Wireless Networks Priority - Change in Windows 8

How to Change Connection Priority of Wireless Networks in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

A network connection is a set of information that enables your computer to connect to the Internet, a network, or another computer. When you install a network adapter in your computer, Windows creates a connection for it in the Network Connections folder. A local area connection is created for an Ethernet network adapter. A wireless network connection is created for a wireless network adapter.

This tutorial will show you how to change the connection priority order of your wireless network profiles to how you like for all users in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

   Note

Windows usually connects to networks in this priority order:

1. Ethernet
2. Wi‑Fi (wireless)
3. Mobile broadband

When you connect to a new Wi‑Fi network, it’s added to the list, and Windows will connect to that network while it’s in range. If you connect to another Wi‑Fi network while in range of the first network, Windows will prefer the second network over the first one.

Mobile broadband networks are treated differently. If you manually connect to a mobile broadband network when there is a Wi‑Fi network in range, the mobile broadband network is preferred just for that session. The next time you’re in range of both networks, the Wi‑Fi network is preferred. This is because mobile broadband networks typically are metered.

If you want to force your PC to prefer a mobile broadband network over Wi‑Fi, tap or click the Wi‑Fi network in the list of networks, and then click Disconnect. Windows won’t automatically connect to that Wi‑Fi network.

EXAMPLE: Networks
NOTE: This is the Networks (Connect To) list of network connections before and after changing the priority order of the Wi-Fi Networks.

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OPTION ONE

Change Connection Priority Order of Wireless Networks in Networks (Connect To)

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1. Click/tap on the wireless network icon in your desktop taskbar notification area to open Networks (Connect To).​

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2. Click/tap on one of your wireless networks that you want to be at the top of the connection priority order list, check the Connect automatically box, and click/tap on Connect. (see screenshot below)​

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3. Windows will now automatically connect to that wireless network by default when it's within range.​

OPTION TWO

Change Connection Priority Order of Wireless Networks in Command Prompt

   Note

While this method can also be used in Vista and Windows 7, you will find it much easier to use the Manage Wireless Networks UI for them in the tutorial link below instead.

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How to Change the Priority of Wireless Networks in Vista and Windows 7​

Manage Wireless Networks was removed in Windows 8, so this is why the method here below is using the command prompt instead.

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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 command will show you the name of the interface (ex: Wi-Fi), and a list of all wireless network profiles (ex: "Brink-Router" and "Brink-Router2") on your PC. You will need this information in step 3 below.​

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netsh wlan show profiles​

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3. In the command prompt, type the command below, and press Enter. If you like, you could repeat this step to change the priority order of any other listed wireless networks as well. (see screenshot below)​

NOTE: This command will change the connection priority of the wireless networks on your PC.​

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[B]netsh wlan set profileorder name="[COLOR=#ff0000]WirelessProfileName[/COLOR]" interface="[COLOR=#ff0000]InterfaceName[/COLOR]" priority=[COLOR=#ff0000]1[/COLOR][/B]

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   Note

Substitute WirelessProfileName in the command for the wireless network profile name (ex: "Brink-Router" and "Brink-Router2") displayed in step 2 above that you want to change the priority of.

   Note

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Substitute InterfaceName in the command for the name of the interface (ex: Wi-Fi) displayed in step 2 above.​

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Substitute 1 (one) in the command for what priority order number you wanted to have the wireless network profile name listed in. In my example I only have 2 wireless network profiles listed, so I can use 1=first or 2=last.​

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For example, if I wanted to change my Brink-Router (name) wireless network profile to be listed first (1) in the connection priority order instead of Brink-Router2, I would type the command below exactly.​

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[B]netsh wlan set profileorder name="[COLOR=#ff0000]Brink-Router[/COLOR]" interface="[COLOR=#ff0000]Wi-Fi[/COLOR]" priority=[COLOR=#ff0000]1[/COLOR][/B]

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4. If you like, repeat step 2 above to verify the priority order of your wireless network connections has been changed to how you wanted them.​

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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 Turn On or Off Wi-Fi in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change Priority of Wireless Networks in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Change Network Connection Priority in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Connect To or Disconnect from a Wireless Network in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Start or Stop Connect Automatically to Wireless Network in Windows 8
• Backup and Restore Wireless Network Profiles in Windows 8 and 8.1
• 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 Hide or Show Data Usage for Wireless Networks in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Turn Network Discovery On or Off in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Enable or Disable Networks UI on Sign in Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Find Your Wireless Network Security Key in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Enable or Disable a Network Adapter (NIC) in Windows
• How to Add or Remove Wireless Networks from Allowed or Blocked Filter List in Windows

 

[Rebpiz]

I did this, and it says "Priority order for profile "_____ (my network profile name)" is not changed for Wi-Fi"
Any ideas?

 

[Brink]

Hello Rebpiz,

May be from a small mistake made. Could you post a screenshot of your command prompt showing all steps included in it to see if anything may stand out as a cause?

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2598-screenshots-files-upload-post-eight-forums.html

 

[Rebpiz]

Hello Rebpiz,

May be from a small mistake made. Could you post a screenshot of your command prompt showing all steps included in it to see if anything may stand out as a cause?

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2598-screenshots-files-upload-post-eight-forums.html

 

[Brink]

No worries Rebpiz.

It didn't get changed since you only have one wireless network profile. With only one profile, it naturally has priority by default.

 

[888qwerty999]

I know last reply from this post was 21 Feb 2013 but still I wanted to share a solution to a problem that i faced using this tut.
I am using windows 8.1 pro x64 Version 6.3 (Build 9600) November update 2016
When u type in

netsh wlan show profiles

it will return

Profiles on interface WiFi

not

Profiles on interface [SIZE=4][FONT=century gothic][COLOR=#0000FF]Wi-Fi[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]

the key term being WiFi instead of Wi-Fi ... That has definitely changed 6.2->6.3 update
As a result instead of

[SIZE=4][FONT=century gothic][COLOR=#000000][FONT=arial]netsh wlan set profileorder name="Brink-Router" interface="[SIZE=4][FONT=century gothic][COLOR=#0000FF]Wi-Fi[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]" priority=1[/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]

you need

netsh wlan set profileorder name="Brink-Router" interface="WiFi" priority=1

other wise you would get error "There is no such wireless interface on the system"
Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello qwerty,

The interface name of the wireless adapter will vary from system to system. "Wi-Fi" was just an example of what mine was.