Windows will not connect to a new network from which it would immediately soft-disconnect. This is also used to evaluate available networks that are not connected. The most preferred connection to the Active Directory domain, if the PC is joined to a domainĪll remaining networks are soft-disconnected, as described in the next section. The most preferred connection to the Internet Windows maintains connectivity to the following networks:Īny networks that were manually connected during the current user session If this policy is enabled, Windows attempts to maintain the smallest number of concurrent connections that offer the best available level of connectivity. If this policy is disabled, the behavior is similar to that for Windows 7 in which each interface connects to the most preferred network in range, regardless of the connectivity state of other interfaces.

In Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and versions of Windows 10 before Windows 10, version 1809, build 17763.404, this policy is a boolean value that can be modified using either Group Policy or the WcmSetProperty API. Versions of Windows before Windows 10, version 1809, build 17763.404 It is on by default for Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10. This policy is configured using the fMinimizeConnections Group Policy. These policies are not exposed in the Windows user interface but can be configured by using the WcmSetProperty API or Group Policy. Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 include a number of policies to control connection management. Pure virtual interfaces, such as VPNs and tunneled IP connections This topic describes how Windows automatically manages physical wireless connectivity and does not consider these connections:

Windows responds to Ethernet connections but does not automatically manage Ethernet connections.

Windows 8 no wireless networks