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Use WiFi and Ethernet at the Same Time? Yes, Here’s How

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Use WiFi and Ethernet at the Same Time? Yes, Here's How

Yes, you can use WiFi and Ethernet at the same time on most computers, and doing so can improve speed, reliability, or both—but only if you set it up correctly. By default, Windows and macOS will use only one connection at a time, usually the Ethernet, but you can enable link aggregation or configure routing to use both simultaneously.

How Dual Connections Work

When you connect to both WiFi and Ethernet, your operating system assigns each interface its own IP address and routes traffic through the one with the lower metric (a priority number). By default, Ethernet has a lower metric, so it gets all traffic, and WiFi sits idle. To use both at once, you have two main options:

  • Load balancing – split traffic across both connections (e.g., some apps use WiFi, others use Ethernet).
  • Link aggregation – combine the two links into a single logical connection for higher throughput (requires router support).

Neither option doubles your speed for a single download; they increase total throughput when multiple connections are active, like streaming on one device while gaming on another.

Why You Might Want Both

There are several practical reasons to run both connections:

  • Faster downloads – if your internet plan is faster than either link, using both can get closer to the plan’s limit.
  • Redundancy – if one connection drops, the other keeps you online.
  • Separating traffic – send large backups over Ethernet and keep video calls on WiFi to avoid congestion.
  • Bridging networks – connect to two different networks (e.g., a work VPN and a home LAN) simultaneously.

For most home users, the benefit is modest because broadband speeds are usually below what a single Gigabit Ethernet link can handle. But if you have a multi-gigabit fiber plan or you’re moving large files between local devices, dual connections can help.

How to Set It Up on Windows

Windows gives you control over interface metrics. To make Windows use both connections:

  1. Open Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings.
  2. Right-click the Ethernet adapter and select Properties.
  3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
  4. Click Advanced and uncheck Automatic metric.
  5. Enter a low value (e.g., 5) for the interface metric.
  6. Repeat for the WiFi adapter, but give it a higher metric (e.g., 10).

This tells Windows to prefer Ethernet but still use WiFi when Ethernet is busy. For true load balancing, you need a third-party tool or a router that supports bonding—Windows does not natively aggregate different link types.

How to Set It Up on macOS

macOS can combine multiple network interfaces using Link Aggregation (also called Bonding). Here’s how:

  1. Open System Settings → Network.
  2. Click the … (more) menu at the bottom and select Manage Virtual Interfaces.
  3. Click + and choose Link Aggregation.
  4. Name the bond and select both WiFi and Ethernet (or two Ethernet ports).
  5. Click Create, then apply the bond to your active location.

Note: Link Aggregation requires the router to support IEEE 802.3ad (LACP) or static bonding. Many home routers don’t, so check your router’s documentation first.

Common Problems and Fixes

When using both connections, you may run into issues:

  • One connection drops – If the router doesn’t support bonding, the OS may get confused. Disable one interface temporarily.
  • IP conflicts – Both interfaces might get the same IP if you’re on the same subnet. Set static IPs for each.
  • Slow performance – Load balancing can sometimes send packets out of order, causing retransmissions. Check if your router supports per-flow load balancing.
  • VPN issues – VPNs often bind to one interface. Use the VPN on the Ethernet and keep WiFi for other traffic.

If you’re trying to use both connections to the same router, make sure the router supports multi-WAN or link aggregation; otherwise, you’ll only get the speed of one link.

Alternatives to Using Both

If dual connections seem complicated, consider these alternatives:

  • Upgrade to a faster router – A modern router with Wi-Fi 6 or 6E may give you speeds close to Ethernet without the hassle.
  • Use a network switch – If you need more wired ports, a cheap Gigabit switch is more reliable than dual connections.
  • Quality of Service (QoS) – Prioritize traffic on a single connection instead of splitting it.

For most people, the simplest solution is to plug in the Ethernet cable and turn off WiFi—you get the best stability with zero configuration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will using both WiFi and Ethernet double my internet speed?

No, not for a single download. Your ISP delivers one stream of data to your router, and that stream goes to one IP address. To use both links, you need a router that can load-balance across two WAN connections, but that’s a different setup (e.g., two separate internet services). On a single home network, you can only split traffic between local devices, not double your bandwidth.

Is it safe to use both connections at the same time?

Yes, it’s safe. Your computer and router handle multiple interfaces all the time. The only risk is misconfiguration causing IP conflicts or slow speeds, but that’s easily fixed by resetting the network settings.

Why does my computer prefer Ethernet over WiFi?

Because Ethernet has a lower interface metric by default. That’s a priority number that tells the OS which connection to use first. You can change it in the adapter settings, but it’s usually best to leave it as is.

Can I use both connections for gaming and streaming at the same time?

Yes, but it’s not automatic. You can set your game to bind to the Ethernet interface and your streaming app to bind to WiFi, or use a program like ForceBindIP on Windows to force specific apps to use a specific interface. Without that, the OS will send everything over one connection.

Does link aggregation work with WiFi and Ethernet?

On macOS, yes, but it requires router support for LACP. On Windows, no—Windows doesn’t support link aggregation for mixed interface types. You’d need a third-party driver or a router that can combine the two ports into one virtual link.

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