How to Turn Off or Disable Ethernet in Windows 11

Disabling Ethernet in Windows 11 can be helpful for various reasons. You might want to turn off Ethernet when you prefer to use WiFi exclusively, reduce interference with other connections, test network configurations, troubleshoot network issues, or enhance network security by preventing unauthorized access through a wired connection. In this tutorial, I’ll show you four methods to disable Ethernet in Windows 11: using the Settings app, Device Manager, Command Prompt, and PowerShell. Let’s get started!

Disable Ethernet in Windows 11 From Settings

1. Open the Settings window by pressing Windows key + I.
2. Go to the Network & Internet tab.
3. Click the Advanced Network Settings option.
4. Click the Disable button next to your Ethernet adapter.
5. With that, the Ethernet is disabled in Windows 11.

Disable Ethernet in Windows 11 Using Device Manager

Important note: This method required administrator rights.

1. Right-click on the Start button on the taskbar.
2. Select the Device Manager option.
3. Expand the Network Adapters tree.
4. Right-click on your Ethernet adapter.
5. Select the Disable Device option.
6. Click Yes when prompted to disable Ethernet.

Turn Off Ethernet in Windows 11 via the Command Prompt

Important note: This method required administrator rights.

1. Press the Start button.
2. Search for Command Prompt.
3. Click the Run as Administrator option.
4. Run the following command to disable Ethernet in Windows 11.
   netsh interface set interface "Ethernet" admin=disable

Note: If your ethernet adapter’s name is different, modify the “Ethernet” part of the command accordingly. You can find your ethernet adapter name from the “Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced Network Settings” page.

PowerShell Command to Disable Ethernet in Windows 11

Important note: This method required administrator rights.

1. Right-click on the Start button on the taskbar.
2. Select the Terminal (Admin) option.
3. In the terminal window, run the following command.
   Disable-NetAdapter -Name "Ethernet"
4. The above command will instantly disable Ethernet in Windows 11.

Note: If your ethernet adapter’s name is different, modify the “Ethernet” part of the command accordingly. You can find your ethernet adapter name from the “Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced Network Settings” page.

Wrapping Up

As you can see, you have multiple ways to turn off Ethernet in Windows 11. If your user account doesn’t have administrator rights, follow the method using the Settings app. On the other hand, if you have administrator rights and are looking for alternative methods, you can use Device Manager, Command Prompt, or PowerShell. Whichever method you choose, the Ethernet will be disabled instantly.

If you have any questions or need help, feel free to comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.