5 Internet and Network Features in Windows That You May Not Know About
We all rely on the Internet in our daily lives for various reasons, from simply browsing websites and watching videos to doing work remotely and communicating with others.
Our entire lives have become centered around the Internet, and a network downtime means life stops in one way or another. Fortunately, modern versions of Windows provide a wide range of smart tools and options dedicated to dealing with problems and troubleshooting to quickly and efficiently reconnect to the network, in addition to other features that you may not have heard of before but are very useful once you know about them.
Let's review the most prominent and important of these tools and features to improve your Internet and Wi-Fi experience in Windows.
If you’re the “tech support” person in your family or friends’ lives, you’ve probably been asked to help others with their computer problems. Sometimes you’re there to help, and other times it’s impossible because you’re far away from the person in need. Windows 10 and Windows 11 provide a solution to this problem with Quick Assist, a tool that lets you remotely control other people’s computers.
In a recent article titled "Using Fast Assist in Microsoft Windows 11 to Control Any Computer Remotely," which we strongly suggest reading, we discussed the process for utilizing this tool. However, in general, the operation of this program can be broken down into a few straightforward stages.
To locate it, just hit the Win key and the S key simultaneously on your keyboard, and then search for it in Windows.
An arbitrary security code will emerge once it has been run by the one who is in need of aid, and he will be required to submit it to the individual who will be providing assistance.
On the other hand, the latter activates the Quick Assist application on his own computer, enters the security code into it, and then waits for the permission of the initial party. After receiving clearance, the individual who is performing the part of technical help will have the ability to remotely view the screen of the other person and even take control of it if it is required; this capability is analogous to TeamViewer.
The receiving party can disconnect at any time to maintain privacy. It is worth mentioning that the tool provides other features such as remote computer reboot, automatic reconnection after booting, messaging, and other features that make the remote support process easier and faster without the need for external programs.
"Router reset" is a phrase that most of us have heard at some point to solve an internet connection problem, and although it does not work in many cases, the idea of restarting or reconfiguring it actually works in other cases where the problem is stubborn. If you are facing a network connection problem and do not know the reason, you can reset it by entering the Settings application (by pressing the Win + I keys together), then heading to the "Network & internet" section, then scrolling down and going to the "Advanced network settings" page.
Scroll down and tap “Network reset” and then “Reset now.” This will erase all network settings, both Ethernet (wired) and Wi-Fi, reset the network definitions, and then automatically restart your computer to save the changes. Note that you will need to re-enter your password if you are connected to Wi-Fi, but this should solve the problem.
Computers that support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, such as laptops, if they are connected to the Internet, can share the connection with phones, tablets, and other laptops nearby by setting up a hotspot. In other words, you can turn your computer into a router that broadcasts the Internet network it is connected to to more nearby devices. This is useful in many cases, such as when a friend visits you and needs an Internet connection. Instead of giving him the password, you can use your computer as a hotspot and easily share the Internet with your visitor. There are also many reasons why you should create a hotspot on Windows, as we explained in a previous topic.
Regardless of your internet connection type, all you have to do is go to Settings by pressing Win + I, then go to Network & Internet and enable the "Mobile hotspot" feature. You can customize the name and password for the network by going to the settings for this feature, then clicking on "Edit" under "Properties" and naming the network and protecting it with a password.
There are times when the Wi-Fi or Internet connection icon appears normally, while there is a real problem with the network connection. In other words, the device may show that the Internet connection is active, but there is no actual Internet access, or the connection is intermittent or unusually weak. In such cases, we sometimes resort to modifying the DNS or changing the IP address, although the correct solution is to check the connection using the Windows built-in scanning tool, which helps diagnose and check any Internet-related problems, either automatically or with user intervention. To access this tool, type Troubleshoot settings in the Windows search bar and press Enter.
Then go to the "Other Troubleshooters" page, then click on the word "Run" opposite "Network and Internet" and wait for Windows to evaluate the connection and analyze the problem to give you solutions. If there is no real problem with the Internet, you will see a message: "...You're connected to the Internet." If the problem is not solved, you can open a command prompt window with administrator privileges by typing CMD in the search box in the Start menu, and from the search results, click on the option "Run as administrator," then type the following commands one by one, and perhaps the problem will be solved:
netsh winsock reset: Used to resolve connection problems caused by corrupted Winsock settings.
ipconfig /release: Releases the current IP address of the device.
netsh int ip reset: Resets TCP/IP settings to default.
ipconfig /renew: Requests a new IP address from the router.
ipconfig /flushdns: Flushes the DNS cache.
In the new 24H2 annual update for Windows 11, Microsoft has added a feature that many have been waiting for, which is to display the Wi-Fi password via QR code, similar to Android and iPhone phones.
This way, you will be able to share the Internet connection with your friends and visitors without having to enter the password manually.
To use this feature, go to the Settings app, then to the "Network & internet" section, then click on "Wi-Fi" and click on "Manage known networks" to display a list of all the Wi-Fi networks you have previously connected to, then click on the name of the network you want to know the password used to connect to, and on the next page, click on the "Show" button in front of "Wi-Fi network password" to immediately display a pop-up window displaying the password you used to connect to this network in addition to a QR code that can be scanned with the phone's camera to connect to this network without entering the password manually.
Conclusion: Windows has many useful tools that many people may not know about on the Internet. Most of these tools save time and effort and help users solve many problems they may face.
Try the features mentioned here or save the article for later because you will need it sooner or later as long as you use the Internet on your device.