If your Windows 11 device has a SIM card or eSIM, you can use cellular data to connect to the internet when Wi-Fi is weak or not available.

This guide shows you how to turn on a handy feature called “Use Cellular whenever Wi-Fi is poor”. When enabled, Windows automatically switches to cellular data if your Wi-Fi signal is bad, so your internet stays fast and reliable.

What Is Cellular Data on Windows 11?

Cellular data works like the internet on your phone. If your computer has a SIM or eSIM card, it can connect to mobile networks (like 4G or 5G) to get online without Wi-Fi.

Learn more about connecting to cellular data here: How to Turn On or Off Cellular on Windows 11

Turn On “Use Cellular Whenever Wi-Fi is Poor” in Settings

Open the Settings app:
- Click the Start menu and select Settings, or
- Press Windows key + I together on your keyboard.
In Settings, click Network & internet on the left menu.
Click on Cellular on the right side to see cellular options.
Find the switch for “Use cellular whenever Wi-Fi is poor” and toggle it On to enable it.

To turn it off, just toggle the switch back to Off.

Windows 11 Network and Internet Settings — Click `Network & internet` in the Settings app

Turn on cellular adapter in Windows 11 — Select `Cellular` and toggle the cellular switch

Alternative: Turn On or Off Using the Registry Editor

If you prefer, you can also change this setting using the Windows Registry Editor. This method is for users who are comfortable making advanced changes.

Warning: Be careful when using the Registry Editor. Changing the wrong settings might cause problems.

Open the Registry Editor by typing regedit in the Start menu search and pressing Enter.
Go to this folder:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWcmSvcCellularFailover

If you don’t see the CellularFailover folder, right-click on WcmSvc, choose New > Key, and name it CellularFailover.

Registry key CellularFailover — Create or find the CellularFailover key in Registry Editor

Right-click inside the CellularFailover folder’s right panel, then choose New > String Value.
Name it AllowFailover.
Double-click AllowFailover and set the value to:

2 to enable “Use cellular whenever Wi-Fi is poor”
0 to disable it

Setting AllowFailover value — Set the AllowFailover value to 2 (enable) or 0 (disable)

After making changes, restart your computer to apply them.

Summary

You can set Windows 11 to automatically use cellular data when Wi-Fi is weak.
This helps keep your internet working smoothly without you needing to switch networks manually.
You can toggle this feature on or off through the Settings app or the Registry Editor.

If you have questions or want to share your experience, feel free to leave a comment below!

Categories:

Windows