Quick fix: Open Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → Hotspot 2.0 networks. Toggle Let me use Online Sign-Up to get connected to off. Or directly: open Network & sharing center → Change adapter settings → right-click Wi-Fi → Properties → Configure → Advanced → find Hotspot 2.0 / Passpoint → disable. Wi-Fi will no longer auto-sign-in to public Hotspot 2.0 networks.

Hotspot 2.0 (Passpoint) is a Wi-Fi standard that lets your PC sign in automatically to participating public networks (airport, hotel, coffee chain). Useful but unwanted for some users: privacy concerns, accidental connections to networks you don’t trust.

Symptom: Want to stop Windows 11 from auto-connecting to Hotspot 2.0 (Passpoint) Wi-Fi.
Affects: Windows 11 (and Windows 10) on Wi-Fi adapters supporting Hotspot 2.0.
Fix time: ~3 minutes.

What causes this

Hotspot 2.0 (Passpoint) is an IEEE 802.11u standard. Wi-Fi providers (airports, hotels) broadcast a SSID + credentials that participating devices can auto-join. Windows 11 supports this. If your device has a cellular eSIM or Microsoft account, it can sign you in automatically. To disable for privacy/security: toggle in Wi-Fi settings.

Method 1: Disable via Wi-Fi settings

The standard route.

Open Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi.
Scroll down. Find Hotspot 2.0 networks section.
Toggle Let me use Online Sign-Up to get connected to Off.
Wi-Fi adapter stops auto-signing-in to Hotspot 2.0 networks.
You can still manually connect to a Hotspot 2.0 network by picking it from the list.
Existing saved Hotspot 2.0 profiles: go to Manage known networks. Click each Hotspot 2.0 profile (often marked with a globe icon) → Forget.
This disables auto-connect to those known networks.

This is the standard fix.

Method 2: Disable via adapter properties

For full driver-level disable.

Open Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings.
Right-click Wi-Fi adapter → Properties.
Click Configure button.
Switch to Advanced tab.
Look for properties like:
- Hotspot 2.0 or Passpoint: set Value to Disabled.
- Auto Roaming: disable if you don’t want automatic network switching.
- Network Auto Selection: disable for full manual control.
Click OK. Reboot or disable/re-enable Wi-Fi to apply.
Wi-Fi now respects only manual network choices.
Specific properties vary by Wi-Fi chipset (Intel, Realtek, Qualcomm). Some show all options, others limit.

This is the driver-level disable.

Method 3: Use Group Policy or registry for enforced disable

For managed PCs.

Group Policy: gpedit.msc → Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Network → Windows Connection Manager.
Find policies related to Wi-Fi auto-connect:
- Prohibit connection to non-domain networks when connected to domain authenticated network
- Minimize the number of simultaneous connections to the Internet or a Windows Domain
Configure to restrict auto-connect behavior.
For Hotspot 2.0 specifically: registry approach. Open Registry Editor.
Navigate to: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WlanSvc\Parameters.
Create DWORD EnableHotspot2.0 = 0 (disabled).
Restart WLAN AutoConfig service: net stop wlansvc && net start wlansvc.
For Intune: deploy as Configuration Profile under Wi-Fi settings.

This is the right path for enterprise policy.

How to verify the fix worked

Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi shows Hotspot 2.0 toggle off.
Walk near a public Hotspot 2.0 network. PC doesn’t auto-connect.
Manage known networks: no Hotspot 2.0 entries listed.
Open netsh wlan show profiles — no Hotspot 2.0 profiles.

If none of these work

If still auto-connecting: Cellular eSIM: PC with eSIM may auto-connect via cellular operator’s partnership. Disable cellular data temporarily. Microsoft account integration: signed-in Microsoft account profiles may share Wi-Fi profiles. Sign out from Wi-Fi profile sync via account settings. For corporate Wi-Fi profiles: pushed via Group Policy, not user-configurable. Contact IT. For automatic Hotspot 2.0 from cellular provider: T-Mobile, Verizon may push profiles. Check carrier app on PC. Wi-Fi Sense (older Win10 feature): gone in Win11. If you upgraded from old Win10, residual profiles may exist. netsh wlan delete profile name="profile-name". For roaming aggressive between networks: even with Hotspot 2.0 off, adapter may roam between strong known networks. Adjust roaming aggressiveness in adapter Advanced tab.

Bottom line: Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → toggle Hotspot 2.0 off. Forget saved Hotspot 2.0 profiles via Manage known networks. For full disable: Wi-Fi adapter properties → Configure → Advanced tab → disable Hotspot 2.0 / Passpoint.