Network Connections

Updated: 12/10/2023 by Computer Hope

Network connections may refer to any of the following:

1. With a physical port, see local area network port for information about the port on a network card.

2. Network Connections is a Windows setting that lets users view, enable, and disable network devices like their network card and Wi-Fi card. Below is an example of how the Network Connections window appears in Windows 11.

Network Connections and network devices shown in Windows 11.

How to open Network Connections

The Network Connections window can be opened through the following methods.

  1. Click Start.
  2. Type network connections, and if View network connections is highlighted, press Enter.

or

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click Network & Internet.
  3. In the Network status window, basic settings are available. To view the Network Connections window discussed on this page, click Change adapter options or More network adapter options.

or

The Network Connections window can also be opened by running the associated .cpl file. To do this, follow the steps below.

  1. Click Start
  2. Type ncpa.cpl and press Enter.
Note

The file ncpa.cpl is commonly confused with a non-existent ncpl.cpl.

Network, Network terms, Settings