How to Enable or Disable Network Adapter in Windows

When your PC connects to a new network, Windows 11 automatically creates a network profile. Managing network adapters, such as resetting or renaming them, is straightforward in Windows 11, and you can manually enable or disable adapters as needed.

There are various reasons you might want to disable a network adapter. For instance, if your device has multiple adapters, disabling unused ones can help avoid conflicts. Alternatively, disabling and re-enabling a network adapter can help resolve connection issues. Below are several methods to enable or disable network adapters in Windows 11.

1. Enable/Disable Network Adapter via Settings

You can easily manage network adapters through the Settings app in Windows 11. Follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button and select Settings.
2. Navigate to Network & Internet.
3. Scroll down and select Advanced network settings.
4. Under Network adapters, find the adapter you wish to disable and click Disable.
5. To enable the adapter again, simply click Enable.

2. Enable/Disable Network Adapter via Control Panel

The Control Panel is another way to enable or disable network adapters. Here’s how:

1. Open Windows Search and type Control Panel. Select the app from the list.
2. In Control Panel, go to Network and Internet.
3. Click Network and Sharing Center.
4. On the left sidebar, select Change adapter settings.
5. Right-click the network adapter you want to disable and choose Disable.
6. To enable the adapter again, right-click it and select Enable.

3. Enable/Disable Network Adapter via Device Manager

The Device Manager is another useful tool for managing network adapters. Follow these steps:

1. Open Windows Search and type Device Manager. Select it from the results.
2. In Device Manager, expand the Network adapters section.
3. Right-click on the adapter you want to disable and select Disable device.
4. To enable it again, right-click the adapter and choose Enable device.

4. Enable/Disable Network Adapter via Command Prompt

You can also manage network adapters using Command Prompt. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Windows Search and type Command Prompt. Right-click it and choose Run as administrator.
2. Run the following command to view a list of network adapters:

netsh interface show interface

3. Note the interface name of the network adapter you want to disable.
4. To disable the adapter, use this command (replace “Interface Name” with the actual name):

netsh interface set interface “Interface Name” disable

5. To enable the adapter again, run this command:

netsh interface set interface “Interface Name” enable

5. Enable/Disable Network Adapter via PowerShell

You can also use PowerShell to manage network adapters. Here’s how:

1. Open Windows Search and type PowerShell. Right-click on it and select Run as administrator.
2. In PowerShell, run the following command to list network adapters:

Get-NetAdapter | format-table

3. Note the Name of the network adapter you want to manage.
4. If the adapter is enabled, its Status will show as ‘Up’. If it’s disabled, the status will be ‘Down’.
5. To disable the adapter, use this command (replace “Network Adapter Name” with the actual name):

Disable-NetAdapter -Name “Network Adapter Name” -Confirm:$false

6. To enable it again, use this command:

Enable-NetAdapter -Name “Network Adapter Name” -Confirm:$false

Once you’ve enabled or disabled the network adapter, you can close the PowerShell window.

Using these methods, you can easily manage your network adapters in Windows 11 to ensure proper network functionality. Learn More