Minimize Number of Simultaneous Connections to Internet in Windows 10

How to Minimize Number of Simultaneous Connections to Internet in Windows 10

In Windows 10, there is a special policy option that determines if a computer can have multiple connections to the internet or to a Windows domain. If multiple connections are allowed, it then determines how network traffic will be routed. Here is how to configure it.

Automatic connection management, introduced in Windows 8, makes connection decisions by looking at Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and mobile broadband interfaces. It can automatically connect and disconnect from Wi-Fi and/or mobile broadband devices.

The 'Minimize simultaneous connections' policy changes the automatic connection management behavior. By default, Windows attempts to maintain the smallest number of concurrent connections that offer the best available level of connectivity. Windows maintains connectivity to the following networks:

• Any Ethernet network
• Any networks that were manually connected during the current user session
• The most preferred connection to the Internet
• The most preferred connection to the Active Directory domain, if the PC is joined to a domain

The 'Minimize simultaneous connections' policy specifies if a computer can have multiple connections to the Internet, to a Windows domain, or to both. If multiple connections are allowed, the policy then determines how network traffic is routed.

If you are running Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education edition, then you can use the Local Group Policy Editor app to configure the policy option. It is available in the OS out of the box. Windows 10 Home users can apply a Registry tweak. Let's review these methods.

Minimize Simultaneous Connections Number Policy Values

If this policy is set to 0, a computer can have simultaneous connections to the Internet, to a Windows domain, or to both. Internet traffic can be routed over any connection, including a cellular connection or any metered network.

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If this policy is set to 1, any new automatic Internet connection is blocked when the computer has at least one active Internet connection to a preferred type of network. The order of preference is as follows:

1. Ethernet
2. WLAN
3. Cellular

Ethernet is always preferred when connected. Users can still manually connect to any network.

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If this policy setting is set to 2, the behavior is similar to when it it set to 1. However, if a cellular data connection is available, that connection will always stay connected for services that require a cellular connection. When the user is connected to a WLAN or Ethernet connection, no Internet traffic is routed over the cellular connection. This option was first available in Windows 10, version 1703.

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If this policy setting is set to 3, the behavior is similar to when it is set to 2. However, if there is an Ethernet connection, Windows does not permit users to connect to a WLAN manually. A WLAN can only be connected (automatically or manually) when there is no Ethernet connection.

To Minimize Number of Simultaneous Connections to Internet in Windows 10,

1. Open the Local Group Policy editor app, or launch it for all users except Administrator, or for a specif user.
2. Navigate to Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Network\Windows Connection Manager on the left.
3. On the right, find the policy setting Minimize the number of simultaneous connections to the Internet or a Windows Domain.
4. Double-click on it and set the policy to Enabled.
5. From the drop down list, select one of the supported options, i.e.
   • 0 = Allow simultaneous connections
   • 1 = Minimize simultaneous connections
   • 2 = Stay connected to cellular
   • 3 = Prevent Wi-Fi when on Ethernet.

You are done.

Minimize Number of Simultaneous Connections to Internet in Registry

1. Open Registry Editor.
2. Go to the following Registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WcmSvc\GroupPolicy. Tip: See how to jump to the desired Registry key with one click.
3. If you do not have such a key, then just create it.
4. Here, create a new 32-bit DWORD value fMinimizeConnections. Note: Even if you are running 64-bit Windows, you still need to use a 32-bit DWORD as the value type.
5. Set it to one of the following values:
   • 0 = Allow simultaneous connections
   • 1 = Minimize simultaneous connections
   • 2 = Stay connected to cellular
   • 3 = Prevent Wi-Fi when on Ethernet.
6. To make the changes done by the Registry tweak take effect, you need to restart Windows 10.

Later, you can delete the fMinimizeConnections value to restore the system defaults.

You can also download the following ready-to-use Registry files, including the undo tweak:

Download Registry Files

That's it.

Tip: You can try to enable GpEdit.msc in Windows 10 Home.

Articles of interest:

• How To See Applied Group Policies in Windows 10
• All Ways To Open Local Group Policy Editor in Windows 10
• Apply Group Policy to All Users Except Administrator in Windows 10
• Apply Group Policy to a Specific User in Windows 10
• Reset All Local Group Policy Settings at once in Windows 10
• Enable Gpedit.msc (Group Policy) in Windows 10 Home