How to Enable or Disable Soft Disconnect Computer from a Network in Windows 10


Starting with Windows 10 build 17763.404, Microsoft added a new Group Policy setting called Enable Windows to soft-disconnect a computer from a network. This determines how Windows will disconnect a computer from a network when it determines that the computer should no longer be connected to the network.

If this policy setting is enabled or not configured, Windows will soft-disconnect a computer from a network when it determines that the computer should no longer be connected to a network.

If this policy setting is disabled, Windows will disconnect a computer from a network immediately when it determines that the computer should no longer be connected to a network.

When soft disconnect is enabled:

  • When Windows decides that the computer should no longer be connected to a network, it waits for traffic to settle on that network. The existing TCP session will continue uninterrupted.
  • Windows then checks the traffic level on the network periodically. If the traffic level is above a certain threshold, no further action is taken. The computer stays connected to the network and continues to use it. For example, if the network connection is currently being used to download files from the Internet, the files will continue to be downloaded using that network connection.
  • When the network traffic drops below this threshold, the computer will be disconnected from the network. Apps that keep a network connection active even when they’re not actively using it (for example, email apps) might lose their connection. If this happens, these apps should re-establish their connection over a different network.

This policy setting depends on other group policy settings. For example, if the Minimize the number of simultaneous connections to the Internet or a Windows Domain policy is set to Not Configured (default), Disabled, or set to 0 while Enabled, Windows will not disconnect from any networks.


See also: Understanding and configuring Windows Connection Manager | Microsoft Hardware Dev Center

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Windows 10 to soft-disconnect a computer from a network.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable Windows to soft-disconnect a computer from a network.



Contents

  • Option One: Enable or Disable Windows to Soft Disconnect a Computer from a Network in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Windows to Soft Disconnect a Computer from a Network using a REG file






OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Windows to Soft Disconnect a Computer from a Network in Local Group Policy Editor


The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two.


1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Network\Windows Connection Manager

Enable or Disable Soft Disconnect Computer from Network in Windows 10-soft_disconnect_computer_from_network-1.png

3 In the right pane of Windows Connection Manager in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Enable Windows to soft-disconnect a computer from a network policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


5 To Enable Windows to Soft Disconnect a Computer from a Network

A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Not Configured is the default setting.


6 To Disable Windows to Soft Disconnect a Computer from a Network

A) Select (dot) Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Enable or Disable Soft Disconnect Computer from Network in Windows 10-soft_disconnect_computer_from_network-2.png

7 Close the Local Group Policy Editor.






OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable Windows to Soft Disconnect a Computer from a Network using a REG file


The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry keys below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WcmSvc\GroupPolicy

fSoftDisconnectConnections DWORD

(delete) = Not Configured (same as enabled)
0 = Disable
1 = Enable


1 Do step 2 (enable), step 3 (disable), or step 4 (default) below for what you would like to do.


2 To Enable Windows to Soft Disconnect a Computer from a Network

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Enable_soft-disconnect_computer_from_network.reg

Download


3 To Disable Windows to Soft Disconnect a Computer from a Network

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Disable_soft-disconnect_computer_from_network.reg

Download


4 Default Not Configured Windows to Soft Disconnect a Computer from a Network

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Default_Not_Configured_soft-disconnect_computer_from_network.reg

Download

5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

8 You could now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


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