How to Change Network Adapter Priority and Interface Metric in Windows 11

Modern Windows 11 computers—particularly laptops connected to docking stations or desktop workstations with multiple network cards—frequently maintain simultaneous connections to both wired Ethernet and wireless Wi-Fi networks. Under default operating conditions, Windows calculates routing decisions using an Automatic Metric algorithm based on link speed and adapter latency. However, this automatic assignment does not always prioritise your preferred connection, occasionally routing internet traffic across a slower Wi-Fi link while a Gigabit Ethernet cable is connected. Adjusting the network interface metric gives you deterministic control over adapter priority.

Understanding How Windows 11 Prioritises Network Adapters

Windows determines the order of outbound packet routing using the IP routing table. Every active network interface is assigned a numerical cost value termed an Interface Metric:

• The network adapter possessing the lowest metric number is awarded the highest routing priority.
• For instance, an interface with a metric value of 10 takes precedence over an interface assigned a metric of 25.
• By assigning your high-speed Ethernet adapter a lower manual metric than your Wi-Fi card, Windows will always route default gateway traffic over Ethernet whenever the cable is plugged in, falling back to Wi-Fi seamlessly only when the cable is disconnected.

Method 1: Change Adapter Priority via Network Connections (GUI)

The standard Windows interface allows you to configure manual metrics through the legacy Network Connections control panel:

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialogue box.
2. Type ncpa.cpl and hit Enter to open the Network Connections panel.
3. Right-click your primary preferred adapter (e.g. Ethernet) and select Properties.
4. In the components list, click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) to highlight it, then click the Properties button below.
5. In the IPv4 properties window, click the Advanced button at the bottom right.
6. Uncheck the box labelled Automatic metric at the bottom of the IP Settings tab.
7. In the Interface metric field, enter a low integer value, such as 10.
8. Click OK across all open dialogues to apply the setting.
9. Repeat this process for your secondary adapter (e.g. Wi-Fi), but assign it a higher metric number, such as 20 or 30.

Method 2: Change Network Adapter Priority Using PowerShell

For system administrators and power users, PowerShell provides the fastest and most precise method to inspect and reassign interface metrics:

1. Right-click the Start button on the taskbar and select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
2. Run the following command to display all active network interfaces and their current metric values:

   Get-NetIPInterface | Select-Object -Property InterfaceAlias, InterfaceIndex, AddressFamily, InterfaceMetric | Sort-Object -Property InterfaceMetric

3. Note the InterfaceAlias or InterfaceIndex corresponding to your adapters. For example, Ethernet might have index 12, while Wi-Fi has index 18.
4. To assign Ethernet a high priority (metric 10), execute:

   Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet" -InterfaceMetric 10

5. To assign Wi-Fi a lower priority (metric 25), execute:

   Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias "Wi-Fi" -InterfaceMetric 25

6. Verify the updated configuration by re-running:

   Get-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet", "Wi-Fi"

Verifying the Active Routing Table in Windows 11

To confirm that Windows 11 is actively respecting your custom interface priority for outbound internet traffic, check the active routing table:

1. In PowerShell or Command Prompt, enter:

   route print -4

2. Under the Active Routes section, observe the default gateway destination (0.0.0.0 / 0.0.0.0).
3. Confirm that the route with the lowest metric value points to the IP gateway address and interface of your desired primary adapter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing the interface metric affect IPv6 traffic?

The steps above configure IPv4 routing metrics. If your local network infrastructure utilizes native IPv6 routing, you must also configure the metric under Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) properties or run Set-NetIPInterface -AddressFamily IPv6 -InterfaceMetric [Number] in PowerShell.

How do I restore Windows default automatic metric calculation?

To revert to default behaviour, navigate back to the IPv4 advanced properties and re-tick the Automatic metric checkbox. In PowerShell, you can reset it immediately by executing: Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet" -AutomaticMetric Enabled.

Will Windows automatically disconnect Wi-Fi when Ethernet is plugged in?

Adjusting the metric ensures traffic flows through Ethernet, but Wi-Fi remains connected in the background as an active standby adapter. If you want Wi-Fi to shut off completely when Ethernet connects, you can enable the Group Policy rule “Minimize the number of simultaneous connections to the Internet or a Windows domain” under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Windows Connection Manager.