How to Prioritize Wi-Fi Over Ethernet on Your Computer: A Complete Guide

Have you ever encountered a situation where your computer stubbornly clings to a wired connection (Ethernet), Although Wi-Fi network More stable or faster? Or is the laptop ignoring the high-speed cable, preferring a weak wireless signal? In 90% of cases, this isn't a bug, but a feature. Windows, where network priority is determined automatically using pre-programmed algorithms. Fortunately, it can be reconfigured manually—and today we'll cover all the working methods, from standard tools to hidden registry tweaks.

The problem is relevant not only for gamers for whom minimal latency is critical (ping), but also for office users working with cloud services. For example, if your Ethernet connected to a corporate network with strict restrictions, and Wi-Fi If it distributes internet without blocking, it's logical to choose the latter. Or vice versa: when the router is in another room, and the cable provides stable 1 GbpsIn this article, you will find solutions for both situations, as well as learn how to check the current priority and why sometimes Windows ignores your settings.

⚠️ AttentionChanging network settings through the registry or command line may result in connection loss. If you are unsure about what you are doing, create a system restore point before making any changes (Win + R → rstrui).

1. How to check the current network priority in Windows

Before changing anything, you need to understand which network is currently used by default. Windows determines priority based on interface metrics — a numeric value, where a lower number indicates a higher priority. This can be viewed in several ways:

The easiest method is through Control Panel:

1. Click Win + R, enter ncpa.cpl and press Enter.
2. A window will open Network connectionsPlease note the icons: an active connection will not be grayed out.
3. Click Altto open the menu, then select More → Advanced Options....

At the top of the window, you'll see a list of connections in order of priority. But there's a catch: this list only shows active network, but not the metric. For precise data, use the command line:

route print

Find the block in the results Active routes and pay attention to the column MetricsThe lower the number, the higher the priority. For example, if Ethernet metrics 10, and at Wi-Fi — 25, then the wired connection will be used whenever available.

2. Changing the priority via adapter settings (the easiest way)

If you need to temporarily switch between networks without digging into settings, use the built-in tool Windows:

1. Open Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network Connections (or use the command ncpa.cpl).
2. Click Alt → Advanced → Advanced Options.
3. On the list Connections select the desired network (for example, Wi-Fi) and click the green arrow Upto move it up the list.
4. Click OK and restart your computer.

⚠️ AttentionThis method only works until the next automatic network configuration change (for example, after a sleep or router reboot). For permanent results, use the methods below.

Also pay attention to the condition of the adapters:

• 🔌 Ethernet is physically disconnected? Check the cable and port on the router.
• 📶 Wi-Fi won't connect? The adapter driver may be outdated (update it via device Manager).
• ⚡ Both networks are active, but traffic only goes through one.? This is fine - Windows uses only one connection by default.

Check that both networks (Wi-Fi and Ethernet) are connected and working|

Take a screenshot of your current routing settings (route print command)|

Update your network adapter drivers|

Create a system restore point-->

3. Manually setting interface metrics

A metric is a key parameter that Windows is used to select a route. By default, it is calculated automatically based on connection speed, but it can be set manually. Here's how:

1. Open Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center.
2. Click on the active connection (for example, Ethernet) and select Properties.
3. Click Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → Properties → Additionally.
4. Uncheck the box Automatic metric assignment and set the value:
   • For Wi-Fi: 5 (the smaller, the higher the priority).
   • For Ethernet: 15 (or any number greater than Wi-Fi).

After reboot, check the priority with the command route printIf the metrics haven't changed, try an alternative method via PowerShell:

Get-NetAdapter | Where-Object {$_.Status -eq 'Up'} | Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceMetric 10

Replace 10 to the desired value (for example, 5 For Wi-Fi). To apply changes to a specific adapter, specify its name:

Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias "Wi-Fi" -InterfaceMetric 5

4. Disabling automatic priority determination

If Windows stubbornly resets your settings, the mechanism is to blame Automatic Metric, which overrides metrics whenever the network changes. To disable it:

1. Open Registry Editor (Win + R → regedit).
2. Follow the path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\{GUID}

   Where {GUID} — the unique identifier of your network adapter (you can find it in the thread Interfaces by description, for example, "Wi-Fi" or "Ethernet").

3. Create a new parameter DWORD (32-bit) with a name EnableDHCPMediaSense and meaning 0.
4. Restart your computer.

After that Windows will stop automatically changing metrics when connecting/disconnecting a cable or changing signal strength Wi-Fi. However, be careful:

⚠️ Attention: Disconnection DHCP Media Sense may cause connection problems with some corporate networks where 802.1X authentication (for example, in offices or universities). In this case, return the value 1.

An alternative way is to disable the service Network Location Awareness:

1. Click Win + R, enter services.msc.
2. Find a service Network List Service.
3. Right click → Properties → Startup Type: Manual.

This will not disable automatic metrics completely, but will reduce the frequency of its recalculation.

5. Priority via group policies (for Windows Pro/Enterprise)

If you have Windows 10/11 Pro or Enterprise, can be used Local Group Policy Editor To force priority. This method is more reliable than the registry, as it doesn't reset after updates:

1. Click Win + R, enter gpedit.msc.
2. Follow the path: Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Network → QoS Packet Scheduler
3. Find a policy Limit reserved bandwidth and install it in Included.
4. In the field Bandwidth Limitation (%) enter 0.
5. Apply the changes and restart your PC.

This indirectly affects the priority, since QoS (Quality of Service) begins distributing traffic according to specified rules. For direct metric management:

1. In the same editor, go to: Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Network → TCP/IP Settings
2. Find a policy Set up automatic metric assignment for new connections.
3. Install it in Disabled.

Important: Group policies take precedence over registry settings. If you previously changed metrics manually, they may be reset after applying the policies.

6. Software solutions: network management utilities

If manual methods seem complicated, use specialized software. They not only change the priority but also offer additional features, such as traffic monitoring, speed testing, and automatic switching between networks.

For example, in NetSetMan enough:

1. Create a new profile (Profile → New).
2. In the section Network Settings select the desired adapter (Wi-Fi) and check the box Set as default.
3. Save the profile and activate it.

Especially useful for gamers ForceBindIP — it allows you to force the game to run through the selected adapter, ignoring system settings. For example, if you want Steam And CS2 always used Wi-Fi, and the rest of the traffic went through Ethernet.

7. Problems and solutions: why settings are not applied

Even after all the manipulations Windows may ignore your settings. Here are the most common causes and how to fix them:

• 🔄 Reset network settings: If the metrics are reset after each update, perform a reset:

  netsh int ip reset
  netsh winsock reset

  Then restart your PC and set the priority again.

• 🛡️ Antivirus or firewall is blocking changes: Temporarily disable protection (eg. Kaspersky, Avast, Windows Defender) and repeat the setup.
• 🔌 The adapter driver is out of date.: Update driver via device Manager or from the manufacturer's website (for example, for Intel Wi-Fi 6 or Realtek PCIe GbE).
• ⚙️ Conflict with VPN or proxy: Disable all tunnel connections (OpenVPN, WireGuard) and check the priority again.

If the problem persists, check the event log Windows:

1. Click Win + X → Computer Management → Event Viewer → Windows Logs → System.
2. Filter events by source Tcpip or Netwtw04 (for Wi-Fi).

Typical mistakes:

• Event ID 1001 — IP address conflict (check your router settings).
• Event ID 4201 — the adapter driver is not responding (reinstall it).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about network priority

Get-NetTCPConnection -State Established | Select-Object LocalAddress, LocalPort, RemoteAddress, RemotePort, OwningProcess | Where-Object {$_.OwningProcess -eq (Get-Process -Name "game.exe").Id}