Bluetooth is the gold standard for device-to-device file transfers and close-range communications, but it has a competitor that you might not have heard of: WiFi Direct.
What is WiFi Direct? This little-known alternative has been around for years but, unlike Bluetooth, you can use WiFi Direct for more than just file transfers.
Windows 10 has direct WiFi Direct support, but if you’re planning on using it, you’ll need to know what it’s good for (and whether it’s safe to use it or not). There are plenty of devices that support WiFi Direct (under various names), so if you want to know more about WiFi Direct in Windows 10, here’s what you’ll need to know.
What Is WiFi Direct?
WiFi Direct is a standard that allows the use of WiFi radio frequencies (typically 2.4GHz and 5GHz) to make direct, peer-to-peer connections with other devices. You don’t need an existing WiFi network to connect to, as the connection is made directly between two devices.
WiFi Direct works by enabling a software-generated access point on the host device, creating a temporary WiFi network in the process. WiFi Protected Setup (WPS) is then used to authenticate, with a push button or PIN code used to establish a connection. This allows for a seamless (yet secure) connection between the devices.
Like Bluetooth, you can use it to send files, share your screen with other devices, play games directly, share your internet connection, and more. It also plays a central part in other systems and communication standards, such as nyob ze kev sib txuas lus.
Other WiFi-specific brands, such as Miracast, also use WiFi Direct to communicate. While Miracast is its own standard, it builds upon the WiFi Direct technology to allow for secure screen mirroring.
Support for WiFi Direct is quite patchy, however. While it is fully supported in Windows 10 (depending on your device), Apple devices such as Macs, iPhones, and iPads use the proprietary AirDrop and AirPlay instead.
Modern Android devices (from Android 4.0 onwards) offer support for WiFi Direct, but you may need a third-party app to make full use of its functionality. It also has some support on certain smart TVs, game consoles, and other WiFi-capable devices.
Checking for WiFi Direct Support on your Windows 10 PC
If you want to use WiFi Direct as an alternative to Bluetooth, then you’ll be best served using a Windows 10 PC or laptop. Windows 10 offers full support for the WiFi Direct standard, but your internal WiFi chip (or external WiFi device) will need to support it.
If you want to check whether your Windows PC or laptop supports the WiFi Direct standard, then you’ll need to use the Qhov rais PowerShell.
- To open a new PowerShell terminal, right-click the Start menu and select the Qhov rais PowerShell (Admin) kev xaiv.
- Nyob rau hauv tus tshiab Qhov rais PowerShell qhov rais, hom ipconfig / tag nrho thiab nias Sau. A list of your network adapters and connections will be listed. Look through the list of adapters to find the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter sau tseg.
If Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter is listed, then your PC supports WiFi Direct connections. If it doesn’t, then you’ll need to attach a third-party USB WiFi device to enable support for it.
Connecting to Other WiFi Direct Compatible Devices
If your PC supports it, then you can connect to other WiFi Direct capable devices. To do this, you can use Windows’ search and discovery features to locate other WiFi Direct devices nearby.
- To do this, you’ll need to open the Qhov Chaw Xaiv Lub Chaw menu. Right-click the Start menu and select the chaw kev xaiv.
- Nyob rau hauv lub Qhov Chaw Xaiv Lub Chaw ntawv qhia zaub mov, xaiv lub Devices option. From there, you’ll need to select the Ntxiv Bluetooth lossis lwm yam khoom siv kev xaiv.
- Nyob rau hauv lub pop-up Ntxiv ib qho khoom siv menu, you can select the type of device you want to connect to. Some WiFi Direct devices, for instance, are largely used for screen mirroring. To add one of these, select the Wireless display or dock option. Otherwise, select the Txhua tsav txhua yam option instead.
- A list of available devices nearby that your PC can connect to will appear next. WiFi Direct-capable devices will also appear, including smartphones, smart TVs, games consoles, and more. To connect to those devices, select the device listed.
- Once the device is connected, select the ua li cas button to complete the connection.
- The device will then appear in your list of known devices in the Bluetooth & lwm yam khoom siv menu in Windows Settings.
While this method should work for most WiFi Direct devices, there may be other methods you can use to connect, so consult the user manual for those devices for further information.
For instance, some devices that support the WiFi Direct standard will have their own always-on WiFi networks that you can connect to. If you had a HP printer or Sony smart TV, for instance, you could connect by joining the DIRECT-XX wireless network for that device.
Sending Files Using WiFi Direct
Ib qho ntawm kev siv tau zoo tshaj plaws rau WiFi ncaj qha yog rau kev xa cov ntaub ntawv, tshwj xeeb tshaj yog tias koj muaj cov ntaub ntawv ntau. Thaum koj tuaj yeem siv Bluetooth, xa cov ntaub ntawv loj (lossis ntau ntawm lawv) yuav siv sijhawm ntev dua li WiFi Txuas ncaj qha.
If you have an Android device, the best way to use WiFi Direct is by using the Feem app, which has Windows 10 and Android support. While WiFi Direct isn’t supported for iPhones and iPads, Feem does use an alternative method for file transfers on those platforms.
- Txhawm rau pib, rub tawm thiab teeb tsa lub Feem app rau koj lub Android ntaus ntawv. Koj tseem yuav tsum tau install Feem ntawm koj lub Windows PC. Thaum teeb tsa, qhib Feem ntawm ob lub cuab yeej.
- Ntawm koj lub Android ntaus ntawv, coj mus rhaub rau Qhib WiFi ncaj qha slider in Feem Feem. Qhov no yuav qhib qhov tshwj xeeb WiFi Direct ad-hoc hotspot rau koj lub Windows ntaus ntawv txuas rau. Tus password yuav tsum txuas rau lub network no yuav tshwm nyob rau saum kaum sab xis.
- Ntawm koj lub Windows ntaus ntawv, txuas rau lub network WiFi ib ntus uas tsim los ntawm koj lub cuab yeej Android (piv txwv li, DIRECT-mH-Android). Koj tuaj yeem ua qhov no hauv koj lub Windows Settings menu, lossis los ntawm nias lub pob WiFi / Network icon ntawm koj lub luag haujlwm thiab xaiv lub network WiFi ib ntus los ntawm qhov ntawd.
- Thaum txuas nrog, qhib Feem Feem ntawm koj lub Windows PC. Koj lub cuab yeej Android yuav tsum tau teev nyob hauv cov ntawv qhia zaub mov sab laug. Koj tuaj yeem xa cov ntaub ntawv mus rau lwm txoj kev los ntawm kev xaiv koj lub Windows PC hauv Feem app hauv Android xwb. Xaiv lub cuab yeej hauv cov npe ntawm ob lub platform, tom qab ntawd xaiv lossis coj mus rhaub rau Xa Cov Ntaub Ntawv xaiv hauv qab kom pib xa cov ntawv hla.
- Thaum cov ntaub ntawv raug xa mus, coj mus rhaub rau WiFi Direct tau qhib slider ntawm koj lub Android ntaus ntawv kom lov tes taw WiFi Direct hotspot thiab xaus qhov kev sib txuas.
Connecting Windows 10 PCs to Other Devices
As the name suggests, using WiFi Direct in Windows 10 allows you to make direct connections with other devices. If you want to transfer files from your smartphone to your PC regularly, then you may prefer to use the built-in Koj lub xov tooj app xwb.
If WiFi Direct isn’t an option, then Bluetooth is your next, best option for standalone, peer-to-peer communication. Many Windows 10 PCs have Bluetooth built-in, but you can make a PC Bluetooth-capable using a USB adapter. You’ll just need to remember to switch Bluetooth on first before you attempt to make a connection.