As an IT administrator, you may have noticed that Windows often automatically switches to a wireless connection when a wired connection is available. This can be a nuisance for many reasons, such as when you need to prioritize a wired connection for security or stability. Fortunately, it is possible to configure Windows to prefer a wired connection over a wireless one.
The first step is to open the Network Connections menu in Windows. This can be done by right-clicking the network icon in the system tray and selecting Open Network and Sharing Center. Alternatively, you can open the Control Panel and select Network and Internet. In the Network and Sharing Center, select Change adapter settings. This will open a list of all the available network connections, both wired and wireless.
Right-click on the wired connection and select Properties. In the Properties window, select the Networking tab. Under the This connection uses the following items section, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties. On the General tab, select the radio button labeled Use the following IP address. Enter the IP address and subnet mask for the wired connection in the appropriate fields, then click OK.
Next, right-click on the wireless connection and select Properties. In the Properties window, select the Networking tab. Under the This connection uses the following items section, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties. On the General tab, select the radio button labeled Obtain an IP address automatically, then click OK.
Finally, right-click on the wired connection and select Set as Default Gateway. This will ensure that Windows always uses the wired connection as its primary connection, even if a wireless connection is available.
It is also possible to configure Windows to prioritize a wired connection over a wireless one using the Group Policy Editor. In the Run box, type “gpedit.msc” and press Enter. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Network Connections. Select the setting labeled Configure Windows To Prefer Wired Over Wireless Connections, then click the Enabled radio button and click OK.
By following these steps, you can configure Windows to prefer a wired connection over a wireless one, which can be useful in many situations. This can help to ensure that sensitive data is always sent over a secure, stable connection and can also help to prevent disconnects due to interference or other issues.
