How to configure Windows not to scan for Wi-Fi

By default, Windows is configured to constantly scan for Wi-Fi connections. This is certainly handy. However, you may wish to do without it, in order to extend battery life. Or to save resources. Well, let’s see how to do it. It is a very simple procedure and for which we will not have to install any additional plugins. We are only going to use the operating system’s own configuration.

The first thing we are going to do is to go to Start, look for services and access. There we will see a large list of operating system services that we will be able to modify. All of them will be configured as they come when installing the OS, unless we have made some change. We can also access simply with the key combination Windows+R and execute services.msc.

When you are at this point, look for the WLAN Auto Config service. We have to click with the right button of the mouse and click on Stop. Then go to Properties and under Startup type, which will be marked as Automatic, change it to Manual.

Once this is done, we simply have to click on Apply and we will accept the changes. From this moment on, Windows will not be searching for Wi-Fi networks automatically. We must also restart the computer for the changes to take effect correctly.

You should know that this change is totally reversible. Consequently, it is possible to return to the previous scenario. That is, Windows will automatically search for networks again. Consequently, we only have to follow the steps that we have explained again. Only this time, we switch back to Automatic. Press OK, restart the computer, and that’s it.

How to prevent Windows from connecting to a specific network

After having explained what we can do to prevent Windows from automatically searching for Wi-Fi networks, we are now going to focus on preventing it from connecting to a specific network. It is possible that we do not want it to automatically access a Wi-Fi to which we have previously connected. Even to an access point we have at home. This can also be done easily. It can be interesting for the same reasons as mentioned above. It is especially useful for not connecting only to a certain network that has a weak signal.

Windows configuration

If at some point we connect to a network, and now we do not want it to connect automatically, we can avoid it. To do this, we have to follow these steps. First, go to Start and then go to Windows Settings. Then we go to Network and Internet, click on Wi-Fi and access Manage known networks.

A list of all the wireless networks to which we have ever connected will be displayed. It does not matter if they are open networks or have passwords. What Windows does is to store this information to connect quickly as soon as it detects it. It is interesting to save time, but sometimes we may not want this.

What we need to do is to find the network we do not want to connect to. It can be a Wi-Fi repeater, for example. We click on the name, and we will see a small box where we will see the Forget button.

By simply performing this step, Windows will automatically stop connecting to that wireless network. It will delete all stored information. In addition, this also includes the password. If in the future, we want to connect again, we will have to click on Connect and manually enter the password.

Therefore, following these steps, we can also prevent Windows from automatically connecting to a specific network. It is an alternative if we do not want that it stops looking for networks constantly, but we are not interested that it can connect to a certain network. It is a simple and fast process. In addition, we can easily revert reverse it easily if in a given moment we are interested that it returns to connect.

How to do it from the command prompt.

We can also do this using commands. Moreover, in this case, it would be valid both for networks we are connected to now and for those we are not connected to. In short, it is valid for any network that we have saved. An important issue is that to execute these commands, it is mandatory to do it as an administrator. To do so, type and select Run as administrator. Also, by clicking on Command Prompt with the right mouse button, this option appears.

Now we are going to use a command to view the profiles of the saved Wi-Fi networks. With this in mind, we will use netsh with the following parameters:

netsh wlan show profiles

In case we want to prevent Windows from automatically connecting to a Wi-Fi network, we will have to use this other command:

netsh wlan set profileparameter name=network name connectionmode=manual

Here, what we have to do is to replace Network Name with the name of the Wi-Fi network you want to modify. This would be the command in which our Wi-Fi network profile has been executed correctly, so that from now on the connection is made manually.

Instead, this would be the command syntax if we want that Wi-Fi network to start automatically:

netsh wlan set profileparameter name=network name connectionmode=auto

This is the example of the execution to have an automatic connection:

In the hypothetical case that we do not know if we have the Wi-Fi connection on automatic or manual, we would use this other command:

netsh wlan show profile network name

These are the results we would get if that Wi-Fi network has automatic connection:

Very well, this way we begin to see how to manage the Wi-Fi connections with Windows 11. Bye!

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These Wi-Fi networks are often the main target of cybercriminals. Indeed, they can use them to access all the information on the computers connected to them. On the other hand, hackers have refined their techniques. They can now access companies and organizations through home networks. Consequently, maintaining a good level of security for our home Internet network is tremendously essential. Read on to find out how to prevent a cyberattack on your Wi-Fi network.

Change the router password often

All routers come with a default password for the Wi-Fi network. In addition, this applies to both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. Indeed, it is usually forceful with numbers and upper and lower case letters. However, being the default of the router is one of the main enemies of the security of our Wi-Fi network.

It is highly recommended that we change the password of our Wi-Fi network at least every 3 months. These passwords should be at least 16 characters each. In addition, they should randomly combine letters (upper and lower case), numbers and special characters. Obviously, this password should never be the same password that we already use for something else. Furthermore, it should not contain personal information that would make it easily deducible.

Keep the network SSID hidden

It will have happened to you on more than one occasion that when connecting any of your devices to the Wi-Fi network, you have seen how other nearby options appear. By default, all Wi-Fi networks will appear when we are in range, even if they have a password.

For this reason, it is very fascinating to hide our Wi-Fi network. By doing this, we will have total and absolute control of the people who can connect to our Wi-Fi network. In addition, we prevent any cybercriminal from knowing of its existence.

Turn off the Wi-Fi when not in use

Although it may sound too logical, the truth is that it is something we do not usually consider. If we disable our Wi-Fi network when we leave home or when we are sleeping, we will prevent anyone from accessing it.
If you are worried about disconnecting the router, all of these devices can disable the Wi-Fi network without turning off the device or disconnecting it from the power. Some may even have a dedicated button on the router itself.

Limiting the transmitting power of antennas

The routers just out of the box have a configuration in their antennas so that they can send the Wi-Fi signal as far as possible. This is obviously for homes that have large dimensions. However, it is not usually necessary for apartments or other smaller buildings.

The router’s antennas are responsible for emitting the Wi-Fi signal. If we limit the power of their emission, we will still have a signal. However, this will also mean that someone outside our home will not receive enough signal to detect the network and access it. This is one of the ways to prevent a cyberattack.

Use WPA2 encryption

Wi-Fi networks have wireless security protocols to prevent undesirables from accessing it. These have improved greatly over the years. So if your router is old or if it is misconfigured, you are probably using an older protocol that is obviously more vulnerable.

We strongly recommend using the WPA2 protocol on our routers, as it is much more difficult to decrypt. Some devices may not be compatible with it, but they should at least be compatible with WPA. However, we must do not use WEP, as it has some significant security flaws.

Invest in a good router

Listen to what I say. Cheap is often expensive. Keep in mind that the router is the device in charge of managing your entire Wi-Fi connection. Consequently, we must use reliable and durable hardware. Most of the time, our network providers usually assign us the router. Moreover, these are typically very reliable devices.

However, it may be the case that you are the one who must personally purchase your router. In that sense, it is best to choose reliable and solid brands. Keep in mind that there may be offers with cheap prices. But this does not mean that they are also good. So, it is best to go for a model from a good brand. It doesn’t matter if it means spending more money.

Okay, so we have seen how to prevent a cyberattack on your Wi-Fi network. So, I hope these tips will help you to increase the security of your connection. See you soon!

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Recommended programs to manage the Wi-Fi networkS on Windows.

The purpose of this type of program is to visualize all the Wi-Fi networks around us. Thanks to them, we will be able to monitor all nearby wireless networks. Additionally, we will be able to collect specific data. For example, what Wi-Fi networks there are, on what Wi-Fi channels they are broadcasting, the type of security they use and if we have interference with neighboring networks. We can even see how many clients we have connected to the different wireless networks around us. Here, we will detail the best programs to manage Wi-Fi network on Windows.

Acrylic WiFi Home

Acrylic WiFi Home is one of the best programs we can use to visualize Wi-Fi networks. We base this statement on the fact that it has a fully functional free version. This tool is compatible with the latest Microsoft Windows operating systems, including Windows 10 and Windows 11.

The free version of the program is called Acrylic Wi-Fi Home. The tool offers a Wi-Fi scanner that displays Wi-Fi information in real time. It also scores our network, identifies channel problems, checks coverage and improves the performance of our home Wi-Fi network. Among its main functions, we can find:

• Viewer of Wi-Fi networks in which Wi-Fi 6 networks with the 802.11ax standard are distinguished.
• View of Wi-Fi channels in 2.4GHz and 5GHz.
• Analyzes the distribution of networks by Wi-Fi channels.
• Provides graphs of signal level and power of our wireless networks.
• Visualize the access points around you as well as devices such as smartphones, laptops and more.
• We will get information about nearby APs regarding their signal strength, channels, encryption and more.

Acrylic Wi-Fi Home is available here. However, a professional version is available for just under $22. If you are going to use the tool a lot, then this is the version for you because of the large number of features it offers.

WiFi Analyzer

WiFi Analyzer is a program that has been developed for home users. For this reason, we find an ideal tool for users with little experience in scanning Wi-Fi networks. This program is responsible for analyzing our network and convert them into data visually easy to understand which also includes graphs. For example, it can suggest which channel we should use to reduce interference. Thanks to the way it works, we can find the best channel and detailed information about our router.

This tool simply offers an analyzer for wireless networks. In its basic version, it comes free of advertising, and we have everything we need to analyze Wi-Fi networks. On the other hand, it should be noted that it has a Pro version with more features. The program requires at least Windows 10 and can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store from here.

Vistumbler

Another program for managing Wi-Fi networks is Vistumbler. In effect, we could describe it as a wireless network scanner. Moreover, it is a free open-source program for Windows. The minimum we need is Windows Vista with a Wi-Fi adapter, so we can use it also on older computers. The objective of this program is to map and visualize the routers and access points that we have neared us.

Thanks to Vistumbler, we will know important information such as network status, SSID, MAC address, signal strength, channel number and more. It also has a GPS support feature that allows it to integrate with Google Earth to display Wi-Fi networks. It does this in two ways:

• With the export of GPS locations of access points to a Google Earth KML file.
• Allowing live tracking from Google Earth thanks to Auto KML. This way it automatically displays the access points and routers in Google Earth.

In this case, it should be noted that it is not an easy program to use due to its interface and complexity of options.

inSSIDer

Thanks to the inSSIDer tool, we will be able to know exactly how our network is configured. We will also find out how neighboring Wi-Fi networks are affecting ours. Additionally, it offers suggestions for a faster and more secure wireless network. This program shows us the essential details about our Wi-Fi connection, including channel, channel width, signal strength. We will also be able to know the Wi-Fi standards supported, the maximum connection speed and its encryption.

inSSIDer is a very fascinating tool, but it is more oriented towards the professional field than for home users. It also uses graphics that show the devices connected to the 2.4GHz and 5GHz band. Once the networks have been analyzed, it will provide us with a score for our connection. The result will be that the higher the score, the more reliable it is. inSSIDer can be downloaded from the developer’s website metageek from this link.

Free WiFi Analyzer Tool

Free WiFi Analyzer Tool turns your Windows 10 computer into an analyzer for your wireless network. Regarding viewing, it allows 3D and 2D visualization in some of its sections. It also allows managing Wi-Fi networks, discovering any Wi-Fi signal around us. Thus, we will be able to make a classification of Wi-Fi filtering, sorting and grouping the available networks in addition to being able to switch between different networks instantly.

It also provides detailed information on each Wi-Fi access point. In addition, it can find the least used channels so that we can assign them to our router. It also allows us to control our network traffic and offers system notifications when a connection or disconnection occurs. As for the interface, we can choose between a white or black theme. This program is paid, but occasionally, it is offered for free.

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How to know if there is interference in the Wi-Fi connection

It is clear that there are several reasons that affect the performance of the wifi connection. But we can rule out interference from neighboring connections. With this in mind, let’s review the Wi-Fi connection channels. To explain it quickly, they are lanes where our data goes in each frequency band. Therefore, if there are several connections running on the same frequency, then the interference will be higher. Consequently, the quality of the connection will be compromised. Unfortunately, Windows does not have a tool to examine the channels. Therefore, we will rely on a third-party tool. This time we will use Wi-Fi Analyzer. This tool can be downloaded for free from the Microsoft Store. With this in mind, go to this link.

As mentioned, we will get a free and ad-free version. It certainly has limitations. However, it is more than enough for a home user. Moreover, it is possible to increase its capabilities by means of a built-in purchase. In addition, it has several very interesting features. However, the one that interests us is the ability to analyze channels. With this in mind, click on the Analyze option. The list of available connections with their respective channel will be displayed. In addition, you will see your current active connection with the channel used. Likewise, the program recommends a channel to be enabled. This is done by displaying a star rating. The more stars it assigns, the more suitable the channel is. In this case, the recommendation is channel 11.

How to change the Wi-Fi network channel.

To do this, it is necessary to go to the router configuration. This is achieved through the web browser. Besides, this information is provided by the manufacturer. However, it can be easily obtained from Windows. To do so, press the Win+R key combination. Then run the CMD command.

Consequently, the command prompt will open. Then run the ipconfig command. As a result, various data relating to your network connection is displayed. However, the information we are interested in is the one related to the Default Gateway field.

Now, copy and paste it into the address bar of your web browser. Next, the router configuration will be displayed. You will most likely have to enter your username and password. From here, the options may change depending on the model. However, the channels option should be in the Wi-Fi settings. Next, select the channel suggested by WiFi Analyzer. In this case, channel 11. Finally, click on Save to set the changes.

Ultimately we have seen how to avoid interference in the Wi-Fi connection. Therefore, it is a factor in improving connectivity. Keep in mind that several factors can affect it. However, with these simple steps, you can increase it. Please keep an eye out for more tips. Before I say goodbye, I invite you to check out our tutorial on remote desktops. Bye!

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How to use Slitheris Network Discovery to scan the Wi-Fi network.

Well, this time we’ll be using a software called Slitheris Network Discovery. This is one of the most advanced multi-process IP scanners available today. It is capable of detecting any device that is connected to a network. Additionally, it shows its characteristics. To do this, once the app is launched, it starts searching for all the devices connected to the network. Then, it analyzes them and pings each one of them. Consequently, it obtains as much information as possible about each one of them. The app’s interface is very intuitive and shows each device defined by color. But the most interesting thing is the number of features it shows. For example, it shows IP address, MAC address, operating system and compilation, brand or manufacturer and other details.

The most important thing about all this information is that it allows you to successfully identify the devices connected to the network. Consequently, it is possible to detect possible intruders. In addition, it is possible to export this data in CSV format. This program is paid but has a free version with limitations. The difference with the paid version is that it limits the number of devices detected to 50. However, this is more than enough for domestic users.

How the app works

In the first place, you have to download the program from its official website. Once downloaded, just install it like any other Windows app. As soon as you start the program, it will start scanning the Wi-Fi network. However, scanning can be done manually by pressing the corresponding button.

OK, this way we have seen how to detect any device connected to the Wi-Fi network. Also, with all the information we gathered, you can see if there are any intruders. On the other hand, it’s a great help to have an inventory of the network events. All right, that’s it for now. Before saying goodbye, I invite you to take a look at our post about how to create a mobile hotspot in Windows 10. See you soon!

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Recover Wi-Fi Password

Depending on your distro, the method can vary. But the techniques can be the same in most scenario. Let’s start digging up the lost password! Note that I’m using “elementary OS”, but the method should work on most modern Linux distros. My desktop is connected to “TP-LINK_8D72” Wi-Fi network.

• Open a terminal.
• Navigate to the folder where the system stores the connection information.

cd /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections

• Time to check the list of all the stored network(s).

ls

• Open the file using the following command.

sudo cat TP-LINK_8D72

• Search for the following line:

Voila! The password is recovered once again!

Other places to try

However, there are some old and lightweight distros that use “wicd” to connect to networks. In that case, follow these steps:

• Open a terminal.
• Navigate to the connections’ folder.

cd /etc/wicd

• Open the “wireless settings” file.

sudo cat wireless-settings.conf

If you didn’t find any success, another file to look for is “wpa_supplicant.conf”. Check out the file using the following steps:

• Open terminal.
• Run this command:

sudo locate wpa_supplicant.conf

• Then, follow the steps stated above to read the file and recover the lost password.

Enjoy!

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