Windows does not have a permanent, system-wide “preferred adapter” switch. For each destination, it compares the applicable route metric plus the network interface metric; the lowest combined value normally wins. To make one adapter more likely to carry traffic, inspect both interfaces, then assign the intended adapter a lower metric for the address family you use.
The instructions below prioritize Windows 11 and use built-in PowerShell networking commands. They are configuration guidance, not a test performed on your computer, so verify the resulting route table and connectivity after every change.
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What Windows is actually choosing
When two Ethernet adapters, or Ethernet and Wi‑Fi, are connected, Windows does not simply crown one adapter as the winner for every connection. It chooses a route for each destination. The route table can contain different paths for local networks, remote networks, VPNs and the default internet route.
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Microsoft’s Set-NetIPInterface documentation describes the preference calculation this way: “When routes are chosen, the overall metric used to determine the preference is the sum of the route metric and the interface metric.” In practical terms:
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effective preference = route metric + interface metric
A lower effective value is preferred when the routes are otherwise applicable. Changing an interface metric therefore influences route selection; it does not erase route metrics, create a missing route or override policy routing.
Why there is no universal adapter winner
- A wired adapter can be preferred for the internet while another adapter still handles a directly connected office subnet.
- A VPN can install a more specific route that wins for company destinations even when ordinary Ethernet has a lower interface metric.
- IPv4 and IPv6 have separate route tables and can make different choices.
- If an adapter has no usable address, gateway or route for a destination, lowering its metric cannot make it carry that traffic.
Microsoft notes that an interface metric can give preference to a particular interface, such as wired networking when wired and wireless are both available. Treat that as a preference mechanism, not a forced tunnel for every packet.
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With AutomaticMetric enabled, TCP/IP calculates an interface metric from link speed. Microsoft states that the fastest interface receives the lowest automatically calculated metric. This often makes a fast wired connection win over a slower wireless connection without manual configuration.
Automatic speed-based ordering is only one input. The route metric, destination prefix, address family, connection state and any VPN or policy route still matter. A faster adapter can lose if it lacks the relevant route or if another route is more specific.
When you set a manual value with Set-NetIPInterface, Windows automatically disables AutomaticMetric on that interface. Record the original state before changing it if you may later want speed-based behavior again.
Prepare before changing anything
Do not guess an adapter name from its icon or cable. First identify the exact interface alias, index, address family and current metric. Adapter names such as Ethernet, Ethernet 2 or a vendor-specific label are not interchangeable.
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Changing interface metrics generally requires administrative privileges. If your organization manages networking through policy, a local change may be blocked or later overwritten.
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List interfaces and their metrics
Get-NetIPInterfaceLook for the columns or properties that identify InterfaceAlias, InterfaceIndex, AddressFamily, ConnectionState, AutomaticMetric and InterfaceMetric. The alias is readable; the index is a numeric identifier that remains useful when names are duplicated or changed.
To focus on IPv4, run:
Get-NetIPInterface -AddressFamily IPv4For IPv6, run:
Get-NetIPInterface -AddressFamily IPv6Some documented Windows versions support filtering connected interfaces directly:
Get-NetIPInterface -ConnectionState ConnectedIf that parameter is not supported on your client build, omit it and inspect the connection-state column in the unfiltered output. The cmdlet pages are displayed in Microsoft’s Windows Server 2025 documentation view, while exact support can vary by Windows client build.
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Get-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias 'Ethernet' -AddressFamily IPv4 | Format-List *Replace Ethernet with the alias you identified. Repeat the command for the competing adapter. Confirm that you are comparing the same address family; an IPv4 value cannot be used to explain an IPv6 route decision.
Check the route before changing the metric
If Windows is not using the adapter you expect, inspect the routes before editing interface settings. The route table tells you whether both adapters actually offer a path to the destination and whether one path is more specific.
Get-NetRoute -AddressFamily IPv4For a broader view that includes IPv6, run the same command with -AddressFamily IPv6. You can also use the built-in route-table display:
route printCompare the destination prefix, next-hop gateway, route metric and interface index. A route to a narrow prefix such as an internal subnet can beat a default route regardless of the default route’s interface metric. Likewise, a route that exists only on one adapter cannot be moved to another merely by assigning a lower number.
What to record
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Interface alias | The name used by Set-NetIPInterface; it must match the intended adapter exactly. |
| Interface index | A numeric alternative to the alias and a way to match a route-table entry to an adapter. |
| Address family | IPv4 and IPv6 have separate interfaces and routes for metric purposes. |
| Connection state | Disconnected or disabled interfaces cannot carry traffic, regardless of metric. |
| AutomaticMetric | Shows whether Windows is calculating the metric from speed or using a manual value. |
| InterfaceMetric | The interface portion of the route-preference calculation. |
| Route metric and destination | These determine whether a candidate route is applicable and how it compares with another route. |
Set a preferred Ethernet adapter with PowerShell
The documented cmdlet for changing the interface metric is Set-NetIPInterface. Use the alias or index you confirmed in the inspection step, and specify the address family explicitly.
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Prefer an adapter for IPv4
Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias 'Ethernet' -AddressFamily IPv4 -InterfaceMetric 10This example assigns a manual IPv4 interface metric of 10 to the adapter named Ethernet. The number is illustrative; it is not a universal recommendation. A lower value than the competing adapter generally gives this interface an advantage when the route metrics and destinations are otherwise comparable.
Prefer an adapter for IPv6
Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias 'Ethernet' -AddressFamily IPv6 -InterfaceMetric 10Make this change only if you want to influence IPv6 traffic. If your test destination is using IPv6 while you changed only IPv4, the result may appear to have no effect.
Use an interface index instead of an alias
Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceIndex 12 -AddressFamily IPv4 -InterfaceMetric 10Replace 12 with the index shown by Get-NetIPInterface. An index is often safer in scripts when adapter names contain spaces or have been localized, but verify the index immediately before applying a change because indexes can differ between computers.
Set both sides of a competition deliberately
If two connected interfaces are competing, inspect both rather than lowering only one and assuming the result. For example, you might assign a lower manual metric to the intended wired interface and a higher manual metric to the secondary interface for the same address family. Keep the values distinct enough to make the choice clear, while remembering that route metrics still participate in the final calculation.
Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias 'Ethernet' -AddressFamily IPv4 -InterfaceMetric 10
Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias 'Ethernet 2' -AddressFamily IPv4 -InterfaceMetric 50These names and values are examples of parameter usage, not tested commands for a particular computer. Substitute the aliases and values appropriate to your route table.
Verify immediately
Get-NetIPInterface -AddressFamily IPv4Confirm that the target interface shows the intended metric and that AutomaticMetric is no longer enabled on that interface. Then inspect the relevant routes again:
Get-NetRoute -AddressFamily IPv4Match the selected route’s interface index to the adapter you intended. Test the actual destination that was failing, not just a generic local address. A metric change can be correct while a VPN, a more-specific route or an unavailable gateway still determines the path.
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Choosing a metric value without guessing
The goal is relative ordering, not a magic number. Choose a value that is lower than the competing interface’s effective preference for the routes you care about, then verify the resulting route. Do not assume that the smallest possible number is always best: route metrics, policy and destination specificity remain in force.
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| Situation | Reasonable approach | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Wired and Wi‑Fi both provide the same internet route | Leave AutomaticMetric enabled if it already favors the faster wired link, or assign the wired interface a lower manual metric. | Check the default route for the address family used by the test. |
| Two Ethernet adapters provide similar routes | Give the intended adapter the lower manual metric and the backup a higher value for that family. | Confirm each route’s interface index and gateway. |
| One adapter serves an internal subnet | Do not force a global preference merely to change internet traffic; preserve the specific internal route. | Compare destination prefixes before changing metrics. |
| IPv4 and IPv6 behave differently | Inspect and configure each address family independently. | Identify whether the application connected over IPv4 or IPv6. |
Microsoft’s example uses an interface metric of 21 for adapters with a 100 Mbps link speed. That value demonstrates command syntax; Microsoft does not present it as a universal setting or performance statistic.
What Windows Settings can and cannot do
Windows Settings includes Ethernet pages for IP assignment, DHCP and manual addressing. Those controls determine how an adapter receives an IP address, subnet prefix, gateway and DNS information. They are not an adapter-priority control.
Changing an adapter from DHCP to manual addressing, changing its network profile, configuring a proxy or marking a connection as metered does not tell Windows to prefer that adapter for outbound routes. Metered status controls data use by apps and system services; it is not a route-selection mechanism.
Use Settings when you need to correct addressing. Use Get-NetIPInterface, Set-NetIPInterface and route inspection when you need to influence interface preference.
Troubleshoot when Windows still uses the other adapter
The route is more specific
If the other interface has a route with a narrower destination prefix, that route can win even after you lower the preferred interface’s metric. Inspect the destination and route metric, not just the interface metric. The fix may be to correct the addressing or routing design rather than to keep lowering a number.
You changed IPv4 but the traffic uses IPv6
Repeat the inspection for IPv6. Applications may select IPv6 when it is available, so an IPv4-only change will not alter that connection’s path. Configure IPv6 only after confirming that the intended adapter has a valid IPv6 address and route.
The interface is disconnected or lacks a gateway
A low metric cannot make an unplugged, disabled or incorrectly addressed interface usable. Check ConnectionState, the assigned addresses and the gateway associated with the route. Correct the physical or addressing problem first, then reassess metrics.
A VPN or policy route takes precedence
VPN software commonly adds routes for specific corporate networks and may install a default route as well. Managed computers can also receive policy routes or restrictions. Compare the route table while the VPN is connected and disconnected, and consult the organization’s network administrator before overriding managed settings.
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AutomaticMetric changed after your edit
Setting InterfaceMetric disables AutomaticMetric on that interface. If you expected Windows to continue adapting to link speed, inspect the property after the change. To return to automatic behavior, use the cmdlet’s AutomaticMetric parameter on the same interface and address family, then verify the resulting value on your Windows build:
Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias 'Ethernet' -AddressFamily IPv4 -AutomaticMetric EnabledRecheck the interface after restoring automatic calculation; the resulting number is determined by Windows and link speed rather than by the previous manual value.
The filter command is rejected
If -ConnectionState Connected is not accepted, run Get-NetIPInterface without that filter and read the connection-state field. Cmdlet parameters and behavior should be checked against the Windows client build you administer.
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Re-run both interface and route queries. Confirm that the alias, index and address family were correct, and that the destination has competing routes through both interfaces. If only one applicable route exists, there is no alternative for Windows to select. If the route table is controlled by a VPN or organizational policy, a local metric may not be authoritative.
Safe rollback and change records
Before editing, save the relevant output so you can compare the original state:
Get-NetIPInterface -AddressFamily IPv4 | Format-List *
Get-NetIPInterface -AddressFamily IPv6 | Format-List *
Get-NetRoute -AddressFamily IPv4
Get-NetRoute -AddressFamily IPv6Record which interface was changed, the address family, the old metric, whether AutomaticMetric was enabled and the route that motivated the change. To undo a manual preference, either restore the recorded metric or re-enable AutomaticMetric, then inspect the route table again. Avoid changing IP addresses, gateways or network profiles solely to solve an adapter-priority question.
Windows version and support considerations
Microsoft’s essential networking guidance covers Windows 10 and Windows 11, but Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. In 2026, use these instructions primarily for supported Windows 11 installations and confirm cmdlet behavior on the specific client build. The Microsoft Learn cmdlet references are shown under a Windows Server 2025 documentation view; that display does not guarantee identical behavior on every Windows client release.
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On a managed business computer, Group Policy, endpoint security software, VPN configuration or network-management tooling can reapply interface settings. Treat a recurring change as an administrative policy issue rather than repeatedly forcing a local metric.
A concise decision checklist
- Identify the exact adapter alias and interface index.
- Inspect IPv4 and IPv6 separately.
- Confirm both interfaces are connected and correctly addressed.
- Inspect destination-specific routes before changing a metric.
- Use a lower interface metric on the adapter you want to prefer, only for the relevant address family.
- Remember that setting a manual metric disables AutomaticMetric on that interface.
- Re-run interface and route queries after the change.
- Test the actual destination and account for VPN, policy and multiple-gateway behavior.
- Restore the recorded metric or re-enable AutomaticMetric if the change produces an unwanted result.
The reliable way to choose an Ethernet adapter is therefore to make the route decision visible, adjust the interface metric deliberately and verify the destination-specific result. Windows will follow the applicable route with the best combined route and interface preference, not a permanent global adapter ranking.
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