIC = network interface card
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 226
    Many
       #5

    I would be more interested in solving the speed issue. If you have a modem and router, when the issue occurs try bypassing the router. If that resolves the issue then you know the solution is to replace the router. If it still occurs you can actually log into the modem and review the logs, they may have some clues to the speed issue.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #6

    Right click on your network icon on the task bar near the clock, select Open Network and Sharing Center. On the left of Network and Sharing Center, click on Change Adapter Settings. Right click on Ethernet, select Create Shortcut. Create shortcut on desktop. To turn off the Ethernet (wired) network connection, double click on that shortcut, click the disable button. When the Ethernet is disabled - to re-enable it, just double click the shortcut again.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 4,752
    Windows 11 Pro 64 Bit 22H2
       #7

    Or you can unplug the Ethernet cable when you only want to use Wireless
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 4,594
    Windows 10 Pro
       #8

    spunk said:
    Or you can unplug the Ethernet cable when you only want to use Wireless
    It`s a desktop so he doesn`t want to do that all the time. If it were a laptop, no problem.

    Putting the shortcut icon on the desktop is the fastest way. 2 clicks, done :)
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails How can I switch to WIFI from Ethernet instantly??-capture.jpg  
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 9,765
    Mac OS Catalina
       #9

    Knowing what the Wireless problem is is also of concern if they have portable devices.

    I would never use wifi on a Desktop, unless you are running it as a Hotspot or using for a lab in IT Forensics and learning how to use the tools for capturing and diagnostics of packets.
      My Computer


 

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