How to Disable Windows 10’s Wi-Fi Sense Password Sharing

Wi-Fi Sense is a feature in Windows 10 that allows users to share Wi-Fi network passwords with their contacts. While this can be convenient, it may also pose security risks, especially if you do not want to share your network with all your contacts. Below are the steps to disable Wi-Fi Sense password sharing in Windows 10.

Method 1: Disabling Wi-Fi Sense via Settings

1. Open Settings:

• Click on the Start button and select Settings.

1. Navigate to Network & Internet:

• In the Settings window, click on Network & Internet.

1. Access Wi-Fi Settings:

• In the left pane, click on Wi-Fi and then click on Manage Wi-Fi settings.

1. Turn Off Wi-Fi Sense:

• In the Manage Wi-Fi settings window, you will see two toggle switches:
  • Connect to suggested open hotspots: Turn this off to prevent automatic connections to open Wi-Fi networks.
  • Connect to networks shared by my contacts: Turn this off to disable password sharing with your contacts.

1. Disable Specific Network Sharing:

• If you want to disable sharing for specific networks, scroll down to the Manage known networks section. You can select individual networks and click Stop Sharing to prevent them from being shared.

Method 2: Opting Out via Network Name (SSID)

If you want to ensure that your Wi-Fi network is never shared via Wi-Fi Sense, you can modify your network name (SSID) to include the suffix _optout.

1. Access Router Settings:

• Log in to your router’s settings page. This is typically done by entering the router’s IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.1) into a web browser.

1. Change Network Name:

• In the router settings, find the option to change your Wi-Fi network name (SSID).
• Add _optout to the end of your network name. For example, if your network is named MyHomeNetwork, change it to MyHomeNetwork_optout.

1. Save Changes:

• Save the changes to your router settings. This will prevent your network from being shared via Wi-Fi Sense.

Security Considerations

• Privacy Risks: Wi-Fi Sense shares your network password with all your contacts (Outlook, Skype, and Facebook) without allowing you to select specific individuals. This can pose a security risk if you do not trust all your contacts.
• Network Access: Disabling Wi-Fi Sense will prevent your contacts from automatically connecting to your network, but it will also prevent you from automatically connecting to networks shared by your contacts.

Conclusion

Disabling Wi-Fi Sense in Windows 10 is a straightforward process that can help protect your network from unwanted access. By turning off the relevant settings in the Manage Wi-Fi settings window or modifying your network name to include _optout, you can ensure that your Wi-Fi password is not shared with your contacts. This is particularly important if you have concerns about network security and privacy.