How to Disable Internet Connection (Windows)

April 2023 ยท 2 minute read

This wikiHow teaches you how to disable any internet connection on your Windows PC. If you're using Windows 10 or 8, you can quickly disable all internet access by turning on airplane mode. For a longer-term solution, you can disable your...

Method 1 of 3:

Turning on Airplane Mode in Windows 10 and 8

  • Picture 1 of How to Disable Internet Connection (Windows) Click your network connection Picture 2 of How to Disable Internet Connection (Windows) . You should see it in the taskbar next to the clock, which is usually at the bottom of the screen. Use this method to temporarily prevent your PC from connecting to the internet.
  • Depending on the type of connection, the icon will either be a globe (sometimes with a "caution" sign over it) or several curved lines (Windows 10) or a stack of signal bars (Windows 8).
  • Picture 3 of How to Disable Internet Connection (Windows) Click the Airplane mode tile. If you're using Windows 10, it's the tile with an airplane icon. If you're using Windows 8 or 8.1, slide the "Airplane mode" switch to the On position instead. This will disconnect the PC from all wired and wireless networks immediately.
  • An airplane icon will appear to the left of the clock as long as airplane mode is enabled.
  • To reconnect, return to the network connection and click Airplane mode again (Windows 10) or slide the "Airplane mode" switch to the Off position.

    • Method 3 of 3:

    Disabling Wi-Fi in Windows 10

  • Picture 9 of How to Disable Internet Connection (Windows) Click your internet connection Picture 10 of How to Disable Internet Connection (Windows) in the taskbar. You should see your internet connection next to the clock in the taskbar, which is usually at the bottom of the screen. Depending on the type of connection, the icon will either be a globe (sometimes with a "caution" sign over it) or several curved lines.
  • If you don't see a network connection icon, click the up-arrow left of the clock to expand additional icons.
  • Picture 11 of How to Disable Internet Connection (Windows) Click the Wi-Fi Picture 12 of How to Disable Internet Connection (Windows) icon. It's at the bottom-left corner of the menu at the bottom of the screen. This disables all wireless connections.
  • If you just want to disconnect from the network you're connected to now, click Disconnect on that network. Be aware that depending on your settings, your PC may try reconnecting to the network (or other open networks) immediately.
  • To re-enable the adapter, click your network icon again in the taskbar, then click the Wi-Fi button again. Depending on your settings, you may need to reconnect to your wireless network manually by clicking its name.
    • Kareem Winters Kareem Winters

    Update 04 March 2020

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