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 kufutshane nonxibelelwano lwentsimi.
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 PowerShell (i-Admin) ukhetho.
- Kwi entsha Windows PowerShell iwindow, uhlobo ipconfig / yonke kwaye cinezela faka. A list of your network adapters and connections will be listed. Look through the list of adapters to find the I-Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter kuluhlu.
If I-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 Izicwangciso zeWindows menu. Right-click the Start menu and select the izicwangciso ukhetho.
- Kwi Izicwangciso zeWindows khetha imenyu izixhobo option. From there, you’ll need to select the Yongeza i-Bluetooth okanye esinye isixhobo ukhetho.
- Kwi-pop-up Yongeza i sixhobo 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 Yonke into 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 Zenziwa button to complete the connection.
- The device will then appear in your list of known devices in the I-Bluetooth kunye nezinye izixhobo 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
Enye yezona zinto zisetyenziselwa i-WiFi ngqo kukudluliselwa kwefayile, ngakumbi ukuba unefayile enkulu. Ngelixa unokusebenzisa iBluetooth, ukuhambisa iifayile ezinkulu (okanye inani elikhulu lazo) kungathatha ixesha elide kunonxibelelwano ngqo lwe-WiFi.
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.
- Ukuqala, khuphela kwaye ufake ifayile Inkqubo yenkqubo isixhobo sakho se-Android. Uya kufuneka kwakhona fakela imali kwiWindows PC yakho. Nje ukuba ifakwe, vula intlawulo kwizixhobo zombini.
- Kwisixhobo sakho se-Android, thepha i Layita i-WiFi ngqo isilayida kuhlelo lweFem. Oku kuyakwenza isebenze ngokukhethekileyo i-WiFi ngqo kwi-ad-hoc hotspot kwisixhobo sakho seWindows ukuze uqhagamshele kuyo. Igama lokugqithisa elifunekayo ukunxibelelana nale nethiwekhi liza kubonakala kwikona ephezulu ngasekunene.
- Kwisixhobo sakho seWindows, qhagamshela kwinethiwekhi ye-WiFi yexeshana eyenziwe sisixhobo sakho se-Android (umzekelo, I-DIRECT-mH-Android). Unokwenza oku kwimenyu yeWindows yeWindows, okanye ngokucinezela I-WiFi / icon yenethiwekhi kwibar yomsebenzi wakho kwaye ukhethe inethiwekhi ye-WiFi yexeshana apho.
- Nje ukuba uqhagamshele, vula i-Feem app kwi-Windows PC yakho. Isixhobo sakho se-Android kufuneka sidweliswe kwimenyu yasekhohlo. Ungathumela iifayile ngenye indlela ngokukhetha iWindows PC yakho kwi-Feem app kwi-Android endaweni yoko. Khetha isixhobo esikuluhlu nakweliphi iqonga, emva koko ukhethe okanye ucofe iqhosha Thumela iFayile ukhetho emazantsi ukuqala ukuthumela iifayile ngaphesheya.
- Nje ukuba iifayile zithunyelwe, cofa u I-WiFi ngqo ivuliwe isilayida kwisixhobo sakho se-Android ukukhubaza i-WiFi ngqo kunye nokuphelisa unxibelelwano.
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 Ifoni yakho yefowuni endaweni yoko.
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.