Minimize the number of simultaneous connections to the Internet or a Windows Domain


This policy setting 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.

If this policy setting 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 and any metered network. This was previously the Disabled state for this policy setting. This option was first available in Windows 8.

If this policy setting 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. Here's the order of preference (from most preferred to least preferred): Ethernet, WLAN, then cellular. Ethernet is always preferred when connected. Users can still manually connect to any network. This was previously the Enabled state for this policy setting. This option was first available in Windows 8.

If this policy setting is set to 2, the behavior is similar to 1. However, if a cellular data connection is available, it 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 will be routed over the cellular connection. This option was first available in Windows 10 (Version 1703).

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

This policy setting is related to the "Enable Windows to soft-disconnect a computer from a network" policy setting.

Supported on: At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT

Minimize Policy Options


  1. 0 = Allow simultaneous connections
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSoftware\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WcmSvc\GroupPolicy
    Value NamefMinimizeConnections
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value0
  2. 1 = Minimize simultaneous connections
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSoftware\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WcmSvc\GroupPolicy
    Value NamefMinimizeConnections
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value1
  3. 2 = Stay connected to cellular
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSoftware\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WcmSvc\GroupPolicy
    Value NamefMinimizeConnections
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value2
  4. 3 = Prevent Wi-Fi when on Ethernet
    Registry HiveHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    Registry PathSoftware\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WcmSvc\GroupPolicy
    Value NamefMinimizeConnections
    Value TypeREG_DWORD
    Value3


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