How to Enable or Disable a Network Adapter (NIC) in Windows
InformationA network interface controller (NIC, also known as a network interface card, network adapter, LAN adapter, and by similar terms) is a hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network.
You need a network adapter to connect a computer to a network. A network adapter can be used over a wired or wireless network. You can disconnect your computer from a network by disabling your network adapter, and you can sometimes solve connection problems by disabling and then re-enabling the adapter.
This tutorial will show you different ways on how to enable or disable a network adapter (NIC) on your PC in Windows.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.
You need a network adapter to connect a computer to a network. A network adapter can be used over a wired or wireless network. You can disconnect your computer from a network by disabling your network adapter, and you can sometimes solve connection problems by disabling and then re-enabling the adapter.
This tutorial will show you different ways on how to enable or disable a network adapter (NIC) on your PC in Windows.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.
NoteYour computer may have more than one network adapter. Each adapter is listed next to the name of the network connection that uses it. Make sure that you select the correct adapter.
OPTION ONE
To Enable or Disable a Network Adapter in Network Connections
1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Network and Sharing Center icon.
2. Click/tap on Change adapter settings on the left side. (see screenshot below)
3. Do step 4 or 5 below for what you would like to do.
4. To Enable a Network Adapter
A) Click/tap on the network adapter (ex: Ethernet 2), and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
OR
B) Select the network adapter (ex: Ethernet 2), click/tap on Enable this network device in the toolbar, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
OR
C) Right click or press and hold on the network adapter (ex: Ethernet 2), click/tap on Enable, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
5. To Disable a Network Adapter
A) Select the network adapter (ex: Ethernet 2), click/tap on Disable this network device in the toolbar, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
OR
B) Right click or press and hold on the network adapter (ex: Ethernet 2), click/tap on Disable, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
6. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.
7. When finished, you can close Network Connections and Network and Sharing Center if you like.
OPTION TWO
To Enable or Disable a Network Adapter in Device Manager
1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Device Manager icon.
2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.
3. Close the Control Panel, expand open Network adapters in Device Manager, and do step 4 or 5 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshots below step 4 and 5)
4. To Enable a Network Adapter
A) Select a network adapter (ex: Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet #2), click/tap on the Enable icon
on the toolbar, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)OR
B) Right click or press and hold on a network adapter (ex: Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet #2), click/tap on Enable, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
5. To Disable a Network Adapter
A) Select a network adapter (ex: Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet #2), click/tap on the Disable icon
on the toolbar, and go to step 5C below. (see screenshot below)OR
B) Right click or press and hold on a network adapter (ex: Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet #2), click/tap on Disable, and go to step 5C below. (see screenshot below)
C) Click/tap on Yes, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
6. When finished, you can close Device Manager if you like.
OPTION THREE
To Enable or Disable Network Adapter using "netsh" Command
1. Open an elevated command prompt.
2. In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below, and press Enter. This will show you all network adapter names on your PC. (see screenshot below)
netsh interface show interface
3. Do step 4 or 5 below for what you would like to do.
4. To Enable a Network Adapter
A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below, press Enter, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
NoteSubstitute network adapter name in the command below with the actual adapter name (ex: Ethernet 2) within quotes from step 2 above that you want to enable.
netsh interface set interface "network adapter name" admin=enable
For example: netsh interface set interface "Ethernet 2" admin=enable
5. To Disable a Network Adapter
A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below, press Enter, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
NoteSubstitute network adapter name in the command below with the actual adapter name (ex: Ethernet 2) within quotes from step 2 above that you want to disable.
netsh interface set interface "network adapter name" admin=disable
For example: netsh interface set interface "Ethernet 2" admin=disable
6. When finished, you can close the elevated command prompt if you like.
OPTION FOUR
To Enable or Disable Network Adapter using "wmic" Command
1. Open an elevated command prompt.
2. In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below, and press Enter. This will show you a list of all network connections on your PC with an index number for each. (see screenshot below)
wmic nic get name, index
3. Do step 4 or 5 below for what you would like to do.
4. To Enable a Network Adapter
A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below, press Enter, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
NoteSubstitute index-number in the command below with the actual index number (ex: 2) of the network connection (ex: Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet) from step 2 above that you want to enable.
wmic path win32_networkadapter where index=index-number call enable
For example: wmic path win32_networkadapter where index=2 call enable
5. To Disable a Network Adapter
A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below, press Enter, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
NoteSubstitute index-number in the command below with the actual index number (ex: 2) of the network connection (ex: Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet) from step 2 above that you want to disable.
wmic path win32_networkadapter where index=index-number call disable
For example: wmic path win32_networkadapter where index=2 call disable
6. When finished, you can close the elevated command prompt if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Turn On or Off Wi-Fi in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Connect To or Disconnect from a Wireless Network in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Create a "Network Connections" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Windows 8
- How to Create a "Networks" (Connect To) Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Rename a Network Connection in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Change the Network Connection Priority in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
- How to Change Connection Priority of Wireless Networks in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Bind Programs to Different Network Adapters in Windows 8 and 8.1
Attachments
Last edited: