Wireless Network Connect Automatically - Start or Stop

How to Start or Stop Connect Automatically to Wireless Network in Windows 8​

   Information

If you have a laptop or a PC with a wireless network adapter, you can see a list of available wireless networks in your area, and then connect to one of those networks. The wireless networks will only appear if your PC has a wireless network adapter installed, the adapter is turned on, and the wireless access point is in range.

A wireless (Wi-Fi) network profile contains the SSID (network name), password key, and security information to be able to connect to a wireless network.

You can either connect to a wireless network manually for just that session, or have Windows always automatically connect to the wireless network when it's within range.

This tutorial will show you how to start or stop automatically connecting to a wireless network profile in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

Preparation

To See Connection Mode of Wireless Network Profile

   Note

This will let you see if the connection mode of a wireless network profile on your PC is set to connect automatically or connect manually to.

Afterwards, you could do OPTION ONE or OPTION TWO below to turn on or off connect automatically to a wireless network.

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1. Open a command prompt.​

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2. In the command prompt, copy and paste the command below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)​

NOTE: This will show all wireless profiles on each interface on your PC.​

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netsh wlan show profiles​

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2. In the command prompt, type the command below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)​

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netsh wlan show profile "ProfileName"​

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   Note

Substitute ProfileName in the command above with the actual name of your wireless network (WLAN) profile.

   Note

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For example: netsh wlan show profile "Brink-Router2"​

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3. You will now see if the WLAN profile is set to connect automatically or connect manually.​

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OPTION ONE

Start or Stop Connect Automatically to Wireless Network in Networks

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1. Do step 2 or 3 below for how you would like to do.​

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2. To Stop Automatically Connecting to Connected Wireless Network Profile​

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A) While in Networks, click/tap on the listed wireless network (ex: Brink-Router2) that you are currently connected to, and click/tap on Disconnect. (see screenshot below)​

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   Note

See OPTION FOUR in the tutorial link below for more details on how to do this.

   Note

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How to Connect To or Disconnect from a Wireless Network in Windows 8 and 8.1​

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3. To Start Automatically Connecting to Wireless Network Profile​

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A) If you are currently connected to the wireless network, then you will need to do step 2 above to disconnect from it first.​

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B) While in Networks, click/tap on the listed wireless network (ex: Brink-Router2) that you want to connect to, check the Connect automatically box, and click/tap on Connect. (see screenshot below)​

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   Note

See OPTION FOUR in the tutorial link below for more details on how to do this.

   Note

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How to Connect To or Disconnect from a Wireless Network in Windows 8 and 8.1​

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OPTION TWO

Start or Stop Connect Automatically to Wireless Network in Command

   Note

You can use this option on any of your wireless network profiles. It doesn't matter if you are currently connected to them or not.

1. Open a command prompt.

2. Do step 3 or 4 below for how you would like to do.


3. To Stop Automatically Connecting to a Wireless Network Profile

   Warning

If you are currently connected to the WLAN profile you specified in the command, then this will disconnect you from it now.

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A) In the command prompt, type the command below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)​

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netsh wlan set profileparameter name="ProfileName" connectionmode=manual​

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   Note

Substitute ProfileName in the command above with the actual name of your wireless network (WLAN) profile.

   Note

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For example:​

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netsh wlan set profileparameter name="Brink-Router2" connectionmode=manual​

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4. To Start Automatically Connecting to a Wireless Network Profile

   Warning

This will disconnect you from any currently connected WLAN profile, and will automatically connect you to the WLAN profile you specified in the command when it's within range.

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A) In the command prompt, type the command below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)​

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netsh wlan set profileparameter name="ProfileName" connectionmode=auto​

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   Note

Substitute ProfileName in the command above with the actual name of your wireless network (WLAN) profile.

   Note

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For example:​

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netsh wlan set profileparameter name="Brink-Router2" connectionmode=auto​

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5. When finished, you can close the command prompt if you like.







That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Connect To or Disconnect from a Wireless Network in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change the Priority of Wireless Networks in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Add or Remove Wireless Networks from Allowed or Blocked Filter List in Windows
• How to Delete a Wireless Network Profile in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Wireless Network - Set or Unset as Metered Connection in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Turn On or Off Wi-Fi in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Backup and Restore Wireless Network Profiles in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[coldlm]

@Brink im having an issue my Win 8 stopped automatically connecting my wifi,and when i try to put the command
netsh wlan show profiles
i get this error function wlansetprofilelist returns error 5, access denied

Also im having alot of problems with privileges but im running as an admin!

Any help!

 

[Brink]

Hello coldlm,

Use an elevated command prompt to see if the command will work with in it instead.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2754-elevated-command-prompt-open-windows-8-a.html

 

[coldlm]

Hello coldlm,

Use an elevated command prompt to see if the command will work with in it instead.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2754-elevated-command-prompt-open-windows-8-a.html

Already did and still same error

 

[Brink]

As a test, enable the built-in Administrator, sign in to it, and run the command again to see if you are able then.

Administrator account - Enable or Disable in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

 

[coldlm]

As a test, enable the built-in Administrator, sign in to it, and run the command again to see if you are able then.

Administrator account - Enable or Disable in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

Here is what happened
Activated Admin account, and logged in.
First thingi saw was that win 8 first metro apps was empty, and stayed there, it didnt jump to desktop until i hit crtl , alt, delete, and i chose task manager,
then it took me to desktop with this error


That error kept showing every time i try to right click and refresh or when i try to click on desktop to see my hard drive!

Also when i tried to double click any folder it shows that i dont have permission to access it click continue to access it when i click continue nothing happens!

One final error
I couldn't start CMD because it kept showing an error that the location of explorer.exe is invalid!

My computer is messed up

 

[Brink]

Yeah, I think it's time to consider a clean install of Windows.

 

[coldlm]

Yeah, I think it's time to consider a clean install of Windows.

I thought there could be a trick to fix it but yeah i guess i have to,
also i know all my problems started when i took ownership of Windows folder!

 

[Brink]

Yeah, taking ownership of Windows or the C: drive is never good.

 

[coldlm]

Yeah, taking ownership of Windows or the C: drive is never good.

Alright thanks your help.

 

[Brink]

Anytime.