Network and internet windows 10

Palla Sridhar is the writer and admin for WindowsTechIt.com. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos and solutions guides for Windows 11, 10, Skype, Outlook, HDMI, Redmi, Facebook, Google, Tech Apps and LinkedIn.

On Windows 10, the Settings app includes the Network & Internet section, which is the place designed specifically to configure and change networking features on your computer.

When you open the Settings app (Windows key + I), Network & Internet is located between Devices and Personalization. Inside you can manage your computer’s Wi-Fi and Ethernet network adapters, turn on or off airplane mode, set up a VPN connection, and much more.

In this guide, you’ll get an overview of the Network & Internet settings on Windows 10.

Network & Internet is the place in the Settings that handles the networking features of Windows 10. However, you’ll quickly find out that this section is currently mostly a place to check status and turn some features on and off, as you still need to use Control Panel to change your Wi-Fi and Ethernet adapter settings, configure advanced options, and more.

Microsoft will eventually move all the network features to the Settings app from Control Panel, but it’ll take time.

Status

On the Status page, you can quickly see whether your device is currently connected to the internet. In addition, there is an easy way to understand diagram that shows exactly how your computer is connected to the internet and which adapter is using.

In the screenshot, you can see that the computer is connected using an Ethernet network adapter, which is named Ethernet0.

The Show available network link will simply open the network flyout in the Taskbar to show which network you’re connected.

Under Change your network settings, you’ll find a number of options, such as Change adapter options, Sharing options, Homegroup, Network troubleshooter, and others. However, these are just links to change those settings using Control Panel.

Perhaps the most interesting option is the Network reset link that allows you to virtually fix any networking problems on Windows 10 with a single-click.

Ethernet

If your computer has only an Ethernet adapter, then you’ll only see the Ethernet page.

On the Ethernet page, you can see your Ethernet (wired) connections. You can always click the network adapter to view current properties, including IP and MAC address, manufacturer and driver version.

There is also an option to make your device discoverable by other computers in the local network. The option is disable by default, but you can always turn on the Make this PC discoverable toggle switch.

Wi-Fi

If your computer has only a wireless adapter, then you’ll see the Wi-Fi and Mobile hotspot pages.

On the Wi-Fi page, you can manage most of the wireless features available on Windows 10. The page is divided into four sections, including Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Sense, Hotspot 2.0 networks, and Paid Wi-Fi Services.

Wi-Fi allows you to enable or disable wireless access, and view the network you’re currently connected.

Clicking the current network connection will open another page, where you can control additional options, including:

• Connect automatically when in range: Connects your computer to the current network as soon it’s in range.
• Make this PC discoverable: Allows your computer to be discoverable in the local network.
• Metered connection: Restricts network data usage on limited data plans. Enabling this feature some apps will work differently, and Windows and driver updates won’t download.

You can also view your wireless current properties, including IP and MAC addresses, SSID, protocol, security type, network band and channel, manufacturer and driver version.

On Wi-Fi there is also a Show available networks link that opens the network flyout in Taskbar to see all the Wi-Fi networks in range.

Clicking the Manage known networks opens a page with a list of all the wireless networks you have previously connected. If you’re looking to remove a saved wireless network, you can select a network from the list, and click the Forget button.

Wi-Fi Sense is a feature on Windows 10 that allows devices to automatically connect to suggested wireless hotspots. In the page, you can turn Wi-Fi Sense on or off and show notifications when action is required to connect to a network.

Hotspot 2.0 networks is a new way to access public Wi-Fi (e.g., cafes, airports, and hotels). It’s a IEEE standard (802.11u) that allows you to securely automatically connect to trusted hotspots (avoid malicious wireless connections), and it offers an encrypted connection between your device and the access point. You can enable this feature by turning on the Let me use Online Sign-Up to get connected toggle switch.

Paid Wi-Fi services is a feature that allows to get online by purchasing internet time. You can enable this to let Windows 10 temporarily connect to open and unsecure wireless networks to see if there is paid Wi-Fi available.

Dial-up

On the Dial-up page, you won’t see any settings to configure a dial-up connection, but you can click the Set up a new connection link to use Control Panel to get connected using a slow dial-up connection.

VPN

On the VPN page, it’s possible to set up a new VPN (Virtual Private Network) connection to securely connect to a remote network over the internet.

If you need to set up a new VPN connection on Windows 10, you can use this step-by-step guide.

Then there is the Advanced Options section, which includes the ability to allow to use a VPN connection over metered networks and while roaming.

Airplane mode

On the Airplane mode, you can turn on airplane mode on Windows 10 to stop all wireless communications, including Wi-Fi, cellular, and Bluetooth connectivity.

This page also includes a toggle switch to individually disable Bluetooth on your computer. However, the same option is also available on the Devices section.

Mobile hotspot

On the Mobile hotspot page, you can share your internet connection with other devices by turning your PC into a wireless hotspot. In this page, you can turn on the feature and select a network adapter (must be wireless) to share an internet connection.

There is also an option to allow remote devices to turn on mobile hotspot automatically, but it only works when both devices are connected using Bluetooth.

If you need to set up a mobile hotspot on your Windows 10 PC, you can use this step-by-step guide.

Data usage

On the Data usage page, you’ll see an overview of your computer’s data usage in the last 30 days, which can come in handy when using a limited internet connection and to make sure you don’t go over the data limit.

You can click the Usage details to see which apps are using the most data.

Proxy

On the Proxy page, you can quickly configure proxy settings for your Windows 10 computer.

Proxy is basically a computer, typically a server, that acts as an intermediary between two devices. Many people use proxy servers to access websites that are geographically restricted.

On Windows 10, you can let your computer automatically detect these settings, use a script, or you can manually set up a proxy connection.

Windows 10 Settings

• System
• Devices

Wrapping things up

Microsoft is adding new changes to the Settings app with the Windows 10 Creators Update. This means that these settings are compatible until the Windows 10 Anniversary Update (version 1607).

Some of these changes will be happening to the Network & Internet section where you’ll be able to set an Ethernet connection as metered, Data usage with some visual changes, Wi-Fi Sense and Paid Wi-Fi services will be combined into one group called “Wi-Fi services”, and other small changes.

Editor’s Note: In this guide, we looked at the Network & Internet settings on Windows 10. In future guides, I’ll be also writing about the other remaining sections to uncover all the features in the Settings app. These articles will also be updated as Microsoft releases new versions of Windows 10.

 
In this post, you will read the details of all options in Network & Internet Tab in Windows 10 Settings Menu like WiFi, Airplane Mode, Cellular, Dial-up, Ethernet, and Proxy.

We are in an era where the Operating System holds the efficiency to execute a wide range of assignments from a single place and also at a time. One such place we are experiencing in the new build of Windows 10 is the Settings. This area allows its users to carry out all the required modifications they wished to do. Starting from the System, users will be able to do configurations of almost all the items. One such awesome tab is there in Windows 10 Settings that lets its users explore settings related to Network & Internet.

We are really thankful to Windows 10 Network & Internet of Settings which represents some configuration settings that were absent in the older versions or were not easily available to work with. The Network & Internet tab really did a great work by bringing the Network and Sharing Center together with the old settings of the Windows 8. All types of settings related to the network and internet are found in this single place. Thus, today we will drop down the details of the Network & Internet tab of Settings in Windows 10. Let us start it by telling you how to get access to it.

How to Access of Network & Internet Settings in Windows 10

Step 1

Click on the Start Menu and under Places you will see Settings. Open it.

Step 2

When the Settings window opens, click on the Network & Internet tab. You will be taken to the Network & Internet settings area.

The above mentioned is the one way to get into the Network & Internet settings. You can also navigate to it by clicking on the network icon that you will see on the system tray of the Notification Area.

When you are into Network & Internet you will see the following: Wi-Fi, Airplane mode, Cellular, VPN, DirectAccess, Dial-up, Ethernet, and Proxy. Now, we will see what all these have in store for you to work with.

Wi-Fi

The Wi-Fi part holds only two links – Show available connections and Advanced settings.

A click on the Show available connections prompts the Networks sidebar. There you can see the connections that are available. From here you can connect to any of the available networks on your computer.

Advanced settings link exhibits the settings of the Control Panel like Network & Sharing Center, HomeGroup, Change advanced sharing settings, Internet options, and Windows Firewall where you could navigate from the traditional Control Panel.

Airplane mode

When boarded on a flight, it is recommended to turn Airplane mode on as it detaches all the connections and restricts system from transferring waves. When you turn on it also deactivates all the connections facilities and switches off all the wireless communications.

When you turn on Airplane mode on your Windows 10 PC via settings all the Wireless connections automatically get disabled.

Cellular

A detailed article on Cellular has been recently covered by us. As my Windows 10 system is not connected to any cellular service, so we don’t have anything here to display. The link that asks to Show available connections when clicked will bring up the Network sidebar where you can see the available cellular services.

You find two links in Cellular too.

Show available connection leads to prompt the flap containing all the active Cellular Networks on you PC and you can connect to any network if your choice.

Advanced Settings is the medium to go away to the settings of the Control Panel.

VPN

A VPN connection is across the Internet and treated same as WAN. When you create a VPN connection, you enable your system to send or receive information across public or shared networks. It works as it is connected to the private network directly. Click on + Add a VPN connection and create your VPN connection by providing the necessary details of the VPN provider, connection name, login data and things like that.

DirectAccess

DirectAccess looks more like the Cellular part that we mentioned above. You will be able to connect to your Network without any Key in easy way using DirectAccess.

You can read more about DirectAccess here.

Again the link Show Available Connections will take you to the networks working on your PC to connect.

Dial-up

To pen down brief about this feature it comes to use when your system is not connected to a Local Area Network (LAN). And then when you wish to get connected to the Internet, you need to configure a Dial-up networking and get connected to the Internet by providing the required information.

Ethernet

Just like Cellular service and Dial-up connection, handling Ethernet is also that simple. You know Ethernet is a wire connection. When you are plugged to an Ethernet connection, you will view the IPv4 address, the DNS servers, driver version and things like that. It even provides you a way to copy the information and use it somewhere else (wherever you need it).

Proxy

To receive any data from the server, the Proxy server acts as an intermediary by connecting the client to the server. Here, you are the client and put a request to the proxy server to open up a web page, for instance, now the proxy server collects information and supplies it to you. In this section, you can get connected to the automatic proxy or can also use the manual setup by providing the IP address and other related information.

In the End

All the details of the Network & Internet is mentioned above in a brief way. If you see it carefully, you will see that every category that we discussed above has a common thing in between. All the categories have the option to see their Advanced settings.