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 komunikácia v blízkosti poľa.
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) možnosť.
- V novom Windows PowerShell okno, typ ipconfig / all a stlačte vstúpiť. A list of your network adapters and connections will be listed. Look through the list of adapters to find the Priamy virtuálny adaptér Microsoft Wi-Fi vypísané.
If Priamy virtuálny adaptér Microsoft Wi-Fi 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 Nastavenie systému Windows menu. Right-click the Start menu and select the nastavenie možnosť.
- V Nastavenie systému Windows v ponuke vyberte ikonu Zariadenia option. From there, you’ll need to select the Pridajte Bluetooth alebo iné zariadenie možnosť.
- Vo vyskakovacom okne Pridajte zariadenie 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 Bezdrôtový displej alebo dokovacia stanica možnosť. V opačnom prípade vyberte Všetko ostatné 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 hotový button to complete the connection.
- The device will then appear in your list of known devices in the Bluetooth a ďalšie zariadenia 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
Jedným z najlepších spôsobov použitia WiFi Direct je prenos súborov, najmä ak máte veľký počet súborov. Aj keď by ste mohli používať Bluetooth, prenos veľkých súborov (alebo ich veľkého počtu) bude trvať oveľa dlhšie ako pripojenie 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.
- Ak chcete začať, stiahnite si a nainštalujte súbor Aplikácia Feem pre vaše zariadenie Android. Budete tiež musieť nainštalovať Feem na počítači so systémom Windows. Po inštalácii otvorte Feem na oboch zariadeniach.
- Na zariadení s Androidom klepnite na Zapnite WiFi Direct posúvač v aplikácii Feem. Tým sa aktivuje špeciálny ad-hoc hotspot WiFi Direct, ku ktorému sa má pripojiť vaše zariadenie Windows. Heslo potrebné na pripojenie k tejto sieti sa zobrazí v pravom hornom rohu.
- V zariadení so systémom Windows sa pripojte k dočasnej sieti WiFi vytvorenej zariadením so systémom Android (napr. DIRECT-mH-Android). Môžete to urobiť v ponuke Nastavenia systému Windows alebo stlačením klávesu Ikona WiFi/Sieť na paneli úloh a odtiaľ vyberte dočasnú sieť WiFi.
- Po pripojení otvorte na počítači so systémom Windows aplikáciu Feem. Vaše zariadenie Android by malo byť uvedené v ponuke vľavo. Súbory môžete odosielať aj iným spôsobom, namiesto toho vyberte svoj počítač so systémom Windows v aplikácii Feem v systéme Android. Vyberte zariadenie v zozname na ľubovoľnej platforme a potom vyberte alebo klepnite na Poslať súbor možnosť v spodnej časti začať odosielať súbory naprieč.
- Po odoslaní súborov klepnite na WiFi Direct je zapnuté posuvníkom na zariadení so systémom Android deaktivujte hotspot WiFi Direct a ukončite pripojenie.
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 Aplikácia Telefón miesto.
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.