Have you ever wondered why your Windows computer prioritizes a wired connection even though you have a perfectly available Wi-Fi network? It's a more common situation than it seems and can be annoying, especially if you prefer the flexibility of a wireless network or if your Ethernet cable speed isn't as good as you'd expect. Control the priority of network adapters It allows you to decide which connection to give preference to based on your needs, improving the user experience and adapting the operation of the equipment to your actual connectivity environment.
In this complete article you will discover How to change the priority of network adapters in Windows in different ways and in all recent versions of the system. We will explain step by step the graphical and command-based methods, the advantages and possible disadvantages, and we will give you some Tricks to get more out of your networks, whether you're using Wi-Fi, Ethernet, mobile connections, or even multiple networks at the same time. Take control of your Internet connection and forget about fighting every time you unplug the cable!
Why does Windows prioritize some networks over others?
Default, Windows prioritizes wired connection over Wi-Fi. It makes sense: most of the time, an Ethernet connection offers higher speed, stability and lower latencyHowever, this isn't always the case; there are situations where you might prefer Wi-Fi, such as when your cable doesn't support Gigabit speeds, you have a laptop and move around a lot, or wireless simply works better in your environment.
The operating system manages network routes using a interface metricThe lower this value is, the higher the priority of that adapter to route traffic. So, if you have both a cable and Wi-Fi connected, Windows automatically decides which route to send information through, usually choosing the one with the lowest metric (highest priority).
Advantages and disadvantages of changing network priority
Changing the priority order of network adapters can have efectos positivos very clear:
- Prevent automatic network changes that interrupt your downloads, video calls or games.
- Choosing the optimal connection for each situation: prioritize the 5GHz Wi-Fi band, force the use of mobile data, or give preference to a specific adapter.
- More control over security, since you can limit which networks sensitive traffic goes through.
- Performance optimization and fewer problems when moving equipment portable from one room to another without disconnecting cables.
Despite everything, there are also potential drawbacks to consider:
- Setup can be complex for novice users, especially when managing multiple saved interfaces or networks.
- Human errors are possible., such as prioritizing the wrong network and losing speed or connectivity.
- Not all programs or devices always respect these priorities.. Some apps They can connect wherever they want, ignoring our settings.
- Undoing changes can be confusing if you have not written down the original values or have touched several options.
- Priorities may change if you move between different networks, access points, or use mobile connections..
- Prioritizing one network may affect other connected devices., distributing bandwidth differently and affecting the experience of other users.
How to change the priority of network adapters in Windows?
There are different ways of change the priority of your network adapters, both from the graphical interface and through advanced commands. Below, we'll detail both procedures so you can choose the one that best suits your experience level and the version of Windows you're using.
Graphical method from Settings (Windows 10 and 11)
1. Open the Configuring Windows from the Start menu (Windows + I).
2. Access the section Network and Internet and then select State. From there click on Change adapter optionsA window will open with all the network adapters on your computer.
3. Right-click on the adapter you want to prioritize (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, etc.) and select Properties.
4. Choose Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP / IPv4) and press the button Properties.
5. Within the IP and DNS configuration window, click on Advanced (Lower right corner).
6. You will see the option Automatic metrics. Uncheck it and assign a numerical value. The lower the number, the higher the priority.To prioritize a network, assign a low value, such as 2 or 5; for lower priority, assign higher numbers.
7. Accept the changes and close all windows. From now on, Windows will first attempt to connect to the network with the lowest metric, whenever available.
Classic Method (Control Panel and Advanced Settings)
In older versions of Windows (such as Windows 8.1), it was possible to change the priority from the advanced network connection settings:
1. Open the Center network and sharing and go to Change adapter settings.
2. Press the key Alt To display the top menu, go to Advanced and select Advanced settings…
3. In the popup window, Move the network adapters up or down in order of preference. Click OK to save.
Eye: In Windows 10 and above, changes made using this classic graphical method may not be saved correctly. It's best to use the methods above or use PowerShell.
Change network priority using PowerShell (all versions)
If you are comfortable with the console or need more control, PowerShell allows you to quickly change the priority of any network adapter. You can check the current settings in How to prioritize a network connection in Windows 11 for more details.
1. Open Windows PowerShell as administrator (right click on the icon and select Run as administrator).
2. Run this command to view the network adapters and their current metrics:
Get-NetIPInterface
Look at the columns InterfaceIndex o InterfaceAlias y InterfaceMetricThe lowest value has the highest priority. For example, you might see "Wi-Fi" with a metric of 25 and "Ethernet" with 20.
3. To change the metric of an interface:
Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceIndex NUMBER -InterfaceMetric METRIC
Or also, using the alias:
Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias "Wi-Fi" -AddressFamily IPv4 -InterfaceMetric 5
4. If you want to return to automatic metrics:
Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceIndex NUMBER -AutomaticMetric enabled
5. You can check the changes at any time with Get-NetIPInterfaceIf you've done everything right, the network you want to prioritize will have the lowest value.
Managing the priority of saved Wi-Fi networks
In addition to controlling the preference of physical adapters, you can also Change the priority order of wireless networks saved on your computer. This way, you decide which networks your device will connect to first (for example, prioritizing your home network over your work network or other common networks):
From DCM:
1. Open the command console as administrator (cmd).
2. Displays Wi-Fi network profiles:
netsh wlan show profiles
3. Change the priority of a network:
netsh wlan set profileorder name="network_name" interface="Wi-Fi" priority=1
The network with priority 1 will be the first one Windows attempts to connect to.
From the Windows interface:
1. Access Configuration → Network and Internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networks.
2. From here you can manage the list of networks, delete them, or decide which ones you want the device to automatically connect to.
Configuring network bridges, packet priority, and simultaneous use of adapters
In some advanced scenarios, you may want to use Wi-Fi and Ethernet at the same time, perhaps for different networking tasks or to create a bridge. For more detailed options, you can check out .
- press Windows + R, writes control and enter the Control Panel.
- Go to Network and Internet → Center network and sharing → Change adapter settings.
- Select both adapters (Ctrl + click), right click and choose Bridge connectionThis allows both to function as a single logical connection, although this is typically not necessary for 99% of home users.
There is also the option of Packet priority in the advanced properties of some adapters, which normally do not need to be modified unless you have very specific network needs.
Factors to consider before changing network priorities
Before changing metrics and priorities, it's a good idea to consider a few key aspects:
- Bandwidth and speed of each interfaceIf your Ethernet cable doesn't go over 100 Mbps but your Wi-Fi reaches 300 Mbps, you may need to prioritize one or the other depending on your usage.
- Number of connected devices: Prioritizing an adapter can improve stability or reduce congestion, depending on your scenario.
- Security: Selecting the correct interface can facilitate better control of access and outgoing traffic.
- Specific needs: Use mobile data only for certain programs or limit the secondary network.
Remember: a lower metric value means higher priorityIf multiple interfaces have the same metric, Windows will select based on other parameters, usually the fastest and most stable connection.
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