Ethernet Toggle · sothis.dev

Windows utility

Built for changing hardware

Designed for Windows To Go use across different computers. Adapter names are detected at runtime instead of being hard-coded.

Why this tool exists

Has your Ethernet ever looked connected — but simply stopped working?

A network adapter can remain shown as connected even when the connection itself is no longer useful. An IP conflict, a stale DHCP lease or another transient network problem may leave Windows attached to Ethernet without a working route. Disabling and re-enabling the adapter often forces the interface to reconnect and obtain a fresh network configuration — much faster than digging through several Windows network dialogs.

Do you frequently need to switch from Ethernet to Wi‑Fi or a mobile hotspot?

That can be awkward too. You may be connected to a restricted or firewalled Ethernet network but need temporary Internet access through Wi‑Fi or a phone hotspot. Even after Wi‑Fi connects, Windows may continue to prefer the wired interface. In that situation the practical solution is often simple: turn Ethernet off, use Wi‑Fi, then turn Ethernet back on when the job is finished.

Ethernet Toggle turns both situations into one desktop action. One double-click disables the physical Ethernet adapter; the next enables it again. The adapter is detected automatically, so the same shortcut can travel with a Windows To Go installation across different computers.

Quick network resetCycle the Ethernet adapter to force a fresh reconnect when the wired connection becomes stuck or unusable.

Switch to Wi‑Fi cleanlyTemporarily remove the wired path when Windows keeps preferring Ethernet over Wi‑Fi or a mobile hotspot.

One action, any PCAutomatically identify the physical Ethernet adapter instead of relying on a fixed adapter name.

Features

Automatically detects physical 802.3 Ethernet adapters
Prefers non-USB physical Ethernet adapters
No hard-coded adapter name
One-time elevated installation
Daily toggle without repeated UAC prompts
No visible CMD or PowerShell console
Waiting window during the change
Result message includes the actual adapter name
Turkish UI on Turkish Windows; English otherwise
Programs & Features / Installed Apps uninstall entry

Installation: run the BAT once and approve UAC. A desktop shortcut is created; subsequent toggles use the scheduled task created by the installer.

Install-Ethernet-Toggle-final-localized-shortcut.bat

Download .bat

@echo off
setlocal

set "PS1=%TEMP%\Install-Ethernet-Toggle-%RANDOM%.ps1"

:: ------------------------------------------------------------
:: Extract embedded PowerShell installer
:: ------------------------------------------------------------

powershell.exe -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command ^
"$lines = Get-Content -LiteralPath '%~f0'; ^
$i = [Array]::IndexOf($lines, '###POWERSHELL###'); ^
if ($i -lt 0) { exit 1 }; ^
[System.IO.File]::WriteAllLines('%PS1%', $lines[($i+1)..($lines.Length-1)], (New-Object System.Text.UTF8Encoding($false)))"

if errorlevel 1 (
    echo Failed to extract installer.
    pause
    exit /b 1
)

:: ------------------------------------------------------------
:: Run installer
:: ------------------------------------------------------------

powershell.exe -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "%PS1%"

:: ------------------------------------------------------------
:: Cleanup temporary installer
:: ------------------------------------------------------------

del "%PS1%" >nul 2>&1

exit /b


###POWERSHELL###

# ============================================================
# Ethernet Toggle Installer
# ============================================================

$ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"

# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Self-elevate
# ------------------------------------------------------------

$IsAdmin = (
    New-Object Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal(
        [Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent()
    )
).IsInRole(
    [Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole]::Administrator
)

if (-not $IsAdmin) {

    Start-Process `
        powershell.exe `
        -Verb RunAs `
        -Wait `
        -ArgumentList @(
            "-NoProfile",
            "-ExecutionPolicy", "Bypass",
            "-File", "`"$PSCommandPath`""
        )

    exit
}

# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Configuration
# ------------------------------------------------------------

$AppName       = "Ethernet Toggle"
$Version       = "1.0"
$Publisher     = "Ethernet Toggle Utility"

$InstallDir    = Join-Path $env:ProgramData "EthernetToggle"

$ToggleScript  = Join-Path $InstallDir "ToggleEthernet.ps1"
$Launcher      = Join-Path $InstallDir "ToggleEthernet.vbs"
$Uninstaller   = Join-Path $InstallDir "Uninstall-EthernetToggle.ps1"

$TaskName      = "Ethernet Toggle"

$RegPath = `
    "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\EthernetToggle"

New-Item `
    -ItemType Directory `
    -Path $InstallDir `
    -Force | Out-Null


# ============================================================
# 1. Ethernet toggle script
# ============================================================

$ToggleCode = @'
Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms
Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Drawing
[System.Windows.Forms.Application]::EnableVisualStyles()

# ------------------------------------------------------------
# UI language: Turkish / German / English fallback
# ------------------------------------------------------------

$lang = [System.Globalization.CultureInfo]::CurrentUICulture.TwoLetterISOLanguageName

if ($lang -eq 'tr') {
    # Build Turkish characters at runtime so the BAT/PS1 source stays ASCII-safe
    $cced = [char]231
    $uuml = [char]252
    $gbre = [char]287
    $sced = [char]351
    $idot = [char]305
    $Cced = [char]199

    $title       = "Ethernet A${cced}/Kapat"
    $waitTitle   = "L${uuml}tfen bekleyin..."
    $waitText    = "Ethernet ba${gbre}da${sced}t${idot}r${idot}c${idot}s${idot} de${gbre}i${sced}tiriliyor."
    $onText      = "art${idot}k A${Cced}IK."
    $offText     = "art${idot}k KAPALI."
    $notFound    = "Fiziksel Ethernet ba${gbre}da${sced}t${idot}r${idot}c${idot}s${idot} bulunamad${idot}."
}
else {
    $title       = 'Ethernet Toggle'
    $waitTitle   = 'Please wait...'
    $waitText    = 'Switching Ethernet adapter.'
    $onText      = 'is now ON.'
    $offText     = 'is now OFF.'
    $notFound    = 'No physical Ethernet adapter was found.'
}

# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Detect Ethernet adapter
# ------------------------------------------------------------

$adapters = @(Get-NetAdapter -Physical -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)

$eth = $null

# Prefer onboard / non-USB physical Ethernet adapter
foreach ($a in $adapters) {

    if (
        $a.MediaType -eq '802.3' -and
        $a.InterfaceDescription -notmatch 'USB'
    ) {
        $eth = $a
        break
    }
}

# Fall back to any physical Ethernet adapter
if (-not $eth) {

    foreach ($a in $adapters) {

        if ($a.MediaType -eq '802.3') {
            $eth = $a
            break
        }
    }
}

if (-not $eth) {

    [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox]::Show(
        $notFound,
        $title,
        [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxButtons]::OK,
        [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxIcon]::Warning
    ) | Out-Null

    exit
}

# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Waiting window
# ------------------------------------------------------------

$form = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Form
$form.Text = $title
$form.StartPosition = 'CenterScreen'
$form.FormBorderStyle = 'FixedDialog'
$form.MaximizeBox = $false
$form.MinimizeBox = $false
$form.ShowInTaskbar = $true
$form.TopMost = $true
$form.ClientSize = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(390, 115)

$label1 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label
$label1.AutoSize = $true
$label1.Font = New-Object System.Drawing.Font(
    'Segoe UI',
    11,
    [System.Drawing.FontStyle]::Bold
)
$label1.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(18, 14)
$label1.Text = $waitTitle

$label2 = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Label
$label2.AutoSize = $true
$label2.Font = New-Object System.Drawing.Font('Segoe UI', 9)
$label2.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(18, 43)
$label2.Text = $waitText

$progress = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.ProgressBar
$progress.Style = 'Marquee'
$progress.MarqueeAnimationSpeed = 25
$progress.Location = New-Object System.Drawing.Point(20, 76)
$progress.Size = New-Object System.Drawing.Size(350, 18)

$form.Controls.Add($label1)
$form.Controls.Add($label2)
$form.Controls.Add($progress)

$form.Show()
$form.Activate()
[System.Windows.Forms.Application]::DoEvents()

$started = [System.Diagnostics.Stopwatch]::StartNew()

# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Toggle Ethernet
# ------------------------------------------------------------

if ($eth.Status -eq 'Disabled') {

    Enable-NetAdapter `
        -InterfaceDescription $eth.InterfaceDescription `
        -Confirm:$false `
        -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

    $stateText = $onText
}
else {

    Disable-NetAdapter `
        -InterfaceDescription $eth.InterfaceDescription `
        -Confirm:$false `
        -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

    $stateText = $offText
}

# Keep wait window visible briefly so it does not only flash
while ($started.ElapsedMilliseconds -lt 650) {
    [System.Windows.Forms.Application]::DoEvents()
    Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 50
}

$form.Close()
$form.Dispose()

# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Finished message
# ------------------------------------------------------------

$adapterDisplay = $eth.InterfaceDescription

if ($eth.Name -and $eth.Name -ne $eth.InterfaceDescription) {
    $adapterDisplay += " ($($eth.Name))"
}

[System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox]::Show(
    "$adapterDisplay $stateText",
    $title,
    [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxButtons]::OK,
    [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxIcon]::Information
) | Out-Null
'@

Set-Content `
    -LiteralPath $ToggleScript `
    -Value $ToggleCode `
    -Encoding UTF8 `
    -Force


# ============================================================
# 2. Scheduled task
# ============================================================

$Action = New-ScheduledTaskAction `
    -Execute "powershell.exe" `
    -Argument (
        "-NoProfile " +
        "-NonInteractive " +
        "-ExecutionPolicy Bypass " +
        "-WindowStyle Hidden " +
        "-File `"$ToggleScript`""
    )

$CurrentUser = `
    [Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent().Name

$Principal = New-ScheduledTaskPrincipal `
    -UserId $CurrentUser `
    -LogonType Interactive `
    -RunLevel Highest

$Settings = New-ScheduledTaskSettingsSet `
    -AllowStartIfOnBatteries `
    -DontStopIfGoingOnBatteries `
    -ExecutionTimeLimit (New-TimeSpan -Minutes 1)

Register-ScheduledTask `
    -TaskName $TaskName `
    -Action $Action `
    -Principal $Principal `
    -Settings $Settings `
    -Force | Out-Null


# ============================================================
# 3. Invisible launcher
# ============================================================

$VbsCode = @'
Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.Run "schtasks.exe /Run /TN ""Ethernet Toggle""", 0, False
'@

Set-Content `
    -LiteralPath $Launcher `
    -Value $VbsCode `
    -Encoding ASCII `
    -Force


# ============================================================
# 4. Desktop shortcut
# ============================================================

$Desktop = [Environment]::GetFolderPath("Desktop")

# Localize desktop shortcut name:
# Turkish Windows UI -> "Ethernet Ac-Kapa" with the real c-cedilla character.
# All other UI languages -> "Ethernet Toggle".
$lang = [System.Globalization.CultureInfo]::CurrentUICulture.TwoLetterISOLanguageName
$cced = [char]231

$TurkishShortcutName = "Ethernet A${cced}-Kapa.lnk"
$EnglishShortcutName = "Ethernet Toggle.lnk"

if ($lang -eq "tr") {
    $ShortcutName = $TurkishShortcutName
}
else {
    $ShortcutName = $EnglishShortcutName
}

# Remove an older shortcut name if this is a reinstall or UI language changed.
Remove-Item `
    (Join-Path $Desktop $TurkishShortcutName) `
    -Force `
    -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

Remove-Item `
    (Join-Path $Desktop $EnglishShortcutName) `
    -Force `
    -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

$ShortcutPath = `
    Join-Path $Desktop $ShortcutName

$Shell = New-Object -ComObject WScript.Shell

$Shortcut = `
    $Shell.CreateShortcut($ShortcutPath)

$Shortcut.TargetPath = `
    "$env:SystemRoot\System32\wscript.exe"

$Shortcut.Arguments = `
    "`"$Launcher`""

$Shortcut.WorkingDirectory = `
    $InstallDir

$Shortcut.Description = `
    "Enable or disable onboard Ethernet"

$Shortcut.IconLocation = `
    "$env:SystemRoot\System32\ncpa.cpl,0"

$Shortcut.Save()


# ============================================================
# 5. Uninstaller
# ============================================================

$UninstallCode = @'
$ErrorActionPreference = "SilentlyContinue"

$InstallDir = Join-Path $env:ProgramData "EthernetToggle"

$TaskName = "Ethernet Toggle"

$RegPath = "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\EthernetToggle"


# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Self-elevate if required
# ------------------------------------------------------------

$IsAdmin = (
    New-Object Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal(
        [Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent()
    )
).IsInRole(
    [Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole]::Administrator
)

if (-not $IsAdmin) {

    Start-Process `
        powershell.exe `
        -Verb RunAs `
        -ArgumentList @(
            "-NoProfile",
            "-ExecutionPolicy", "Bypass",
            "-File", "`"$PSCommandPath`""
        )

    exit
}


# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Confirmation
# ------------------------------------------------------------

Add-Type -AssemblyName PresentationFramework

$result = [System.Windows.MessageBox]::Show(
    "Do you want to completely remove Ethernet Toggle?",
    "Uninstall Ethernet Toggle",
    "YesNo",
    "Question"
)

if ($result -ne "Yes") {
    exit
}


# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Stop scheduled task
# ------------------------------------------------------------

Stop-ScheduledTask `
    -TaskName $TaskName `
    -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue


# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Remove scheduled task
# ------------------------------------------------------------

Unregister-ScheduledTask `
    -TaskName $TaskName `
    -Confirm:$false `
    -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue


# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Remove desktop shortcut
# ------------------------------------------------------------

$Desktop = [Environment]::GetFolderPath("Desktop")

# Remove both possible localized shortcut names.
# This also handles cases where Windows UI language was changed after installation.
$cced = [char]231
$ShortcutNames = @(
    "Ethernet Toggle.lnk",
    "Ethernet A${cced}-Kapa.lnk"
)

foreach ($ShortcutName in $ShortcutNames) {
    Remove-Item `
        (Join-Path $Desktop $ShortcutName) `
        -Force `
        -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}


# Also remove both names from Public Desktop if either exists
$PublicDesktop = `
    [Environment]::GetFolderPath("CommonDesktopDirectory")

if ($PublicDesktop) {

    foreach ($ShortcutName in $ShortcutNames) {
        Remove-Item `
            (Join-Path $PublicDesktop $ShortcutName) `
            -Force `
            -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}


# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Remove Programs & Features registration
# ------------------------------------------------------------

Remove-Item `
    $RegPath `
    -Recurse `
    -Force `
    -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue


# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Completion message
# ------------------------------------------------------------

[System.Windows.MessageBox]::Show(
    "Ethernet Toggle has been uninstalled.",
    "Ethernet Toggle",
    "OK",
    "Information"
) | Out-Null


# ------------------------------------------------------------
# Delete installation directory after this script exits
# ------------------------------------------------------------

$CleanupCode = @"
Start-Sleep -Seconds 2
Remove-Item -LiteralPath '$InstallDir' -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
"@

$Bytes = `
    [System.Text.Encoding]::Unicode.GetBytes($CleanupCode)

$Encoded = `
    [Convert]::ToBase64String($Bytes)

Start-Process `
    powershell.exe `
    -WindowStyle Hidden `
    -ArgumentList @(
        "-NoProfile",
        "-NonInteractive",
        "-WindowStyle", "Hidden",
        "-EncodedCommand", $Encoded
    )

exit
'@

Set-Content `
    -LiteralPath $Uninstaller `
    -Value $UninstallCode `
    -Encoding UTF8 `
    -Force


# ============================================================
# 6. Register in Programs & Features
# ============================================================

New-Item `
    -Path $RegPath `
    -Force | Out-Null

$PowerShellExe = `
    "$env:SystemRoot\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe"

$UninstallString = `
    "`"$PowerShellExe`" -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File `"$Uninstaller`""

New-ItemProperty `
    -Path $RegPath `
    -Name "DisplayName" `
    -Value $AppName `
    -PropertyType String `
    -Force | Out-Null

New-ItemProperty `
    -Path $RegPath `
    -Name "DisplayVersion" `
    -Value $Version `
    -PropertyType String `
    -Force | Out-Null

New-ItemProperty `
    -Path $RegPath `
    -Name "Publisher" `
    -Value $Publisher `
    -PropertyType String `
    -Force | Out-Null

New-ItemProperty `
    -Path $RegPath `
    -Name "InstallLocation" `
    -Value $InstallDir `
    -PropertyType String `
    -Force | Out-Null

New-ItemProperty `
    -Path $RegPath `
    -Name "DisplayIcon" `
    -Value "$env:SystemRoot\System32\ncpa.cpl,0" `
    -PropertyType String `
    -Force | Out-Null

New-ItemProperty `
    -Path $RegPath `
    -Name "UninstallString" `
    -Value $UninstallString `
    -PropertyType String `
    -Force | Out-Null

New-ItemProperty `
    -Path $RegPath `
    -Name "NoModify" `
    -Value 1 `
    -PropertyType DWord `
    -Force | Out-Null

New-ItemProperty `
    -Path $RegPath `
    -Name "NoRepair" `
    -Value 1 `
    -PropertyType DWord `
    -Force | Out-Null

New-ItemProperty `
    -Path $RegPath `
    -Name "EstimatedSize" `
    -Value 32 `
    -PropertyType DWord `
    -Force | Out-Null


# ============================================================
# 7. Installation completed
# ============================================================

Add-Type -AssemblyName PresentationFramework

[System.Windows.MessageBox]::Show(
    "Ethernet Toggle has been installed.`n`n" +
    "A shortcut has been created on the desktop.`n`n" +
    "You can uninstall it later from Programs & Features or Installed Apps.",
    "Ethernet Toggle",
    "OK",
    "Information"
) | Out-Null