How to Check If Wi-Fi Sense Is Enabled on Your Windows 10

Wi-Fi Sense is a feature in Windows 10 that allows you to share Wi-Fi network passwords with your contacts and automatically connect to open Wi-Fi networks. While it can be convenient, it may also pose security and privacy risks if you are not aware of its status. Below, I will guide you through the steps to check if Wi-Fi Sense is enabled on your Windows 10 device.

Method 1: Checking Wi-Fi Sense Status via Settings

1. Open Settings:

• Click on the Start button and select Settings (the gear icon).

1. Navigate to Network & Internet:

• In the Settings window, click on Network & Internet.

1. Access Wi-Fi Settings:

• In the left pane, click on Wi-Fi.

1. Manage Wi-Fi Settings:

• Scroll down and click on Manage Wi-Fi settings.

1. Check Wi-Fi Sense Options:

• In the Manage Wi-Fi settings window, you will see two toggle switches:
  • Connect to suggested open hotspots: This option allows your device to automatically connect to open Wi-Fi networks.
  • Connect to networks shared by my contacts: This option allows your contacts to connect to your Wi-Fi network using the shared password.
• If both options are turned On, Wi-Fi Sense is enabled.
• If both options are turned Off, Wi-Fi Sense is disabled.

Method 2: Checking Wi-Fi Sense Status via Network & Sharing Center

1. Open Network & Sharing Center:

• Right-click on the Wi-Fi icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner of your screen) and select Open Network & Sharing Center.

1. Access Wi-Fi Settings:

• In the Network and Sharing Center, click on Change adapter settings in the left pane.

1. Check Wi-Fi Properties:

• Right-click on your Wi-Fi connection and select Properties.
• In the Wi-Fi Properties window, click on the Sharing tab.
• Look for the Internet Connection Sharing section. If Wi-Fi Sense is enabled, you may see options related to sharing your connection with other devices.

Method 3: Checking Wi-Fi Sense Status via Command Prompt

1. Open Command Prompt:

• Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
• Type cmd and press Enter to open Command Prompt.

1. Check Wi-Fi Sense Settings:

• Type the following command and press Enter:
  cmd netsh wlan show wlanprofiles
• This command will display a list of all Wi-Fi profiles stored on your system. Look for any profiles that include _optout in their name. If you see such profiles, it indicates that Wi-Fi Sense is enabled for those networks.

Method 4: Checking Wi-Fi Sense Status via Registry Editor (Advanced Users)

1. Open Registry Editor:

• Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
• Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

1. Navigate to Wi-Fi Sense Settings:

• Navigate to the following registry key:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WcmSvc\wifinetworkmanager\features

1. Check Wi-Fi Sense Values:

• Look for the following values:
  • WiFiSenseCredShared (DWORD): If set to 1, Wi-Fi Sense is enabled for sharing your network with contacts.
  • WiFiSenseOpen (DWORD): If set to 1, Wi-Fi Sense is enabled for connecting to open Wi-Fi networks.
• If both values are set to 0, Wi-Fi Sense is disabled.

Conclusion

Checking the status of Wi-Fi Sense in Windows 10 is essential to ensure that your network is secure and that you are aware of any potential privacy risks. By following the methods outlined above, you can easily determine whether Wi-Fi Sense is enabled on your device. If you find that Wi-Fi Sense is enabled and you prefer to disable it, you can follow the steps in the previous article on how to disable Wi-Fi Sense. Regularly monitoring and managing Wi-Fi Sense settings will help you maintain control over your network connections and protect your privacy.