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 no bei Feldkommunikatioun.
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) Optioun.
- An der neier Windows PowerShell Fënster, Typ IPconfig / all an dréckt op gitt. 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 opgezielt.
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 Windows Settings menu. Right-click the Start menu and select the Parameteren Optioun.
- An Windows Settings Menu, wielt de Apparater option. From there, you’ll need to select the Bluetooth oder aner Gerät ufänken Optioun.
- Am Pop-up Fügt e Gerät 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 Alles anescht 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 gemaach button to complete the connection.
- The device will then appear in your list of known devices in the Bluetooth & aner Apparater 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
Ee vun de beschte Gebrauch fir WiFi Direct ass fir Datei Transferen, besonnesch wann Dir eng grouss Unzuel u Dateien hutt. Wärend Dir Bluetooth benotze kënnt, grouss Iwwerdroung (oder eng grouss Zuel vun hinnen) géif vill méi laang daueren wéi eng WiFi Direct Verbindung.
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.
- Fir unzefänken, luet an installéiert de Feem App fir Ären Android Apparat. Dir musst och Feem installéieren op Ärem Windows PC. Eemol installéiert, öffnet Feem op béide Geräter.
- Op Ärem Android Apparat, tippt op Aktivéiert WiFi Direct Schalter an der Feem App. Dëst aktivéiert de speziellen WiFi Direct ad-hoc Hotspot fir Ären Windows Apparat fir matzemaachen. D'Passwuert dat gebraucht gëtt fir dëst Netzwierk ze verbannen erschéngt an der oberer rechter Ecke.
- Op Ärem Windows Apparat, verbënnt mat dem temporäre WiFi Netzwierk vun Ärem Android Apparat erstallt (zum Beispill, DIRECT-mH-Android). Dir kënnt dëst an Ärem Windows Astellungsmenü maachen, oder andeems Dir op WiFi/Netzwierk Ikon op Ärer Taskbar a wielt dat temporär WiFi Netzwierk vun do aus.
- Eemol ugeschloss, öffnet d'Feem App op Ärem Windows PC. Ären Android Apparat sollt am lénksen Menü opgezielt sinn. Dir kënnt Dateien op déi aner Manéier schécken andeems Dir Äre Windows PC an der Feem App op Android wielt amplaz. Wielt den Apparat an der Lëscht op entweder Plattform, wielt dann oder tippt op Schéckt Datei Optioun um Enn fir unzefänken Dateien ze schécken.
- Wann d'Dateie geschéckt goufen, tippt op WiFi Direct ass op Schalter op Ärem Android Apparat fir de WiFi Direct Hotspot auszeschalten an d'Verbindung ofzeschléissen.
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 Är Telefon App anstatt.
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.