Seamless Connectivity: How to Automatically Switch to the Strongest Wi-Fi Network on Windows

Windows 10 and 11 come equipped with a useful AutoSwitch feature, which enables devices to automatically select the Wi-Fi access point (AP) with the strongest signal when multiple APs are broadcasting the same SSID. This functionality helps prevent disconnections due to weak signals by seamlessly connecting to a better option when available.

To activate the AutoSwitch feature, users can adjust settings in the Wireless Network Adapter:

1. Launch the Network Connections management panel by entering ncpa.cpl in the run dialog.
2. Right-click on your Wi-Fi connection and select Status.
3. Click on Wireless Properties, then enable Look for other wireless networks while connected to this network.

Note that this option will only appear if the setting "Connect automatically when this network is in range" is enabled.

Once the AutoSwitch is activated, Windows will automatically link to the Wi-Fi network with the strongest signal. Users also have the option to check the signal strength of their current Wi-Fi connection using PowerShell with the following command:

netsh wlan show interfaces | findstr "Signal"

For more advanced configurations, users can manage AutoSwitch settings through the command line using netsh wlan commands. For instance, to view saved Wi-Fi profiles and their settings, users can use:

netsh wlan show profiles

To enable AutoSwitch for a specific profile:

netsh wlan set profileparameter name=YourProfileName autoswitch=Yes

AutoSwitch is disabled by default, and to check its status for a profile, you would run:

netsh wlan show profile name=YourProfileName

Steps can also be taken to adjust the “Roaming Aggressiveness” settings, which determine how sensitive a WLAN adapter is to switching between networks based on signal strength. This option can typically be found under the Advanced tab in the properties of the Wi-Fi adapter. Users can set the sensitivity from levels 1 (least aggressive) to 6 (most aggressive).

For example, to set the roaming aggressiveness to a high sensitivity level:

Set-NetAdapterAdvancedProperty -Name "YourAdapterName" -DisplayName "Roaming Aggressiveness" -DisplayValue "6"

Moreover, Windows can be set to automatically disconnect from Wi-Fi when an Ethernet connection is detected, leading to improved connectivity and performance in environments with both connections.

By utilizing the AutoSwitch and Roaming Aggressiveness features, users can enhance their experience with Wi-Fi networks, making connections more stable and reliable.