Force Windows to Use Wired Connection over Wireless

Summary: Instructions to manually set your network connection in Windows.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Symptoms

By default, Windows uses the connection with the lowest assigned metric value. To force Windows to use a specific network connection, assign a metric value to each connection, giving the lowest value to the wanted connection.

Cause

Not applicable

Resolution

Windows Operating System

  • Windows 7
  • Windows 8/8.1
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 11
  1. Open the Network Connections folder:
    • For Windows 7, 8/8.1 and 10 click Start, choose Run, type ncpa.cpl and then press Enter.
    • For Windows 11 click Start, choose Search ncpa.cpl
  2. Right-click the wanted connection.
  3. Click Properties and then click Internet Protocol Version 4.
  4. Click Properties and then click Advanced.
  5. Clear "Automatic metric."
  6. Enter a value of 1 for the Ethernet adapter and 1000 for the Wireless adapter.
  7. Repeat this procedure for the other connection.
  8. Reboot the computer then test after applying this to both the Ethernet and Wireless adapters.

To see the current metrics run netsh int ip show config in command prompt and you see the value as it is set under interfaceMetric

Note: You might still see the Wireless icon still connected, but you can check your routing table. In the command prompt type "route print" then, press the enter key. Look for the X.X.X.X route with the lowest metric, and the interface column tells you the IP address of the interface it is using.

Affected Products

Operating Systems
Article Properties
Article Number: 000149039
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 13 May 2025
Version:  5
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