What is the quickest way to connect to a WiFi network (one that my computer knows already but is not connected to at the moment) in Windows 10 using keyboard only?

What I tried:

1. Hit Win+B to focus taskbar, then use arrows to get to "WiFi Popup". In the "WiFi Popup", use the TAB to cycle focus. However the TAB is completely skipping the part of window in which individual WiFi networks are listed. So, it doesn't work.

2. Going through settings. Very long and annoying process using keyboard only.

Questions:

1. What is the quickest way of doing this in Windows 10 without any 3rd party app?

2. What 3rd party app can help me with this?

2

6 Answers

To connect to a Wifi network with known name xyz you can use the command-line:

netsh wlan connect name="xyz"

and to disconnect use:

netsh wlan disconnect

The fastest way is to place WiFi tile in the top left corner in action center and then press:

+A to open action center

Tab, Tab - to cycle to WiFi tile

Space - to enable/disable

1

You can create a shortcut on the desktop then assign that shortcut to a specific key combination.

• Step 1: Right click on desktop and click New > Shortcut
• Step 2: Type "%windir%\explorer.exe %LocalAppData%\Packages\windows.immersivecontrolpanel_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Indexed\Settings\en-US\AAA_SettingsPageNetworkWiFi.settingcontent-ms"
• Step 3: Name the shortcut and close
• Step 4: Right click the shortcut and go properties > Shortcut > Advanced and tick run as admin
• Step 5: In the shortcut properties, add a shortcut Key

This will open the window showing all the networks. It's close (not sure if close enough)

1

Hit Win+B to focus taskbar, then use arrows to get to "WiFi Popup".

Use down arrow to select one of the available wifi networks. Press enter to get details of wifi network selected, then use tab to select connect and hit enter.

2

You can create 2 desktop shortcuts with the following commands to toggle Wifi.

1. Right-click on the desktop.
2. Go to New > Shortcut.
3. For the location, enter "netsh wlan disconnect."
4. Click Next and then click Finish. This creates a link on the desktop.
5. Right-click the link and go to the Shortcut tab.
6. Create a keyboard shortcut using the keys.
7. (Optional) Go to the General tab and select the Hidden checkbox to hide the shortcut.

You can do the same with the "netsh wlan connect name="Wifi network name" command to turn wifi on.

I regularly connect to several WiFi networks, which I've set to "Connect automatically". So all I wanted to do was make shortcuts to turn my WiFi adapter on and off, without having to specify a certain network.

If you've set the network(s) you use to "Connect automatically", here's how you can make simple "Enable/Disable WiFi" shortcuts, as I did:

First, to create a shortcut that turns your WiFi ON:

1. At a command prompt, type this and press Enter: netsh interface show interface

2. Note the "Interface Name" that appears. Mine was called simply Wi-Fi, so that's the name I'll use here.

3. Right-click your desktop > New > Shortcut

4. In the box that appears, type this in the "Type location of the item" box:

   C:\Windows\System32\netsh.exe interface set interface Wi-Fi enable

   (If your Interface Name isn't "Wi-Fi", type THAT name here instead.)

5. Click Next. When prompted, type a name for the shortcut, like "Enable WiFi" (without the quotes).

6. Right-click the new shortcut, then click Properties. In the "Shortcut key" box, type the key combination you want to use to turn your WiFi ON. (I used Ctrl+Shift+F11.)

7. Click the "Advanced" button. Select the "Run as Administrator" checkbox, then click OK > OK to close the dialog boxes.

To create a shortcut that turns your WiFi OFF:

1. Right-click your new shortcut and click Copy. A copy of the shortcut appears.

2. Right-click the copy you just made, then click Properties.

3. In the dialog box that appears, be sure the "Shortcut" tab is selected.

4. In the "Target" box, change "enable" to "disable" (without quotes). The command should now say:

   C:\Windows\System32\netsh.exe interface set interface Wi-Fi disable

5. In the "Shortcut key" box, type the key combination you want to use to turn your WiFi OFF. (I used Ctrl+Shift+F12.)

6. On the General tab, change the shortcut's name (e.g. "Disable WiFi").

7. Click OK to close the dialog box.

Notes:

• When you run the "Enable" shortcut, it takes a moment for your adapter to connect to the network you've set to "Connect automatically"—so don't worry if the WiFi icon doesn't change immediately.

• To help me remember the keys I gave my shortcuts, I added them to the shortcuts' names—my shortcuts are called:

Enable WiFi (Ctrl+Shift+F11)

and

Disable WiFi (Ctrl+Shift+F12)

BTW, David, I'm sorry you didn't like my previous comment, where I explained why these solutions didn't work for me (too network-specific) and what I wanted to do. I wasn't trying to be impertinent—I just hoped someone might see what I wanted to do, and post a more specific solution. I found it myself, as it turned out, so I'm glad to share. (I'm a technical writer.) Cheers!

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Sign up using Google Sign up using Facebook Sign up using Email and Password Submit

Post as a guest

Post Your Answer Discard

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy