How to Easily Change Network Connection Priority in Windows 11

So, you’ve got a bunch of Wi-Fi networks and a trusty Ethernet connection, but Windows 11 doesn’t quite seem sure which one to connect to first. Frustrating, isn’t it? You might prefer Windows to prioritise your Ethernet for a more stable connection but find it keeps sticking to that slow Wi-Fi instead. Getting the priority right can make a massive difference to your internet experience.

How to Adjust Network Priority in Windows 11

Alright, let’s walk through how to sort out this priority issue. It’s not complicated, but Windows tends to hide some options for reasons best known to itself. Here’s how to access those settings.

First Up: Open Your Settings

Start by opening the Windows Settings — click the Start button and select the gear icon, or just press Windows key + I. This takes you straight to the control panel. Now you’re ready to tweak your network settings.

If you prefer a quicker way, type Network & Internet into the search bar — it saves heaps of clicking.

Next: Head into Network & Internet

In Settings, click on “Network & Internet”. This is where all the network magic happens. All your Wi-Fi and Ethernet options are grouped here, ready for you to adjust.

Delving into Advanced Network Settings

Scroll down a bit and click on “Advanced network settings”. It might seem a bit old-school, but then choose “More network adapter options” to open the classic Network Connections window. Feeling fancy? Hit Windows + R and type in:

ncpa.cpl

That’ll take you straight to where you need to be.

Review Your Network Adapters

You’ll now see all your network adapters listed — like Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and maybe some virtual ones you don’t use. Take note of the ones you want to prioritise. You might even rename them to keep track, like “Home Wi-Fi” or “Office Ethernet.”

Setting Network Adapter Priority

Windows doesn’t allow you to drag network connections into order directly. Instead, you’ll need to modify what’s called the metric value for each adapter — lower number means higher priority. Here’s how:

Right-click the adapter you want to prioritise and select Properties.
Find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties again.
Then click on Advanced….
Uncheck Automatic metric, and assign a low number — like 10 — for your main connection, and higher numbers, say 20 or 30, for others.

If command line’s more your style, open PowerShell as an administrator and run these commands:

Get-NetIPInterface
Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias "Wi-Fi" -InterfaceMetric 10
Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet" -InterfaceMetric 20

Just swap the interface names based on the output of Get-NetIPInterface. Remember, lower numbers mean higher priority.

Helpful Tips for Managing Your Network

Remember, adjusting priorities isn’t a one-off task. It’s best to check your settings every now and then — especially after Windows updates, which can sometimes change things around. Keeping your network drivers up to date is also a good idea, since outdated drivers can cause connectivity issues. To do this, open Device Manager:

devmgmt.msc

Under Network adapters, right-click your devices and select Update driver. Easy as that.

Make sure your network names make sense so you don’t get confused about which is which. And whenever possible, go wired — an Ethernet connection tends to be more reliable than dodgy Wi-Fi.

Managing your network priority on Windows 11 helps ensure a smoother online experience. Connecting to the best available network first means fewer delays and better performance. The process isn’t difficult, and once sorted, it can save you from a lot of frustration.

Just remember to check in on your settings regularly — keep your drivers current, label your networks clearly, and set those metrics. With a bit of maintenance, browsing, working, or gaming online will be a lot more hassle-free. Cheers to better connections!