1. Disable or Enable the Network Adapter in Network Connections

In the search bar or in the Run, type control.exe /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter and press the Enter key (or go to the Start menu ⇨ Settings ⇨ Network and Internet ⇨ Status ⇨ Adapter Settings).

On the left side, click on “Change adapter settings“.

To disconnect the network connection: select the network adapter that you want to disconnect and click on “Disconnect the Network Device” (or right-click on the network connection and select Disconnect).

To enable the network connection: select the network adapter you want to enable, and click on “Turning on the Network Device” (or right-click on the network connection and select “Connect“).

 

2. Disable or Enable the Network Adapter in Device Manager

Open the “Device Manager“: one of the ways is to execute in the search bar or in the menu (execute is called with the Win + R keys) enter the command devmgmt.msc and press the Enter key.

To disconnect the network connection: open “Network adapters“, right-click on the one you want to disconnect, and click on “Disable device“. In the window that appears, click on “Yes.”

To enable a network connection: open “Network adapters“, right-click on the one you want to enable, and click on “Enable device“.

 

3. Disable or Enable the Network Adapter Using the Wmic Command

Open a command prompt as an administrator: one way is to enter cmd in the search bar and right-click on the result found, select “Run as administrator“.

Type wmic nic get name, index and press Enter. Opposite the name of the network adapter that you need to enable or disable is the index that you need to remember.

To disable the network adapter, use the command wmic path win32_networkadapter where index = 1 call disable (the number must be replaced with the index of the network adapter)

To enable the network adapter, use the wmic path win32_networkadapter command where index = 1 call enable

4. Disable or Enable the Network Adapter Using the Netsh Command

Open a command prompt as an administrator: one way is to enter cmd in the search bar and right-click on the found command line, select “Run as administrator“.

Type netsh interface show interface and press Enter. Remember the interface name of the network adapter you want to disable or enable.

To disable a network connection, use the netsh interface set interface “Wi-Fi 12” disable command (replace the one highlighted in red with the name of the network adapter interface).

To enable a network connection, use the netsh interface set interface “Wi-Fi 12” enable command (replace the highlighted red with the name of the network adapter interface).