What Is Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter & How to Remove It?

This guide explains the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter, its uses, and how to disable or remove it.

Understanding the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter

The Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter transforms your computer into a wireless hotspot. This allows other wireless devices to connect to your PC and access the internet, facilitating large data transfers and screen mirroring with compatible devices. While useful, conflicts with external Wi-Fi adapters can occur, necessitating its disabling or removal.

Disabling or Removing the Adapter

Several methods exist for managing the Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter:

Method 1: Device Manager

1. Press Win X, select Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters, right-click Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter, and select Disable device.
3. Restart your PC.

Method 2: Disable "Project to this PC"

1. Press Win I, select System.
2. Go to the Projecting to this PC settings.
3. Under "Some Windows and Android devices...", choose Always Off (Recommended).

Method 3: Command Prompt

1. Press Win R, type cmd, press Ctrl Shift Enter (to run as administrator).
2. Type netsh wlan stop hostednetwork and press Enter.
3. Type netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=disallow and press Enter.
4. Restart your PC.

Method 4: Registry Editor (Caution!)

Before proceeding, back up your registry or create a system restore point. This method involves modifying the Windows Registry, which can cause system instability if done incorrectly. Consider using a backup solution like MiniTool ShadowMaker for added protection.

1. Press Win R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\WlanSvc\Parameters\HostedNetworkSettings.
3. Right-click HostedNetworkSettings, select Delete, and confirm.
4. Verify removal by running netsh wlan show hostednetwork in an elevated Command Prompt. "Not configured" indicates successful removal.

Conclusion

This guide provides multiple options for disabling or removing the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter. Choose the method most comfortable for your technical skill level, remembering to back up your system before making registry changes.

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