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Unable to use Wi-Fi and ethernet at the same time.

Todd Vernon 20 Reputation points
2026-04-30T17:22:25.94+00:00

On a laptop that was bought with Windows 10 Pro I did not have a problem with this. I use ethernet to connect to Stand alone PLC system and Wi-Fi for remote support. On the Windows 10 computer I just did it and did not think about it. I bought a new laptop that came with Windows 11 Pro. I had to downgrade it to Windows 10 Pro because some of the old software will not run on Windows 11. If I am connected to Wi-Fi and plug in ethernet the Wi-Fi turs off. Things I have tried based on my internet search. On the ethernet adapter I disabled Packet Priority and VLAN. I also Under Advanced TCP/IP Settings unchecked the Auto metric for ethernet and Wi-Fi. Gave ethernet a value of 15 and Wi-Fi a value of 5. Also, Wi-Fi configure/Power Management unchecked allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

Windows for business | Windows Client for IT Pros | Networking | Other
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HLBui 7,000 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-04-30T18:25:45.4833333+00:00

Good day Todd Vernon

I think Windows automatically prioritizing your wired connection over Wi-Fi, which is by design but can be frustrating when you need both active at the same time. On Windows 10, the system was a bit more forgiving, but newer builds (including some OEM images) tend to enforce “prefer Ethernet” more strictly. A couple of things you can try: go into Network & Internet Settings → Advanced Network Settings → Change adapter options, then right‑click your Wi-Fi adapter, hit Properties → Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → Advanced, and make sure “Automatic metric” is unchecked with a lower value than Ethernet (which you’ve already done, so that’s good).

Another trick is to disable the “Disable upon wired connect” option if your laptop vendor’s driver suite has it some OEMs ship utilities that force Wi-Fi off when Ethernet is plugged in. Also, check in Device Manager → Network adapters → Wi-Fi card → Advanced tab for any “Smart Connect” or “Disable on wired” settings; turning those off usually fixes it. If none of that works, you can force both adapters to stay active by creating a static route for your PLC subnet on Ethernet, while leaving Wi-Fi for internet traffic this way Windows won’t try to collapse them into one.

Give those steps a shot, and hopefully you’ll get back to the same seamless setup you had before. If this answer helps, please hit “Accept Answer” so others know it works

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  1. Masoud Akbarzadeh 80 Reputation points
    2026-05-04T15:53:15.52+00:00

    This behavior is typically not caused by Windows itself but by network adapter settings or OEM network management software.

    In many laptops, there is a feature such as LAN/WLAN switching that automatically disables Wi-Fi when a wired Ethernet connection is detected. This is common in manufacturer utilities (e.g., Dell, HP, Lenovo).

    Recommended checks:

    • Verify that no OEM utility is enabling “disable Wi-Fi on wired connection” or similar LAN/WLAN switching features.
    • Ensure the correct metric configuration: Ethernet should normally have a lower metric than Wi-Fi.
    • Confirm that no driver-specific power management or network optimization software is controlling adapter behavior.
    • Consider updating or rolling back the network adapter drivers, as this issue is often driver-related in Windows 11/Windows 10 downgrade scenarios.

    In most cases, disabling the OEM network switching feature resolves the issue permanently.

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  2. HLBui 7,000 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-05-04T02:13:12.7066667+00:00

    Good day Todd Vernon

    Just checking to see how is everything. Please feel free to let me know if you need any assistance

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