How to Use Wi-Fi and Ethernet at the Same Time in Windows

Key Takeaways 

• When you set Wi-Fi and Ethernet to connect simultaneously, the computer automatically selects a connection to use.
• You may set priority to decide what connection comes first of the two configured ones.

How to Configure Wi-Fi and Ethernet to Work at the Same Time in Windows

We need to configure the network adapter settings in Windows to use Wi-Fi and ethernet simultaneously. Here’s a step-by-step guide on the same.

Step 1: Press Windows + S, type Control Panel in the search bar, and click the Control Panel option.

Step 2: Click on Network and Internet.

Step 3: Now, click on Network and Sharing Center. This will open the settings of your currently active network connection.

Step 4: Click on Change adapter settings. This will show all the network connections on your Windows computer.

Step 5: Now, right-click on your Ethernet connection and select Properties.

Step 6: Click on Configure.

Step 7: Click on Advanced. A list will appear with all the properties of your ethernet adapter.

Step 8: From that list, search for and click Priority & VLAN.

Step 9: Select Priority & VLAN Disabled for the Value drop-down menu and click on OK.

Step 10: Reboot your computer.

This will ensure that your Windows machine will now use more than one network connection simultaneously. You can revert these settings anytime from network connections. Not sure where to access them? Refer to our guide to find the easiest ways to open network settings in Windows.

Set Network Priority in Windows

Even after being connected to two networks simultaneously, Windows still searches for the best possible network to use an internet connection. However, you can set a priority in network settings to instruct Windows on using a particular connection when it’s connected to multiple networks. Here’s how you can do that.

Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.

Step 2: Type ncpa.cpl in the box. Click on Ok.

Step 3: Select the network which you want to prioritize. Right-click on it and go to Properties.

Step 4: Search for Internet Version Protocol 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click on it.

Step 5: Now, click on Properties.

Step 6: Click on Advanced. This will open the TCP/IP priority settings.

Step 7: Uncheck the Automatic metric box. This will let you enter a value in Interface Metric.

Step 8: Enter 5 in the box next to the Interface metric. Click on Ok.

Your Windows computer has now been configured to use two connections simultaneously, along with a network priority between the two.

FAQ

1. Why am I not getting internet connectivity after trying to use Wi-Fi and ethernet at the same time?

Ensure that the network you selected as priority in interface metrics has internet connectivity. Otherwise, you should change the priority to a different network. 

2. Why is Windows not using my selected network priority for internet connectivity?

This can happen if you are using the IPv6 protocol for your internet connection. In such a case, repeat the network priority settings for Internet Version Protocol 6(TCP/IPv6), which can be found just below the IPv4 settings.

3. Why am I getting an error, “your network administrator doesn’t allow simultaneous connections”.

It indicates that you have configured your network to restrict the number of simultaneous connections. This may be a licensing restriction or for network security.