Physical switch to turn WiFi on and off

[Tech1234567]

Hi,

I'm looking for a 16" screen Laptop with a physical switch to turn WiFi on and off as I don't trust software switch.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Tech1234567 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

That’s a very practical preference—and I totally get wanting that tactile control over your Wi-Fi. Physical switches used to be more common, but they’ve become quite rare in modern laptops, especially in newer HP models with sleek designs.

🔍 What You Can Expect

• Most current 16" HP laptops, like the HP Pavilion 16-af0056TU, rely on function keys (usually F12) or software toggles to manage Wi-Fi.
• Some models may include a dedicated airplane mode key, but it’s not a true hardware switch—it still depends on software.

🛠️ Workaround Options

If a physical switch is a must-have, here are a couple of creative alternatives:

USB Wi-Fi Adapter with Hardware Switch
Some external adapters come with a physical on/off toggle. You can disable the internal Wi-Fi and use the adapter instead.

BIOS-Level Control
On some HP laptops, you can disable wireless devices from the BIOS settings—this isn’t a switch, but it’s a deeper layer of control that bypasses Windows.

Let me know if you need anyother assistance.

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Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye