Create desktop shortcut to switch to specific WiFi network in Windows 10

Most of the Windows laptop users connect to the same network every day. They usually switch when changing locations, and it is seamless once they are connected. Now, if you are in a situation when you need to connect to different networks often, then the only way is to connect to the network manually. If that’s the case, here is a free tool that lets you create shortcuts to switch to specific WiFi on Windows 10 instantly.

WifiInfoView for Windows PC

The situation to change WiFi networks usually happens in the work environment. Businesses configure different wifi networks based on user authority to connect to devices or systems. It could be a device access restriction or a project restriction. So if that’s the case for you, WifiInfoView allows you to create desktop shortcuts for all the connected WiFi.

Instantly switch to specific WiFi using desktop shortcuts

Here is how to create them:

• Download WifiInfoView from Nirsoft
• Unzip and click on WifiInfoView file to launch the application
• It will list down all the available WiFi your laptop can detect
• Right-click on any of the WiFi names, and choose to Create Desktop Shortcut > Connect access point by name
• Repeat it for all the WiFi; you often switch it.
• On the desktop, double-click on the shortcut, and it will execute the code to connect to the WiFi network.

If you run shortcuts of the WiFi you have never connected to, then it will prompt for a password when you click on the Internet icon on the taskbar’s system area.

The software also allows you to connect to the desired access point by pressing F2 when you select it.

If you have multiple access points with the same name, the Windows WiFi manager will fail to connect. Windows makes a connection according to the network name. However, using this, you can see a list of all SSID separately and connect with them.

Apart from these, the software does an incredible job if you want to learn more about your Wifi connection. You can find connection type (g/n/a/c), WiFi Strength, Average signal, frequency, security type, sort it by router name, company name, model name, and so on. If you are an IT admin or a pro user, this software can be handy when troubleshooting network issues.

Since the software can reveal signal strength, it gives you another reason to switch to a different network using these shortcuts.

How to switch WiFi state on/off with PowerShell & Windows 10?

I have a tiny .ps1 script which switches a network connection between Ethernet and WiFi. My script works well. I now want to know how to switch off WiFi without disabling the underlying network adapter.

Here is my existing script:

I haven’t been able to find any guidance on how to switch off WiFi via PowerShell (in the same way as it would occur if you clicked the button in the Windows 10 info center). All scripts that I’ve found just disable the underlying adapter, which is not what I want.

Can anybody suggest how to access this functionality from PowerShell?

3 Answers 3

I can’t find any way to do this programmatically, and as a result I think the answer might be that it’s (currently) not entirely possible.

What I have found is that when you use the button in the Windows action center to turn off Wifi, netsh shows the interface as «Hardware On» «Software Off»:

However I can’t see any ability to trigger «Software Off» via netsh or any of the *-netadapter cmdlets. It might be that this is controlled via a switch in the registry but if so I can’t see which.

My recommendation would be to just continue controlling wifi by enabling/disabling the underlying adapter with Disable-NetAdapter and Enable-NetAdapter or if it’s the case that you need to keep the hardware enabled (perhaps in order to reconfigure it?) but want the wireless to be disconnected while you do so, you could connect/disconnect the network via:

Lenovo ideapad s10-3 wifi cant switch on in Windows 10 upgrade

netbook model : Lenovo ideapad s10-3

wlan card : Qualcomm Atheros AR9285

I have used my netbook since 2011. It came originally with Windows 7 starter. I upgraded to Windows 10 several months earlier. It worked fine, but several days ago, suddenly I cant switch on the wifi. The manual switch doesnt work, the fn+F4 doesnt work, the switch on network center doesnt work.

I tried to uninstall the driver and reinstall the updated driver ver. 10.0.0.321.01 using compatibility program but it still doesnt work.

Please help. I really want to use windows 10. or is it beyond hope and i need to reinstall

Moved from Insider

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Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft community.

I understand you have WIFI connection problem after Windows 10 upgrade.

I suggest you to perform the methods below and check.

Method 1: Make sure that the WLAN Autoconfig service is running on the computer and is set to automatic.

1. Go to Run by pressing Windows + R simultaneously.
2. Type services.msc and then Enter.
3. Select WLAN Autoconfig service and then right click on it and then select properties.
4. In general tab select Automatic.

Method 2: Run hardware and devices troubleshooter and check.

• Press the Windows + X, and click on Search.
• Type troubleshooting and select Troubleshooting.
• Click on Hardware and Sound and select Hardware and Devices and click on Next to run the troubleshooter.

If issue persist please try the steps in the links provided below and check if it helps.

Note: It applies to Windows 10.

Please post back with the status of the issue and we will be glad to assist you further.

Windows 10, Wifi Turned off, not switching ON

m using dell laptop with windows 10 since it was launched. today [march_3_2016] after the upgrade, while i was just writing an email on outlook, my wifi turned off itself, since then i have been trying to turn it on, however its just not turning on. atm m connected with a lan cable. kindly fix this wifi stuff, that m assuming is a result due to some glitch in the recent updates of win 10

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Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community.

We understand your concern and will certainly assist you to solve it.

1. What is the make and model of the computer?

2. Are you able to connect to Internet using the LAN cable?

Please follow the below steps to troubleshoot.

Method 1: Network Adapter troubleshooter.

This troubleshooter is an automated Windows inbuilt tool which finds and fixes the common issues with the Network Adapter Settings on the computer. It also checks if the network adapter drivers are up to date or not. It may also provide you some clue about the hardware failures happening to the Network Adapter. Perform these steps to run this tool and check if that helps.

a) Open Control Panel.

b) Type “Troubleshooting” in the search bar and press “Enter”.

c) In the “Troubleshooting” window, click on “View All” on the left pane.

d) Click on “Network Adapter”.

e) Click on “Advanced” and then click on “Run as Administrator”.

f) Click “Next” and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process.

if the issue persists, please follow the below steps.

Method 2: Hardware Troubleshooter.

Please follow the below steps to run the hardware and devices troubleshooter:

1. Type “Troubleshooting” without quotes in the Search box and hit enter.

2. Select “Hardware and Sound” from the Troubleshooter Window.

3. Select “Hardware and Devices” under Devices option.

4. Follow the On Screen instructions.

Please let us know if the issue is resolved or you need any further assistance.

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it didn’t work, however i have been able to temporary fix the wifi issue. i keep restarting the system on safe mode, whenever wifi turns off on its own. You can share it with everyone. Also note, the fault is in windows 10, and it has to be fixed by Microsoft only.

To temp fix wifi win10

[restart in safe mode]
press shift and click «restart»

on the recovery menu click «continue»
after restart wifi will be back.

[repeat whenever wifi turns off by itself,]

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Thank you for the update on the issue.

I would like to inform you that there might be a possibility that the Network Adapters are corrupt or missing. So I would suggest you to follow the below steps and check if that helps:

Uninstall and Reinstall the Network adapter/drivers

Follow these steps to uninstall and reinstall the driver:

Step 1 : Uninstall the network drivers

a) Press “Windows Logo” + “X” keys on the keyboard.

b) Click on “Device Manager” from that list.

c) Search for the network adapter/drivers from the device list, right click on it and then select “Uninstall”. On the un-installation window, if you have an option: “Delete the driver software for this device” you may select that and then remove the corrupted drivers from the computer.

d) Follow the on-screen instructions to complete it and the restart the computer if prompted.

After the restart, you may again open the Device Manager and then click on the “Scan for hardware changes” button at the top of the Device Manager window and check if Windows 10 detects the network devices and installs an appropriate driver for it automatically. If that happens, then check if it resolves the issue.

Step 2 : Update Driver Software from the Manufacturer’s website:

If the issue occurs due to corrupt Network Drivers, then you may refer to the manufactures’ website and install the latest Network adapter/drivers for the device.

Hope this information is helpful. Please write back to us if you need any further assistance, we’ll be glad to assist you.

Can’t turn on wifi in windows 10 wifi settings

I have a CyberpowerPC laptop with a Killer e2200 Ethernet card, and a Killer Wireless-N 1202 Network Adapter.

I can connect with Ethernet but not with the wireless adapter. When I go into the Windows 10 wifi settings screen and switch wifi to ‘on’ it just switches itself back to ‘off’.

Things I’ve tried:

-I installed the newest Killer software/drivers which are supposedly Windows 10 compatible (driver 10.0.0.326)

-I turned airplane mode on and off

-I checked the registry for the DNI_DNE protocol problem and that doesn’t apply to me

-device manager shows that it’s working properly, I uninstalled from device manager and scanned for new hardware to re-add it

-I disabled and re-enabled it in both the device manager and network adapter settings.

-Network Connections shows the adapter as not connected, but when I select ‘connect’ it just takes me to the wifi settings screen where I can’t turn it on.

-I ran the windows network diagnostic which found nothing

-ended task on all Killer Network apps

-I probably tried other things that I’m forgetting to list

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Thank you for contacting Microsoft Community. I understand that you have an issue with turning on Wi-Fi. I will surely help you to fix this issue.

This issue could have occurred due to these reasons:

1. Incorrect Wi-Fi settings.

2. Wi-Fi adapter is not working properly.

3. Corrupt or outdated Wireless network driver.

Try the steps listed here:

Method 1:

I suggest you to refer the article which will help to fix common issue with Wi-Fi in Windows 10.

Note: Try the steps which you have not tried before.

Method 2:
If the issue persists, I suggest you to refer the steps in the article to check if WIFI adapter is working fine or not. Check if it helps.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows/fix-network-adapter-problems#1TC=windows-8

Note: Applies to Windows 10.

Hope this information helps. Reply to the post with an updated status of the issue so that we can assist you further.

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Still does work.. I’ve been ALL day trying tips.. suggestions.. My wifi will NOT turn on. I’ve searched & tried updating the driver.. uninstalling.. reinstalling.. NOTHING.

Version: 3.0.2.182 ..crapped out after updating to Windows 10.. worked for a few days, then nothing.. it will not turn on, remains in the off position.. disabled.. enabled.. doesn’t change anything.

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Thank you for the response and keeping the status updated. I appreciate the troubleshooting you tried on the computer.

Please follow the below methods to troubleshoot your issue:

Method 1: Enable Wireless service.

1. Press Windows key + R and type services.msc in the search field and press ENTER.
2. Scroll down to find “WLAN AutoConfig «.
3. Right-click “WLAN AutoConfig “, and then click Start.
4. Check if the issue persists.

Method 2: Run Network adapter troubleshooter.

This troubleshooter is an automated Windows inbuilt tool which finds and fixes the common issues with the Network Adapter Settings on the computer. It also checks if the network adapter drivers are up to date or not. It may also provide you some clue about the hardware failures happening to the Network Adapter. Perform these steps to run this tool and check if that helps.

a) Open Control Panel.

b) Type “Troubleshooting” in the search bar and press “Enter”.

c) In the “Troubleshooting” window, click on “View All” on the left pane.

d) Click on “Network Adapter”.

e) Click on “Advanced” and then click on “Run as Administrator”.

f) Click “Next” and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process.

Method 3: Reinstall the drivers from manufacturer’s website.

1. Press Windows key + X key and select Device Manager.

2. Right Click on the device and select Uninstall.

3. Restart the computer and install the drivers from the manufacturer’s website.

If the issue still persists, install the driver in compatibility mode for previous version of Windows.

a. Right click the driver installation file and select Properties then tap or click the Compatibility tab.

b. Place a check in the Run this program in compatibility mode for: box.

c. Tap or click the drop down box and select a previous operating system, then tap or click OK.

d. Try installing the driver and check.

Please reply with the results, I will be glad to help you further.