To use Wi-Fi the way you want, you can change how and when your phone connects. When you have Wi-Fi turned on, your phone automatically connects to nearby Wi-Fi networks you've connected to before. You can also set your phone to automatically turn on Wi-Fi near saved networks. Important:
Turn on & connect
Tip: After you connect, the network is "Saved." When your phone is near and Wi-Fi is on, your phone automatically connects to this network.
Connect via notification
When Wi-Fi is on, you get notifications of available, high-quality, public networks. On these notifications:
- To connect to the network, tap Connect.
- To change Wi-Fi settings, tap All Networks.
- To not get notifications for that network, clear the notification. Learn how to control notifications.
Connect from the Internet Panel
- Swipe down from the top of the screen.
- Tap Internet.
- In the panel that appears, select a network.
Tip: To get a better connection, you can use the Internet Panel to quickly switch to another network. Your preference is saved temporarily.
Compare networks' strength
Reset your internet connection
Important: If you reset your connection while you’re on a call, your call will end.
- Swipe down from the top of the screen.
- Touch and hold Internet.
- At the top, select Reset .
Disconnect Wi-Fi on your device
Change, add, share, or remove saved networks
Change a saved network
- Open your device's Settings app.
- Tap Network & internet Internet.
- To move between listed networks, tap a network name.
- To change a network's settings, tap the network.
Add
Option 1: Reload network list
If the network you want isn't listed, but is nearby, wait for the list to refresh.
Option 2: Add network
- Open your device's Settings app.
- Tap Network & internet Internet.
- At the bottom of the list, tap Add network.
- You may need to enter the network name (SSID) and security details.
- Tap Save.
Share Wi-Fi info with a friend
Remove saved networks
- Open your device's Settings app.
- Tap Network & internet Internet.
- Touch and hold a saved network.
- Tap Forget network.
Related resources
- Tether with Wi-Fi hotspot
- Make calls over Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi assistant & speed labels opt-out for network administrators
- Manage advanced Wi-Fi network settings
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Manage Wi-Fi Sense in your company
- Article
- 12/10/2022
- 4 minutes to read
In this article
Applies to
- Windows 10 version 1709 and older
Important
Beginning with Windows 10, version 1803, Wifi-Sense is no longer available. The following information only applies to Windows 10, version 1709 and prior. Please see Connecting to open Wi-Fi hotspots in Windows 10 for more details.
Wi-Fi Sense learns about open Wi-Fi hotspots your Windows device by collecting information about the network, like whether the open Wi-Fi network has a high-quality connection to the Internet. By using that information from your device and from other Wi-Fi Sense customers' devices too, Wi-Fi Sense builds a database of these high-quality networks. When you’re in range of one of these Wi-Fi hotspots, you automatically get connected to it.
The initial settings for Wi-Fi Sense are determined by the options you chose when you first set up your device with Windows 10.
Note
Wi-Fi Sense isn’t available in all countries or regions.
How does Wi-Fi Sense work?
Wi-Fi Sense connects your employees to open Wi-Fi networks. Typically, these are the open (no password required) Wi-Fi hotspots you see when you’re out and about.
How to manage Wi-Fi Sense in your company
In a company environment, you will most likely deploy Windows 10 to your employees' devices using your preferred deployment method and then manage their settings globally. With that in mind, you have a few options for managing how your employees will use Wi-Fi Sense.
Important
Turning off Wi-Fi Sense stops employees from connecting automatically to open hotspots.
Using Group Policy (available starting with Windows 10, version 1511)
You can manage your Wi-Fi Sense settings by using Group Policy and your Group Policy editor.
To set up Wi-Fi Sense using Group Policy
Open your Group Policy editor and go to the Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Network\WLAN Service\WLAN Settings\Allow Windows to automatically connect to suggested open hotspots, to networks shared by contacts, and to hotspots offering paid services setting.
Turn Wi-Fi Sense on (enabled) or off (disabled), based on your company's environment.
Using the Registry Editor
You can manage your Wi-Fi Sense settings by using registry keys and the Registry Editor.
To set up Wi-Fi Sense using the Registry Editor
Open your Registry Editor and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WcmSvc\wifinetworkmanager\config\
Create and set a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named, AutoConnectAllowedOEM, with a Value data of 0 (zero).
Setting this value to 0 turns off Wi-Fi Sense and all Wi-Fi sense features. When turned off, the Wi-Fi Sense settings still appear on the Wi-Fi Settings screen, but can't be controlled by the employee and all of the Wi-Fi Sense features are turned off. For more info, see How to configure Wi-Fi Sense on Windows 10 in an enterprise.
Using the Windows Provisioning settings
You can manage your Wi-Fi Sense settings by changing the Windows provisioning setting, WiFISenseAllowed.
To set up Wi-Fi Sense using WiFISenseAllowed
Change the Windows Provisioning setting, WiFISenseAllowed, to 0.
Setting this value to 0 turns off Wi-Fi Sense and all Wi-Fi sense features. When turned off, the Wi-Fi Sense settings still appear on the Wi-Fi Settings screen, but can't be controlled by the employee and all of the Wi-Fi Sense features are turned off. For more info, see the Windows Provisioning settings reference topic, WiFiSenseAllowed.
Using Unattended Windows Setup settings
If your company still uses Unattend, you can manage your Wi-Fi Sense settings by changing the Unattended Windows Setup setting, WiFiSenseAllowed.
To set up Wi-Fi Sense using WiFISenseAllowed
Change the Unattended Windows Setup setting, WiFISenseAllowed, to 0.
Setting this value to 0 turns off Wi-Fi Sense and all Wi-Fi sense features. When turned off, the Wi-Fi Sense settings still appear on the **Wi-Fi Settings screen, but can't be controlled by the employee and all of the Wi-Fi Sense features are turned off. For more info, see the Unattended Windows Setup Reference topic, WiFiSenseAllowed.
How employees can change their own Wi-Fi Sense settings
If you don’t turn off the ability for your employees to use Wi-Fi Sense, they can turn it on locally by selecting Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage Wi-Fi settings, and then turning on Connect to suggested open hotspots.
Important
The service that was used to share networks with Facebook friends, Outlook.com contacts, or Skype contacts is no longer available. This means:
The Connect to networks shared by my contacts setting will still appear in Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage Wi-Fi settings on your device. However, this setting will have no effect now. Regardless of what it’s set to, networks won’t be shared with your contacts. Your contacts won’t be connected to networks you’ve shared with them, and you won’t be connected to networks they’ve shared with you.
Even if you selected Automatically connect to networks shared by your contacts when you first set up your Windows 10 device, you still won’t be connected to networks your contacts have shared with you.
If you select the Share network with my contacts check box the first time you connect to a new network, the network won’t be shared.
- Wi-Fi Sense and Privacy
- How to configure Wi-Fi Sense on Windows 10 in an enterprise
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