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 nkwukọrịta dị nso.
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 Windows PowerShell.
- To open a new PowerShell terminal, right-click the Start menu and select the Windows PowerShell (Admin) nhọrọ.
- Na ọhụrụ Windows PowerShell mpio, pịnye ipconfig / niile na pịa Tinye. 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 edepụtara.
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 Ntọala Windows menu. Right-click the Start menu and select the Settings nhọrọ.
- na Ntọala Windows menu, họrọ ngwaọrụ option. From there, you’ll need to select the Tinye Bluetooth ma ọ bụ ngwaọrụ ọzọ nhọrọ.
- Na mmapụta Tinye ngwaọrụ 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 Ihe ndi ozo 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 ime eme button to complete the connection.
- The device will then appear in your list of known devices in the Bluetooth & ngwaọrụ ndị ọzọ 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
Otu ihe kacha mma maka WiFi Direct bụ maka mbufe faịlụ, ọkachasị ma ọ bụrụ na ị nwere ọnụ ọgụgụ faịlụ buru ibu. Mgbe ị nwere ike iji Bluetooth, ịnyefe nnukwu faịlụ (ma ọ bụ ọnụ ọgụgụ buru ibu n'ime ha) ga -ewe ogologo oge karịa njikọ WiFi Direct.
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.
- Iji malite, budata ma wụnye faịlụ Ngwa ngwa maka ngwaọrụ gam akporo gị. Ị ga -achọkwa wụnye Feem na Windows PC gị. Ozugbo etinyere ya, mepee Feem na ngwaọrụ abụọ a.
- Na ngwaọrụ gam akporo gị, pịa Tụgharịa WiFi Direct mmịfe na ngwa Feem. Nke a ga-arụ ọrụ hotspot WiFi Direct ad-hoc pụrụ iche maka ngwaọrụ Windows gị iji jikọọ. Okwuntughe achọrọ iji jikọọ na netwọkụ a ga-apụta n'akụkụ akuku aka nri.
- Na ngwaọrụ Windows gị, jikọọ na netwọkụ WiFi nwa oge nke ngwaọrụ gam akporo gị mepụtara (dịka ọmụmaatụ, DIRECT-mH-Android). Ị nwere ike ime nke a na menu Ntọala Windows gị, ma ọ bụ site na ịpị WiFi/akara ngosi netwọkụ na taskbar gị wee họrọ ebe ahụ WiFi oge nwa oge.
- Ozugbo ejikọrọ, mepee ngwa Feem na Windows PC gị. Ekwesịrị ịdepụta ngwaọrụ gam akporo gị na menu akaekpe. Ị nwere ike izipu faịlụ n'ụzọ ọzọ site na ịhọrọ Windows PC gị na ngwa Feem na gam akporo kama. Họrọ ngwaọrụ dị na listi dị n'elu ikpo okwu ọ bụla, wee họrọ ma ọ bụ pịa ya Zipu Njikwa nhọrọ na ala ịmalite ịmalite izipu faịlụ n'ofe.
- Ozugbo ezigara faịlụ ndị ahụ, pịa WiFi Direct na -aga mmịfe na ngwaọrụ gam akporo gị iji gbanyụọ WiFi Direct hotspot wee kwụsị njikọ ahụ.
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 Ngwa ekwentị gị kama.
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.