Would you like to learn how to use a group policy to block automatic connection to Wi-Fi hotspots? In this tutorial, we will show you how to prevent computers from connecting to Wi-Fi hotspots automatically using a GPO.
• Windows 2012 R2
• Windows 2016
• Windows 2019
• Windows 2022
• Windows 10
• Windows 11
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Tutorial GPO - Block Automatically connecting to Wi-Fi hotspots
On the domain controller, open the group policy management tool.
Create a new group policy.
Enter a name for the new group policy.
In our example, the new GPO was named: MY-GPO.
On the Group Policy Management screen, expand the folder named Group Policy Objects.
Right-click your new Group Policy Object and select the Edit option.
On the group policy editor screen, expand the Computer configuration folder and locate the following item.
Access the folder named WLAN Settings.
Disable the item named Allow Windows to automatically connect to suggested open hotspots, to networks shared by contacts, and to hotspots offering paid services.
To save the group policy configuration, you need to close the Group Policy editor.
Congratulations! You have finished the GPO creation.
Tutorial GPO - Block Automatically connecting to Wi-Fi hotspots
On the Group policy management screen, you need to right-click the Organizational Unit desired and select the option to link an existent GPO.
In our example, we are going to link the group policy named MY-GPO to the root of the domain.
After applying the GPO you need to wait for 10 or 20 minutes.
During this time the GPO will be replicated to other domain controllers.
In our example, we blocked automatic connecting to Wi-Fi hotspots using a GPO.
