With Microsoft’s incredibly long list of features embedded in the Windows operating system, it’s understandable if you overlook a few of them. One such feature is the ability to turn your PC into a Wi-Fi hotspot and share your internet connection with nearby users, similar to how we do with our mobile devices. How to Disable WiFi Direct in Windows 10?
Hosted Network is a feature that is automatically installed on all Wi-Fi-enabled desktops and laptops. It was first introduced in Windows 7, but it is now included in Windows 10 as part of the Netsh command-line utility tool.
The OS’s command-line tool creates a virtual wireless WiFi Direct adapter that allows the two devices to share an internet connection or transfer files quickly. While useful, Hosted Network is rarely used and is merely an inconvenience for most users because it can disrupt your network connection. It can also cause confusion because it appears in applications and configuration settings alongside other adapters.
It improves network performance once it is disabled. Knowing how to disable Microsoft WiFi Direct Virtual Adapter in Windows 10 computers can be very useful if you rarely or never use your device as a Wi-Fi hotspot. So, keep reading!
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How to Disable Microsoft WiFi Direct Virtual Adapter in Windows 10 PC
Device manager or an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell window are two well-known and simple ways to disable Microsoft WiFi Direct Virtual Adapter in Windows 10. If you want to permanently remove the Wi-Fi Direct adapters rather than just temporarily disable them, you’ll need to use the Windows Registry Editor.
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Disable WiFi Direct Through Device Manager
Long-time Windows users may be familiar with the built-in Device Manager application, which allows you to view and control all of the hardware devices connected to your computer, both internal and external. The following actions are possible with Device Manager:
- update device drivers.
- uninstall device drivers.
- enable or disable a hardware driver.
- check device properties and details.
To disable WiFi Direct in Windows 10 using Device Manager, follow these steps:
- To open the Power User Menu, press Windows + X keys at the same time and select Device Manager, as shown.
- Double-click the Network adapters label in the Device Manager once it has launched.
- From the pop-up menu, right-click on Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter and select Disable device. If your system has more than one Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter, disable all of them at the same time.
Note: If you do not find the Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter listed here, click on View > Show hidden devices, as illustrated below. Then, follow step 3.
- After you’ve disabled all of the adapters, go to Action > Scan for Hardware Changes, as shown below.
Note: To re-enable the Wi-Fi direct device in the future, simply navigate to the appropriate driver, right-click on it, and select Enable device.
Disable WiFi Direct Through CMD/ PowerShell
You can also use an elevated PowerShell or Command Prompt window to disable Windows 10 WiFi Direct. Regardless of the application, the commands are the same. Simply follow the steps below:
- Go to Start and search for command prompt in the Windows search bar.
- Finally, choose Run as administrator to start the Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
- To turn off the active hosted network, type the following command and press Enter:
netsh wlan stop hostednetwork
- Disable WiFi Direct Virtual Adapter by executing the given command:
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=disallow
Note: Run the following commands one after the other to re-enable the adapter and restart a hosted network in the future:
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow netsh wlan start hostednetwork
Delete WiFi Direct Through Registry Editor
According to reports, the above methods only temporarily disable the Wi-Fi Direct Adapters, and that restarting the computer will bring them back to life. Users must reset the existing settings in the Windows registry to permanently delete Wi-Fi Direct Adapters and prevent new adapters from being created on computer startup.
Note: Be cautious when changing registry values, as any mistake can result in additional problems.
- Launch the Run command box by pressing Windows + R keys simultaneously.
- Here, type regedit and click on OK to launch the Registry Editor.
- Type the following path in the navigation bar and hit Enter.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Wlansvc\Parameters\HostedNetworkSettings
- In the right-pane, right-click on HostedNetworkSettings and select Delete, as shown.
- Confirm pop-up that appears to delete the file and Restart your PC.
Note: You can execute netsh wlan show hostednetwork command in CMD to check if the hosted network settings were indeed deleted. Settings should be labeled Not configured as shown highlighted.
We hope you were able to figure out how to disable WiFi Direct in Windows 10. Please let us know which method worked best for you. In the comments section below, please share your questions and suggestions.
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