How to Disable a Network Adapter in Windows 11

Disabling a network adapter in Windows 11 can be useful in various scenarios, such as troubleshooting connection issues or temporarily disabling a wireless network adapter. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to disable a network adapter in Windows 11 operating system.

Disable network card on Windows 11

To disable a Wi-Fi or Ethernet network adapter in Windows 11, follow these steps:

• Click on the button To start up.
• In the “Start” menu, click on the icon Settings.
• In the settings window, click on the option Network and Internet in the left column.
• Click on the tab Advanced network settings on the right side.

• In the “Network adapters” section, click the button Disable to disable Wi-Fi or Ethernet network adapter in Windows 11.

The selected network adapter will be disabled and any associated network connection will be terminated. To re-enable the network adapter, follow these steps again and click “Enable” in the “Network Adapters” section.

Through network connections

To disable a network card through network connections, you can follow these steps:

• Open Windows Search (press Win+S) and type “network connections” in the search box.
• Click on Show network connections.

• In the “Network Connections” window, you will see a list of network adapters available on your computer.
• Right click on the adapter you want to disable and select Disable in the context menu.

The selected network adapter will be disabled and any associated network connection will be terminated. To re-enable the network adapter, follow these steps again and select “Enable” instead of “Disable” in the context menu of the network adapter.

Via Device Manager

To disable a network adapter in Windows 11 using Device Manager, follow these steps:

• Click on the button To start up.
• Search “Device Manager” and click on the corresponding result.

• In Device Manager, expand the category ” Network cards by clicking on the little arrow next to it.
• Right click on the network adapter you want to disable and select Disable device.

• If a confirmation dialog box appears, click “Yes” to confirm disabling the network card.

The selected network adapter will be disabled and will not work until you re-enable it.

Also read: Troubleshoot Wi-Fi issues on Windows 11

Disabling a network adapter in Windows 11 can be useful in some situations, whether to troubleshoot connection issues or for security reasons. By following the simple steps in this article, you can easily disable a network adapter in Windows 11. It is important to note that when you disable a network adapter, you will not have access to network connectivity until you reactivate it. So be sure to only disable a network adapter if you really need it.