How to turn wifi off

When and How to Turn Off Wi-Fi

An MIT graduate who brings years of technical experience to articles on SEO, computers, and wireless networking.

Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years’ experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.

In This Article

What to Know

• Windows computers: Turn off Wi-Fi in Control Panel or from the Windows taskbar.
• Mac computers: In the menu bar, select the Wi-Fi icon and move the slider next to Wi-Fi to Off.
• Phones: For iPhones, go to Settings >Wi-Fi. For Android phones go to Settings >Network & internet >Internet.

This article explains how to turn off Wi-Fi and why you might want to turn it off. Instructions apply to Windows and Mac computers, Android and iOS smartphones, and routers.

How to Turn Wi-Fi Off on Computers

In Windows 10 and earlier, disable Wi-Fi through Control Panel. Another option is to turn off Wi-Fi from the Windows taskbar. Select the Wi-Fi icon and then select Wi-Fi to disable it.

Laptops sometimes have a physical Wi-Fi switch on the front or side that, if turned to the off position, physically shuts off the Wi-Fi antenna, which is the same as disabling Wi-Fi through Control Panel. Move the switch to the On position to turn Wi-Fi back on.

To turn off Wi-Fi on macOS, go to the menu bar, click the wireless icon, then choose Turn Wi-Fi Off.

Some computers have the option to turn off Wi-Fi with a key combination. Look for a key with a wireless icon, then press either the Fn or Shift key and the wireless key to turn the Wi-Fi connection on and off.

How to Turn Wi-Fi Off on Phones

Smartphones provide a software switch in the Settings app that turns Wi-Fi off. For example, on the iPhone, this is in Settings > Wi-Fi. If you use a different phone or tablet, go to the Settings and look for a similar menu that says Wireless Networks, Network Connections, or Network & internet.

For example, on Android 12 devices, go to Settings > Network & internet > Internet and tap the Wi-Fi switch to turn it off.

How to Turn Off Wi-Fi From a Router

Disabling Wi-Fi from a wireless home router may not be as simple as doing so from a phone or computer. Some routers have a physical button that turns off the Wi-Fi. If your router does, press it to shut down the wireless signal immediately.

If that’s not how your router is built, access your router’s administrative console to turn off Wi-Fi. The process isn’t the same for every router. For example, on some Comtrend routers, go to Advanced Setup > Wireless > Basic and turn off the Enable Wireless toggle switch. On many Linksys routers, disable Wi-Fi as part of the Wireless Basic Settings by changing the Wireless Network Mode to OFF.

If your router lacks a built-in feature to turn off Wi-Fi, fully powering down the unit will turn off Wi-Fi. Shutting down the router disables any non-Wi-Fi functionality such as the wired connections.

Remove Adapters and Antennas to Disable Wi-Fi

If a computer uses a detachable Wi-Fi adapter (such as a USB stick), removing it disables its Wi-Fi radios. Follow the operating system’s recommended procedures for detaching these adapters. Improper removal can cause data loss.

Some wireless routers feature external, detachable antennas. Removing these antennas hinders the ability of the router to use Wi-Fi but does not stop Wi-Fi signal transmission.

Turn Down the Wi-Fi Power

Many adapters and some routers have advanced configuration options to control the transmitter power of the Wi-Fi radios. This feature allows administrators to adjust a network’s wireless signal range (often used to reduce power and signal strength when installed in small spaces).

If your router does not support turning off wireless, change the transmit (often called Tx) power to 0 to effectively disable Wi-Fi.

If your wireless router lacks features such as the ability to adjust Tx power or disable Wi-Fi, upgrade the firmware to install new administrative options. Consult the manufacturer documentation for the router model for details.

Decide Why You Want to Turn Off Wi-Fi

Before you turn off your Wi-Fi, decide why you want to turn it off. Reasons to turn off Wi-Fi include the cost and affordability of the service, the need for a Wi-Fi connection, or the security issues with a Wi-Fi connection. You may not need to disable your Wi-Fi; hiding it from others could solve the problem.

You could also turn off Wi-Fi to troubleshoot if there’s an issue with your network, like when a website won’t load. Another reason is if the available bandwidth on the Wi-Fi network is affected by the number of devices using it. Disabling Wi-Fi, in this case, could make not only your device faster but also the devices that are currently using the Wi-Fi.

If You Want to Stop Paying for Your Internet

Disabling Wi-Fi does not reduce the price of your internet bill unless you’re on a pay-per-usage plan. If you want to disable your internet service and not just turn off the Wi-Fi signal on your device or network, contact your internet service provider (ISP) and discontinue the service.

You Don’t Use Wi-Fi

Turn off or disable the router wireless signal if you’re not using it. Some homes don’t have any wireless devices, and a wireless signal in these cases serves no purpose.

Another reason to disable Wi-Fi is when the network has a slow Wi-Fi connection. When Wi-Fi is slow, turn off the Wi-Fi on your tablet or phone and use your mobile carrier’s network for faster speeds.

It’s a Security Risk

If you’re not using your Wi-Fi or don’t need to use it, disable it if you’re concerned about security.

If your Wi-Fi is on all the time, and you never changed the default SSID or default router password when you first installed the router, it’s not hard for a neighbor (or someone sitting outside your home) to access your network by cracking your wireless password.

To keep your Wi-Fi on and have better security, change the wireless password to something more secure and block unknown devices by setting up MAC address filtering.

Another option for increased security instead of disabling Wi-Fi from the router is to disable it from the device. For example, if you use your phone or tablet in a hotel or coffee shop and are concerned that someone nearby may be snooping on your internet traffic, disable Wi-Fi on the device to ensure that none of your data is transferred through the network.

You Want to Hide the Wi-Fi

If you don’t want to disable Wi-Fi from your router but instead want to hide it so that it’s hard for someone to connect to your network, hide the SSID, which is the name of your network. The Wi-Fi doesn’t turn off when you hide or stop broadcasting the SSID. Hiding the SSID makes it difficult for uninvited guests to find and connect to your network.

On Android, open Settings and select Connections > Wi-Fi Calling, then turn off Wi-Fi Calling (flip the toggle off of blue to gray). On iOS, open Settings and select Phone, then turn off Wi-Fi Calling. Turning off Wi-Fi Calling on an iPad or Mac requires going through the FaceTime settings.

On iPhone, open Settings > Wi-Fi > the information button («i») next to the Wi-Fi connection > turn off Private Address. On Android, open Settings > select Connections or Network & Internet > select the gear icon next to the network. Select MAC address type > Use phone MAC > turn your phone’s Wi-Fi off and back on again.

Источник

How to Turn Off WiFi on a Router – Basic Guide

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When you are not using the router, turn off the Wi-Fi to guarantee that it remains secure for a long duration of time. Consequently, if you do not often access the internet, it is preferable to leave the WiFi switched off. Most WiFi modems now come with an exterior switch to make it easier for you to access the internet.

Some, on the other hand, may not have it. It is at this point that you must bring the technically aware individual outdoors! Of course, just turning off the switch is a simple solution, but if your router does not have this feature, you will need to step up your game. You must first get access to the router’s administrative interface in order to do so.

Using this article, you will learn how to turn down WiFi on various routers in order to maintain their integrity and security. So, let’s get this party started!

Turning Wi-Fi off on the Modem ROUTER: Some Basics

First and foremost, we need to understand the router’s internals and externals before we can figure out how to turn wifi off on the router. A typical local broadband router consists of three components, which are as follows: 1. A NAT router is a device that directs an internet connection to a single specific IP address on the local network. Additionally, this device shares it with a local network that is managed by it. 2. It is referred to as a Network Switch since it supports a number of devices in connecting to a local network provided by the router via an Ethernet connection. 3. A Wireless Access Point (WAP) is a device that allows several devices to connect to the router’s local network via wireless connections. Read Also: How To Stream Video From PC To Android According on the kind and interface of your router, you should be able to operate each of the parts listed above individually in most cases. To make it easier to manage your network security, you may easily switch off the wireless access point whenever you choose. Furthermore, you have the option of turning off the router and using the device as a network bridge, both with and without an Ethernet cable, to connect to another network. To put it another way, there isn’t a single method for turning off Wi-Fi on a router. Because router manufacturers use a variety of layouts and interfaces in their products, there are other areas where each Wi-Fi may be found.

How to Turn Off Wi-Fi on Different Routers

It is possible to log into most Wi-Fi routers, which will transport you to the main page of that router’s website when you do. However, this method does not work for everyone. You might attempt an easier method of turning off the Wi-Fi on the router. Read Also: MiFi Vs Wifi As a result, you must go to the router’s website in order to use this approach. After that, you’ll see a button or toggle to turn off the WiFi, and you’ll be ready to go. The only thing you need to do is log into the router, and everything else will fall into place on its own. For those who find that this approach does not work for them, here is a simple method for turning off Wi-Fi on different routers.

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