How to remove and disable the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter
The Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter allows your PC to connect to another wireless device via a wireless network. Windows 10 and 11 operating systems use Wi-Fi Direct's "Items to This PC" feature to wirelessly mirror your other devices to your PC.
In other words, the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter can cause problems with your external Wi-Fi adapter. It can also clutter your Device Manager view. If you need to get rid of the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter, here's how to remove and disable the virtual adapter in Windows 10 and 11.
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What is the purpose of the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter?
The Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter is a virtual network adapter. Windows creates and activates the adapter if you use any application that may require the Wi-Fi Direct feature.
Wi-Fi Direct can be used to transfer large amounts of data, connect compatible devices, and mirror them to your PC without a wireless access point.
However, if you are using an external Wi-Fi adapter, the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter may cause connectivity issues. This could ultimately lead to you needing to fix a problem with frequent Wi-Fi disconnections on Windows. It may also conflict with third-party applications and games.
To resolve any issues triggered by the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter, try disabling the "Items to This PC" option in Windows 10 and 11. If that doesn't work, you can manually remove the virtual adapter using Device Manager, Registry Editor, and Command Prompt.
1. Disable "Project to this PC"
If the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter is causing problems with your external Wi-Fi adapter, you can disable the "Project to this PC" feature in Windows 11.
Although Microsoft recommends and provides an option to always turn off the "Projects to This PC" feature, please check if you have already changed it to "Always Available". If so, reconfiguring the "Projects to This PC" feature to "Always Off" should help you resolve the issue.
To disable the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter:
- according to win + i Open set up.
- Inside set up Window, open system Label.
- Next, scroll down and click. Projected onto this computer.
How to remove and disable the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter
- Next, click the drop-down menu below. When you say no problem, some Windows and Android devices can project onto this computer.On older equipment, you might see Windows PCs and mobile phones can be projected onto this computer if you say no problem.
- choose Always keep off (recommended).
That's all. After disabling the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter, you should be able to use an external Wi-Fi adapter without any problems.
To permanently remove the virtual adapter, use the following steps to uninstall the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter.
2. How to remove the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter through Device Manager
Now that you've closed the project on this computer, you can use Device Manager to remove the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter.
To uninstall the Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter:
- Please press win + X Key Open WinX menu.
- Click device Manager.
- In Device Manager, expand Network adapter part.
- Next, find Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter.
- If the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter is not listed, please click viewThen select Show hidden devices.
- Right-click the virtual adapter entry and select Disable device.
- Click Yes Confirm the operation and disable the device.
- Repeat these steps for all the same virtual adapter entries.
- Close Device Manager and restart your computer. After restarting, open Device Manager to verify the changes.
If you need to re-enable the adapter, right-click the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter in Device Manager and select... Enable the device.
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3. How to remove the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter using the command prompt?
If you are unable to remove the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter from Device Manager, please use Command Prompt. You can use Command Prompt to disable and stop broadcasting for the wireless hosted network and disable the Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter.
To disable the Wi-Fi Direct virtual driver using CMD:
- according to win + R Open run.
- type OrderThen press and hold Ctrl + Shift button Enter Open a command prompt window as an administrator.
- Next, type the following command and press Enter. This command will stop broadcasting the wireless hosting network:
netsh wlan stop hostednetwork - Next, type the following command and press Enter. This command will disable the Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter:
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=disallow - After execution, enter exit Then close the command prompt.
If you need to re-enable the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter, execute the following command:
- Run Command Prompt as administrator.
- In the command prompt window, type the following command to re-enable the virtual adapter:
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=disallow
netsh wlan stop hostednetwork
4. How to remove the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter using the Registry Editor
To permanently remove the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter, you need to adjust the Windows Registry. Use this method if Windows keeps reinstalling the adapter on restarts.
Please note that modifying your registry entries involves risks. Make sure to back up your Windows Registry and create a restore point. Once complete, continue with the following steps.
To permanently disable the Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter via Registry Editor:
- according to win + R Open run.
- enter Registry Then click OK Open the Registry Editor. Click... Yes If prompt User Account Control (UAC).
- In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following location. You can copy and paste the registry path into the address bar of the Registry Editor for easier navigation:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Wlansvc\Parameters\HostedNetworkSettings - In the right pane, locate and right-click the HostedNetworkSettings value.
- choose delete Then click Yes Confirm the action.
- Exit Registry Editor and restart your PC to apply the changes.
After restarting, open a command prompt as administrator and execute the following command to verify the status of the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter:
netsh wlan show hostednetwork
If successful, Managed network setup, this model It will be displayed as Not configured.
Remove the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter in Windows.
Removing the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct virtual adapter via Device Manager is straightforward. However, if Windows reinstalls the adapter after a restart, you can permanently remove the virtual adapter using a registry hack.
In other words, you can also resolve the issue by disabling this PC project feature in Windows 11 and 10 without completely removing the virtual adapter.
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