How to disable WPS on an Android phone: a step-by-step guide

Many smartphone users do not even suspect that their device may be vulnerable to hacking due to one hidden function. We are talking about technology WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), which is often active in the wireless settings by default. Although it is intended to make connecting to a router easier, in today's digital landscape it poses a serious threat to data privacy.

Disabling this option on your mobile device is not just a recommendation from security enthusiasts, but a necessary protective measure. In this article, we will analyze in detail why why it is worth deactivating WPS, what risks its use carries, and we will provide comprehensive instructions for different versions of the operating system Android.

What is WPS and why is it a security threat?

Technology Wi-Fi Protected Setup was developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to simplify the process of connecting devices to a wireless network without having to enter a long and complex password. Initially, the idea seemed great: press a button on the router or enter a PIN code, and the connection is established. However, over time, cybersecurity researchers discovered critical vulnerabilities in the protocol.

The main problem lies in the authentication method. The WPS PIN code consists of only 8 digits, which makes it extremely vulnerable to brute-force attack. An attacker within range of your network can use specialized software to guess this code in a matter of hours or even minutes. Once the code is cracked, the hacker has full access to your network and can intercept traffic sent by your phone.

Even if you use strong encryption WPA2 or WPA3, active WPS creates a “backdoor” through which the security can be bypassed. On mobile devices, this feature often runs in the background, constantly scanning for available networks or responding to connection requests, making the phone a visible target for attacks like Reaver or Bully.

⚠️ Warning: Having active WPS on your smartphone reduces the overall level of network security to a minimum, regardless of the complexity of your main Wi-Fi password.

Modern security standards recommend completely abandoning the use of this technology. Router manufacturers are increasingly removing this feature from new models or allowing it to be disabled, but at the mobile software level the situation is more complicated. Many users do not know where to look for this setting, as it is often hidden in the depths of system menus.

Finding WPS settings in the Android interface

The first thing to do before attempting to disable it is to understand whether your phone model has an open setting to control this feature. The interfaces of various shells, such as One UI from Samsung, MIUI from Xiaomi or ColorOS from OPPO, can differ radically from each other.

In most cases, the path to the settings looks like this: you need to go to the main settings menu, select the “Network and Internet” section or "Connections" and then go to advanced Wi-Fi settings. However, starting with version Android 9 (Pie), Google strongly recommended that manufacturers hide this option from ordinary users due to its insecurity.

• 📱 On older devices (Android 4.0 - 8.0), the setting is often located directly in the Wi-Fi menu under the “Advanced” item.
• 🔒 On new smartphones (Android 9 and higher) the WPS switch can be completely removed from the GUI.
• ⚙️ In some custom firmware, the option is hidden in the “Security” or “Privacy” section.

If you do not find an explicit switch, this does not mean that the function is disabled. On the contrary, it may mean that it works by default and is hidden from the user's eyes. In such cases, you will need to use more advanced methods of system management, which we will talk about below.

Instructions for disabling via the standard menu

If your device is lucky enough to have open access to protocol management, the disabling process will only take a couple of minutes. It is important to perform the steps sequentially so as not to accidentally reset other important network settings, such as static IP or proxy settings.

First, open the Settings application on your device. Find the section responsible for wireless connections. Depending on the model, this may be called "Wi-Fi", "Wireless Networks" or "Connections". Click on it to expand the list of available options.

Next you will need to find the menu button, usually indicated by three dots in the corner of the screen, or the “Advanced” item. This is where the technical settings are hidden. Look for the line with the name WPS Push Button or WPS PIN Entry. If you see an active switch next to these items, simply move it to the “Off” position.

After changing the setting, it is recommended to restart your smartphone. This action is necessary to ensure that the system's network stack completely recalculates the configuration and is guaranteed to stop supporting the vulnerable protocol. Without a reboot, some background services may continue to use the old settings.

⚠️ Warning: On some phone models, the WPS switch may return to the On position after a reboot. This is a sign that the manufacturer has hardcoded this function into the system, and intervention is required via ADB.

Disabling WPS via USB debugging (ADB)

For owners of modern smartphones who do not have access to the settings through the interface, the only effective solution is to use the developer tools ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This method allows you to send commands directly to the system, bypassing the graphical shell.

Before you begin, you need to activate developer mode. To do this, go to “Settings” → “About phone” and quickly press 7 times on the “Build number” item. After the message “You have become a developer” appears, return to the main settings menu, find the new section “For Developers” and enable the “USB Debugging” item there.

Connect the phone to the computer using a USB cable. ADB drivers must be installed on your computer. Open a command line or terminal in the ADB tools folder and enter the command to test the connection:

adb devices

A request will appear on the smartphone screen to allow debugging from this computer. Click Allow. If the terminal displays the serial number of your device, the connection has been established successfully. You can now run a command to change global Wi-Fi settings.

Enter the following command to try to disable the feature:

adb shell settings put global wifi_wps_on 0

This command changes the system variable that controls the WPS status. The value 0 means “off”, and 1 means “on”. After executing the command, be sure to reboot the device using command adb reboot or manually.

What to do if the command did not work?

In some cases, especially on devices with deep system changes (for example, some Huawei or Honor models), the command may be blocked by the manufacturer. In such a situation, only obtaining root access and using specialized Magisk modules or editing system build.prop files will help, which carries the risk of losing the warranty.

Checking the Wi-Fi security status

After you have taken steps to disable the function, it is extremely important to ensure that the changes have actually taken effect. Simply trusting the indicator in the settings can be wrong, especially if the system has software bugs.

There are several verification methods. The simplest is to use third-party applications for Wi-Fi analysis, such as Wi-Fi Analyzer or Network Scanner. These utilities can display detailed information about the supported features of your network and device. If Capabilities still appears WPS, then the shutdown was not successful.

You can also check the system logs if you have access to them. There should be no entries in the logs about attempts to initiate a connection via WPS or responses to PBC (Push Button Configuration) requests. The absence of such entries indicates that the module is indeed deactivated.

Verification method	Complexity	Reliability	Required rights
Visual inspection of the menu	Low	Low	No
Third-party network scanners	Medium	High	No
Check via ADB shell	High	Maximum	USB debugging
Analysis of system logs	Expert	Maximum	Root (preferred)

Remember that security is a process, not a one-time action. Regularly checking your settings after major system updates will help you stay protected, as sometimes updates can reset user configurations to factory defaults.

Alternative methods to improve network security

Even if you managed to disable WPS, this is only one of the stages of protection. A comprehensive approach to wireless network security on Android involves the use of additional tools and practices that minimize the risks of data leakage.

First, always use a modern encryption protocol. Make sure your router and phone are in WPA3mode. If your equipment does not support this standard, use WPA2-AES. Avoid legacy TKIP or WEP protocols, as they can be hacked in seconds.

Second, limit the visibility of your network. Disabling SSID broadcast (hidden mode) is not a panacea, but it does make life more difficult for random attackers scanning the airwaves. Your phone will be able to connect to such a network if you manually enter the network name in the settings.

• 🛡️ Enable the “Private Wi-Fi Address” feature, which replaces your device’s MAC address when connecting to new networks.
• 🚫 Disable automatic connection to open networks so that the phone does not try to connect with suspicious access points.
• 🔄 Regularly update your phone's firmware, as manufacturers often close vulnerabilities in network drivers.

It is also worth paying attention to the settings of the router itself. Often the WPS function is active on the access point side, and even if the phone does not use it, the router may be vulnerable. Go to the router's admin panel and make sure that WPS is disabled there too.

⚠️ Attention: The settings interfaces for routers and phones are constantly updated. If you do not find the described items, check the official documentation of your device model or contact the manufacturer's support service.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Does disabling WPS affect Internet speed?

No, disabling the WPS function does not in any way affect the data transfer speed or connection stability. This protocol is used exclusively during the initial connection and authentication phase. Once the connection is established, it does not participate in data exchange, so its deactivation will be invisible to you in terms of performance.

Is it possible to connect a printer or camera without WPS?

Yes, absolutely. The outdated myth that peripheral devices can only be connected via WPS is no longer relevant. You can connect any devices by entering the Wi-Fi password manually through the settings menu of the gadget itself or using Wi-Fi Direct technology, which is a more secure and modern alternative.

Why did the WPS setting appear again after an Android update?

Sometimes major system updates reset global settings to factory values. Additionally, some manufacturers may force certain features to be enabled through their configuration servers. In this case, you will have to repeat the shutdown procedure through the menu or ADB.

Is it safe to use the ADB command for a normal user?

Using the command settings put global is relatively safe since it only changes one specific setting. However, working with ADB requires care. Entering incorrect commands, especially those that affect system partitions or access rights, can lead to unstable operation of the device. Always check the command before pressing Enter.

Do I need to disable WPS if I use mobile data?

The WPS function applies exclusively to Wi-Fi technology. If you are using a mobile network (4G/5G) and do not connect to Wi-Fi hotspots, this setting is not relevant. However, as soon as you enable the Wi-Fi module on your phone, the recommendation to disable WPS again becomes relevant to protect against local attacks.