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Windows does not pick one Ethernet adapter as a permanent, system-wide winner. For each destination, it compares available routes and calculates an effective preference from the route metric plus the interface metric. To make one adapter preferred, inspect the interfaces and routes, then assign that interface a lower metric for the address family you use. Verify the destination-specific route afterward, because a lower interface metric cannot create a route that does not exist or override every routing policy.
What “adapter priority” means in Windows
People often ask how to set a default Ethernet adapter, but Windows routing is more precise than a single global priority list. A computer can have two wired adapters, wired Ethernet and Wi‑Fi, a VPN interface, or several virtual interfaces. Windows evaluates the route that applies to the destination you are trying to reach.
Microsoft documents the preference calculation as the sum of a route’s metric and the interface metric. In simplified form:
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When two routes can reach the same destination, the lower effective value is normally preferred. The interface metric therefore expresses a preference for one interface, while the route metric describes the particular route. A preferred adapter can still lose for a destination if its route has a worse route metric, is not applicable, or is blocked by another routing rule.
| Factor | What it controls | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Destination | The address or network being reached | Different destinations can use different routes and therefore different adapters. |
| Route metric | The preference of one route to a destination | It is added to the interface metric; changing only the interface metric does not remove route-level differences. |
| Interface metric | The preference assigned to an interface | A lower value can make a particular adapter preferable when routes otherwise compete. |
| AutomaticMetric | Whether Windows calculates the interface metric automatically | Automatic calculation uses link speed; manually setting a metric turns AutomaticMetric off for that interface. |
| Address family | IPv4 or IPv6 traffic | An IPv4 setting does not automatically configure IPv6, and vice versa. |
| Connection state | Whether the interface and route are usable | An unplugged or disconnected adapter cannot carry traffic regardless of its metric. |
This is why changing a value in a Settings page may appear to do nothing: IP addressing, network profile, metering, and proxy settings are separate controls from route preference.
Before changing anything
Confirm which Windows version you are using
The procedure below is centered on Windows 11 and the current Windows networking cmdlets. Microsoft’s essential networking guidance covers Windows 10 and Windows 11, but standard Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Command names and available parameters can vary with the specific client build, so check the help available on your computer if a parameter is rejected.
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Write down the physical or virtual interfaces involved and how you distinguish them. Windows identifies an interface by an alias such as Ethernet or Ethernet 2, and by an interface index. Do not assume that the first adapter listed is the one connected to the network you want.
Use an elevated PowerShell session
Open PowerShell with the privileges required to change network interface settings. If your account is not permitted to modify networking, an administrator will need to run the commands. A metric change can alter connectivity immediately, so save any remote-session work before applying it; changing the path used by your own session can disconnect that session.
Decide whether the problem is IPv4, IPv6, or both
IPv4 and IPv6 have separate interfaces and route tables. If an application reaches a service over IPv6, changing only the IPv4 metric will not select a different path for that connection. Plan to inspect and, if necessary, configure each address family independently.
Inspect interface metrics and state
Start by listing the interfaces rather than guessing an alias or index:
Get-NetIPInterface
To focus on connected interfaces, use the documented connection-state filter when your Windows build supports it:
Get-NetIPInterface -ConnectionState Connected
If that parameter is not supported on your client, run the first command and identify connected interfaces from the output instead. You can also limit the listing to one address family:
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Get-NetIPInterface -AddressFamily IPv4Get-NetIPInterface -AddressFamily IPv6
Look for the following information in the output:
- ifIndex: the numeric interface index, useful when aliases contain unusual characters or change names.
- InterfaceAlias: the human-readable name accepted by
-InterfaceAlias. - AddressFamily: whether the row applies to IPv4 or IPv6.
- ConnectionState: whether Windows considers the interface connected.
- InterfaceMetric: the current metric used for that address family.
- AutomaticMetric: whether Windows is calculating the metric instead of using a manual value.
Filter the display to the columns you need when several adapters are present:
Get-NetIPInterface | Format-Table ifIndex,InterfaceAlias,AddressFamily,ConnectionState,AutomaticMetric,InterfaceMetric
Record the exact alias or index for each contender. An alias is convenient for a stable, descriptive name; an index avoids ambiguity when two aliases look similar. Always include -AddressFamily in a change command so you do not accidentally configure the wrong family.
Inspect the routes when the result is not obvious
Interface metrics alone cannot explain every routing decision. If Windows continues to use an unexpected adapter, inspect the route table for the address family and destination involved. For example:
Get-NetRoute -AddressFamily IPv4Get-NetRoute -AddressFamily IPv6
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Suppose two default routes are present. A lower interface metric does not automatically win if the other route has a sufficiently lower route metric. Windows evaluates their combined values. A route with metric 10 on an interface with metric 25 has an effective value of 35; a route with metric 2 on an interface with metric 50 has an effective value of 52. The first route is preferred in that simplified comparison. Other routing constraints can still affect the outcome.
Inspect the route for the actual destination, not only the default route. A specific route, such as one for a corporate subnet, takes precedence over a default route even when its interface metric is higher. VPNs, policy routes, and multiple gateways can add routes that change the comparison.
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Make one adapter preferred with Set-NetIPInterface
Use Set-NetIPInterface to assign a manual metric. The basic IPv4 form is:
Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias 'Ethernet 2' -AddressFamily IPv4 -InterfaceMetric 10
For IPv6, use the same interface identity with the IPv6 selector:
Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias 'Ethernet 2' -AddressFamily IPv6 -InterfaceMetric 10
You can target an index instead:
Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceIndex 12 -AddressFamily IPv4 -InterfaceMetric 10
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The alias, index, and numeric value above are examples of parameter usage, not values tested on a particular computer. Choose a value after inspecting the competing interfaces and routes. The important relationship is relative: the interface you want to prefer generally needs a lower effective metric than the alternatives for the destination in question.
What happens to AutomaticMetric
Setting -InterfaceMetric manually automatically disables AutomaticMetric on that interface. Windows will no longer recalculate that interface’s metric from link speed until you restore automatic behavior. This is intentional: a manual value is an explicit preference, not a temporary hint.
Do not treat 21 as a universal recommendation
Microsoft’s reference includes an example that sets an interface metric to 21 for adapters with a 100 Mbps link. That number demonstrates command syntax and should not be treated as a value that fits every network. Link speeds, route metrics, VPNs, and organizational policies differ. Compare the resulting routes on your own system.
Choose sensible relative metrics for competing adapters
When several interfaces are active, set the intended order deliberately and document it. The following pattern illustrates how to think about the values without implying a universal numeric standard:
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| Interface role | Example manual metric | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Primary wired connection | 10 | Prefer this interface when it has an applicable route. |
| Secondary wired connection | 30 | Keep it available as an alternative when the primary route is unavailable or less suitable. |
| Wi‑Fi backup | 50 | Make it less preferred for destinations where all three interfaces offer comparable routes. |
These numbers are illustrative. The route metric is added to each value, so the final order can differ for specific destinations. If you manually set one interface, inspect the others rather than assuming their automatic values. A fast interface may already receive a lower automatically calculated metric because Windows bases AutomaticMetric on speed.
Why Windows may still use another adapter
The other interface has a better combined metric
Compare route metric plus interface metric for the destination. Lowering one interface’s metric may not overcome a large difference in route metrics. Adjust only after confirming that both routes are genuinely competing for the same destination.
The preferred interface has no applicable route
An interface can be connected yet lack a route to the target network. A link light or “Connected” state does not prove that the destination is reachable through that adapter. Check the destination prefix and next hop in the route table.
IPv6 is carrying the traffic
Many applications prefer IPv6 when a usable IPv6 route exists. Inspect the IPv6 interface and route rows and configure the IPv6 metric separately if that is the traffic you need to steer.
A VPN or policy route is taking precedence
VPN software and managed networks commonly install specific routes or policies. Those routes can intentionally override a general Ethernet preference. If the route table points to a VPN interface, changing a physical adapter metric is not a substitute for changing the VPN or organizational policy.
Multiple default gateways are creating ambiguity
Multiple gateways can produce competing default routes and asymmetric paths. Do not delete gateways or alter addressing merely to force an adapter choice without understanding which networks depend on them. Compare the route table and coordinate with the network administrator on managed systems.
The alias or family was wrong
A command can succeed against an interface that is not the one you intended, especially when aliases are similar. Re-run Get-NetIPInterface after every change and verify both the alias/index and the address family.
The interface is disconnected or disabled
A low metric cannot make an unplugged, disabled, or failed adapter carry traffic. Resolve the physical or driver problem first, then reassess route preference.
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Verify the change without assuming success
- Run
Get-NetIPInterfacefor the address family you changed and confirm the intended interface has the new metric. - Confirm that
AutomaticMetricreflects your choice. A manually assigned value should show that automatic calculation is no longer enabled for that interface. - Inspect the relevant routes with
Get-NetRoute -AddressFamily IPv4or the IPv6 equivalent. Confirm that the destination-specific route points to the expected interface index and that its combined preference is competitive. - Test the real destination or application that motivated the change. A general internet test may use a different route than an internal server, VPN resource, or IPv6-only endpoint.
- Repeat the inspection after reconnecting an adapter or rebooting if the issue appears only after link changes. Automatic behavior, DHCP changes, VPN connections, and policy refreshes can alter the route table.
These checks establish what Windows is configured to do; they do not guarantee that every application will use the same path when an application has its own proxy, VPN, or policy.
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Settings that do not choose an adapter
Ethernet IP assignment
Windows Settings lets you configure an Ethernet connection for DHCP or manual IP assignment. Those controls set the address, prefix, gateway, and DNS details. They are necessary for a usable interface but are not an adapter-priority control. Changing an address from automatic to manual does not, by itself, make that adapter preferred.
Network profile
Public and private network profiles control discovery and firewall behavior. They do not express which interface should carry outbound traffic. Change the profile only for the security and sharing behavior you actually need.
Metered connection
Metered status limits or changes how apps and system services use data, including some update and synchronization behavior. It is not a route-selection mechanism and should not be used to force Windows onto another adapter.
Proxy settings
A proxy can change how an application reaches a service, but it is separate from interface metrics. If only browser or selected application traffic is affected, inspect that application’s proxy configuration before changing network routes.
Restore automatic metric calculation
If a manual metric causes an unexpected result, return the interface to automatic calculation rather than guessing a replacement number. The exact reset syntax can differ by Windows build, so inspect the cmdlet help on the target computer:
Get-Help Set-NetIPInterface -Full
Use the documented parameter that enables automatic metric calculation for the selected interface and address family, then verify the result with Get-NetIPInterface. If the interface is managed by an organization, a policy or management tool may reapply its own value after you change it locally.
A repeatable decision process
- Define the destination. Decide whether you are steering general internet traffic, a local subnet, a server reached through a VPN, or an IPv6 service.
- List interfaces. Use
Get-NetIPInterfaceand record aliases, indexes, connection states, address families, metrics, and AutomaticMetric states. - List applicable routes. Inspect route entries for the destination and note each route metric and interface index.
- Calculate the competition. Compare route metric plus interface metric rather than interface metrics alone.
- Change the smallest necessary setting. Set a manual metric only on the interface and address family that require a preference.
- Recheck after the change. Confirm the interface metric, AutomaticMetric state, and destination route.
- Investigate exceptions. If the route still differs, check IPv6, VPN routes, policy routes, multiple gateways, proxy behavior, and connection state instead of repeatedly lowering the same number.
Practical examples
Prefer wired Ethernet over Wi‑Fi for IPv4
First identify the wired alias and Wi‑Fi alias in Get-NetIPInterface -AddressFamily IPv4. Assign the wired interface a lower manual metric, for example:
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Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias 'Ethernet' -AddressFamily IPv4 -InterfaceMetric 10
Then inspect the IPv4 default routes and the destination route you care about. If Wi‑Fi still wins, compare the route metrics and verify that both interfaces have valid gateways.
Prefer one of two Ethernet ports
List both wired interfaces by index and alias, then configure the preferred port for the relevant family. Leave the secondary port automatic or give it a higher relative metric only after confirming that its routes are otherwise equivalent. A second port may serve a different VLAN or subnet; in that case, Windows may correctly choose it for destinations that the primary port cannot reach.
Keep IPv6 behavior independent
If IPv4 follows the desired adapter but IPv6 does not, repeat the inspection with -AddressFamily IPv6. Configure the IPv6 interface metric only if the route comparison shows that both interfaces offer competing IPv6 paths.
Limits and safety considerations
- Interface metrics influence route preference; they do not force traffic through an interface with no applicable route.
- A lower metric cannot override every specific route, VPN policy, security policy, or application-level proxy.
- Changing metrics on a remote computer can interrupt the management connection if its route changes.
- Do not remove gateways, disable IPv6, or alter DHCP settings solely because a metric change did not produce the expected result.
- On managed computers, record the original values and check whether central policy controls the interfaces.
- Commands in this guide are documented configuration patterns, not a test of your particular hardware, Windows build, or network.
The reliable way to choose an Ethernet adapter is therefore to choose the route outcome you need, inspect both address families and the applicable routes, assign a lower interface metric where appropriate, and verify the actual destination-specific route. Windows will then use the preferred adapter when its complete route calculation makes that path the best available choice.
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