Wi-Fi is becoming the go-to mode for connecting to the Internet on laptops and desktops. However, some users prefer an Ethernet connection due to its speed and stability. Almost all laptops and some desktop computers come with Wi-Fi as well as Ethernet connectivity. Some of you might have wondered: Can You Use Wi-Fi and Ethernet at the Same Time?
In this guide, let us explore some essentials of Ethernet and Wi-Fi. We will weigh the pros and cons of each type. After that, we will see if we can connect to both Wi-Fi and Ethernet and use them simultaneously.
A Brief Note On Ethernet And Wi-Fi
1. Ethernet
The wired connection you use with your PC or Laptop is Ethernet. You form a LAN (Local Area Network) with all the Ethernet cables and devices.
There are several types of Ethernet Cables such as CAT5/5E, CAT6/6A, CAT7/8, etc. But all of them have four pairs of twisted-pair wires with RJ-45 termination. Hence, we sometimes call the ethernet port or connector RJ-45.
As Ethernet is a hardwire connection to the router or modem, there are some advantages. You can get the maximum possible internet speeds using Ethernet. Speaking of speeds, if you have the right adapter and cable, you can get up to 10Gbps of transfer speeds.
There will be no issue of signal drop or something else. The connection is always stable with Ethernet and there is no latency. However, the drawbacks include the need to wire your home or office to get Ethernet connectivity in every room and a loss of mobility.
2. Wi-Fi
Wireless LAN (WLAN) or simply Wi-Fi is a wireless way to connect to the router or access point. There is no need for a physical connection between the device (smartphone or laptop) and the Wi-Fi router. You can access the internet wirelessly from anywhere within the range.
Mobiles, tablets, and laptops are the main devices that make use of Wi-Fi. Nowadays, it is one of the popular ways to connect to the internet. If you have multiple such devices, then installing a good Wi-Fi Router will ensure that all of them can have wireless internet connectivity.
Even if you have a large house or office, you can create a mesh network using multiple Wi-Fi routers or Wi-Fi Extenders. While mobility and whole-house internet connectivity are the benefits of Wi-Fi, there are some downsides as well.
The main drawback is the lower internet speeds compared to Ethernet and also has range limitations (devices slightly far from the router will lose the signal or experience some interruptions. Gamers generally prefer not to use Wi-Fi connectivity due to latency concerns.
Can You Use Wi-Fi And Ethernet At The Same Time?
Almost all modern laptops come with both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity. Even if some don’t have an ethernet port, you can get a good quality Ethernet to USB adapter.
Irrespective of the availability of the port, a common question is can you use Wi-Fi and Ethernet at the same time? Let us explore more on this topic.
Technically, you can connect to both Wi-Fi and Ethernet at the same time. However, the problem is with modern operating systems and networking hardware.
For example, if you have a Windows Laptop with both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections up and running. What Windows does is it prioritizes one connection over the other. This is usually Ethernet over Wi-Fi. So, even if you connect both Wi-Fi and Ethernet at the same time, the device uses only one connection for data transfer.
Does this mean we can’t use both Ethernet and Wi-Fi simultaneously? We can use both of them at the same time but you need to change some settings. Find out more about these settings in the next section. In the meantime, let us try to understand why we need to have both Wi-Fi and Ethernet at the same time.
Why You Need Both Wi-Fi And Ethernet Simultaneously
There are a couple of scenarios we need to connect both, especially where users may want to access different networks simultaneously.
Assume you have a local server in your home with all your personal files. These can be movies, music, images, videos, or documents. You don’t want this server on the internet yet you want to access the files from your laptop. In this case, you can use your Wi-Fi to connect to the internet and Ethernet to connect to the server (using Ethernet for a secure, stable connection to a local server while using Wi-Fi for general internet access).
Another useful approach is if you have two different internet connections. Connect one network to Wi-Fi and the other to Ethernet(as a backup). This acts as a redundant solution for critical systems. If one network fails, you will still have internet through the other connection.
How To Use Ethernet And Wi-Fi At The Same Time?
Now comes the important part. How to connect the laptop to both Wi-Fi and Ethernet at the same time? As we mentioned earlier, Windows OS prioritizes one connection over the other. So, the solution is to disable this priority setting. Here is a simple guide.
- Open the Control Panel through the search bar or Start menu.
- Go to the Network and Sharing Center.
- Click the ‘Change adapter settings’ option in the top left section.
- Depending on your system, you will have multiple adapters. We need to modify the settings for the Ethernet adapter.
- Identify the correct Ethernet adapter, right-click on it, and select ‘Properties’.
- You can see the name of the Ethernet adapter. Just below it, there will be a ‘Configure’ button. Click on this button. A new properties window opens.
- Go to the ‘Advanced’ tab. On the left, there will be a ‘Property’ section with several options.
- Look for ‘Priority & VLAN’. Once you select this property, you get appropriate ‘value’ options on the right.
- Select ‘Priority & VLAN Disabled’. Click on OK to save the changes.
- This will reset your Ethernet connection with priority disabled.
- You are ready to use both Ethernet and Wi-Fi at the same time.
Will This Double My Internet Speed?
Now that we have seen how to connect to both Wi-Fi and ethernet, the next important question is: will this procedure double or increase my internet speed?
Sadly, this won’t happen. First of all, your ISP will set the internet speed limit. For instance, if you have a plan of 300Mbps, then this is the maximum internet speed you can expect from your router.
So, even if you connect to both Wi-Fi and ethernet at the same time, it still has to go through the same router. The router, your Wi-Fi, and Ethernet adapters are intelligent devices. They communicate with each other and let only one device to transmit the data.
There is a problem with this type of setup. As your laptop or PC has both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections, there is a chance of packet loss. Your laptop cannot resolve the data and asks the router to re-transmit. This essentially slows down the connection.
However, it can provide a failover solution or balance loads, which might improve overall network efficiency. It allows different types of traffic to be handled by different connections, potentially optimizing reliability and network performance.
Pros And Cons Of Dual Connectivity
Here are the pros and cons of using both Wi-Fi and Ethernet at a time:
Pros:
- Network Optimization: Having both Wi-Fi and Ethernet in a household allows for optimized network usage. Ethernet provides stability and maximum speed potential for stationary devices like desktops and gaming consoles, while Wi-Fi covers mobility for smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
- Improved Coverage: Ethernet can be used for devices that are stationary and need consistent connectivity. Wi-Fi, meanwhile, can provide internet access across different rooms or floors without the physical limitations of cables.
Cons:
- Cost And Installation: Setting up Ethernet across a home can be costly and time-consuming, especially if cables need to be run through walls or multiple floors.
- Maintenance: Maintaining a network that uses both connectivity types can be complex, requiring more knowledge and frequent updates to ensure both networks perform optimally.
Difference Between Ethernet And Wi-Fi
Here we have differentiated the Ethernet and Wi-Fi in terms of a few features, which help you understand them better:
Speed:
- Ethernet: Generally offers faster and more consistent speeds as it provides a direct connection to the internet source without any wireless interference.
- Wi-Fi: Speed can vary significantly based on distance from the router, obstacles like walls, and interference from other wireless devices.
Security:
- Ethernet: More secure as it requires physical access to connect to the network, which greatly reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
- Wi-Fi: More vulnerable to security breaches since it transmits data through airwaves that can be intercepted by anyone within range if not properly secured.
Mobility:
- Ethernet: Restricts mobility as devices need to be physically connected to network cables.
- Wi-Fi: Provides the flexibility to move devices around without losing connection, as long as they remain within the router’s signal range.
FAQs:
The process varies slightly depending on your operating system, but it generally involves enabling both connections in your network settings and possibly adjusting the priority settings to prevent one from disabling the other.
Yes, you can connect different devices to Wi-Fi and others to Ethernet on the same network. This helps in balancing the load and optimizing network usage across devices.
You can try restarting your router, computer, or modem. Check for network conflicts or driver issues that might be preventing one or both of the connections from functioning properly.
While it’s possible, modern devices and routers are generally designed to minimize interference between Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections.
It can be, as Ethernet typically provides more stable and consistent connections, which is important for online gaming. Wi-Fi can serve as a backup or for less latency-sensitive tasks.
Yes, this setup can help reduce network congestion and improve streaming quality for both devices, as they are not competing for the same network resources.
Using both connections can provide additional bandwidth, potentially increasing download speeds, especially if the downloads are set up to utilize multiple connections.
Conclusion
Using both Wi-Fi and Ethernet simultaneously enhances network reliability and performance. This dual connectivity approach offers flexibility, redundancy, steady connectivity, faster speeds for stationary setups, and seamless online experiences by managing network traffic efficiently. Thus, combining Wi-Fi and Ethernet is an effective strategy for a robust and flexible network environment. Feel free to share your queries with us in the comments section below. We will respond and address them promptly.
