Stop Windows auto-joining a particular Wi-Fi network — via Microsoft Learn

Commandlow riskNeeds adminWindows 11Windows 10

Keep a network saved (password and all) but only connect to it when you choose — handy for a phone hotspot or a slow guest network that Windows keeps grabbing.

Takes effect right away

Command

Run in an administrator Command Prompt / Terminal window.

netsh wlan set profileparameter name="MyHotspot" ConnectionMode=manual

Undo

netsh wlan set profileparameter name="MyHotspot" ConnectionMode=auto

Replace MyHotspot with the profile name from netsh wlan show profiles. The related autoSwitch=yes parameter lets Windows move to a more preferred network when one appears.

Sources

netsh wlan — set profileparameter — by Microsoft Learn

Source reviewed: 2026-11-02
Link checked: 2026-11-02
Tested hands-on: Not by Oddbyte.Me

Oddbyte.Me hasn't tried this on every Windows build, so keep the undo handy.

wi-fiauto connecthotspotnetshprofileparameter

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