How to Disable Wi-Fi Sense if It’s Enabled

If you’ve determined that Wi-Fi Sense is enabled on your Windows 10 device and you want to disable it for security or privacy reasons, follow these straightforward steps. Disabling Wi-Fi Sense ensures that your Wi-Fi network passwords are not shared with your contacts, and it prevents your device from automatically connecting to open Wi-Fi networks without your explicit consent.

Method 1: Disabling Wi-Fi Sense via Settings

This is the most straightforward method to disable Wi-Fi Sense in Windows 10.

1. Open Settings:

• Click on the Start button and select Settings (the gear icon).

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.

1. Manage Wi-Fi Settings:

• Scroll down and click on Manage Wi-Fi settings.

1. Turn Off Wi-Fi Sense Options:

• 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.
• Ensure both options are turned Off to completely disable Wi-Fi Sense.

Method 2: Disabling Wi-Fi Sense via Registry Editor (Advanced Users)

If you prefer a more technical approach, you can disable Wi-Fi Sense using the Registry Editor. This method is more advanced and requires careful handling to avoid modifying unrelated settings.

1. Open Registry Editor:

• Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
• Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

1. Navigate to Wi-Fi Sense Settings:

• Navigate to the following registry key:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WcmSvc\wifinetworkmanager\features

1. Modify Wi-Fi Sense Values:

• Look for the following values:
  • WiFiSenseCredShared (DWORD): Set this value to 0 to disable sharing your network with contacts.
  • WiFiSenseOpen (DWORD): Set this value to 0 to disable automatic connections to open Wi-Fi networks.
• If these values do not exist, you can create them:
  • Right-click on the features folder, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  • Name the first value WiFiSenseCredShared and set its value to 0.
  • Name the second value WiFiSenseOpen and set its value to 0.

1. Restart Your Computer:

• After making these changes, restart your computer to apply the settings.

Method 3: Disabling Wi-Fi Sense via Group Policy Editor (Enterprise Users)

If you are using a Windows 10 Enterprise or Pro edition, you can disable Wi-Fi Sense using the Group Policy Editor.

1. Open Group Policy Editor:

• Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
• Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.

1. Navigate to Wi-Fi Sense Settings:

• Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > WLAN Service.

1. Disable Wi-Fi Sense:

• Find the policy named “Allow Wi-Fi Sense shared and open hotspots”.
• Double-click the policy and set it to Disabled.
• Click OK to apply the changes.

1. Restart Your Computer:

• Restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

Conclusion

Disabling Wi-Fi Sense in Windows 10 is a simple process that can significantly enhance your network security and privacy. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily disable Wi-Fi Sense using the Settings app, Registry Editor, or Group Policy Editor. Regularly checking and managing Wi-Fi Sense settings ensures that your network remains secure and that you maintain control over who can access it.