Windows roaming
Microsoft documents 802.11r fast transition for 802.1X networks only, OKC as the fallback, and support for 802.11k neighbor reports and 802.11v transition requests, all subject to the radio's driver, and publishes no signal level at which Windows starts to roam.
- Vendor or body
- Microsoft
- Model or version
- Windows 10 and Windows 11 Wi-Fi client, with the radio maker's WDI (Windows 10) or WiFiCx (Windows 11) driver; Microsoft Learn fast roaming page (updated May 2025), WLAN profile schema, WDI driver reference, and the Wi-Fi support article
- Last verified
- Oct 8, 2026
- Sourced values
- 16
Values
| Parameter | Value | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Fast transition (802.11r) | 802.1X networks only; not PSK or open networks1 | Windows 10 and later, when the radio's driver and the APs both support FT. Microsoft also lists 802.11r FT on AKM 3 for Wi-Fi 7 enterprise connections on Windows 11 24H2 with the September 2025 preview update or later |
| Fast transition with SAE (WPA3-Personal) | Not published by the vendor1 | Microsoft's fast roaming page names 802.1X, PSK and open networks only; the WLAN profile schema lists no FT authentication value |
| FT over the air or over the DS | Not published by the vendor1 | Neither the fast roaming page nor the Wi-Fi 7 enterprise post says which FT method Windows uses |
| Opportunistic key caching | OKC when 802.11r is unavailable1 | Used when the device or the network does not offer 802.11r. For Wi-Fi 7 enterprise connections, Microsoft lists OKC on AKM 5 |
| PMK caching in the WLAN profile | PMK caching set per WPA2 profile2 | PMKCacheMode turns it on for WPA2-defined networks; cache lifetime 5 to 1440 minutes; 1 to 255 entries, default 128; pre-authentication off unless set |
| Neighbor reports (802.11k) | Supported, with driver and AP support1 | Windows uses the neighbor report to shorten the list of channels it scans before it finds an AP to roam to |
| BSS transition management (802.11v) | Accepts BTM requests, with driver support1 | Windows accepts and responds to BSS Transition Management frames when the network supports 802.11v |
| Roam trigger | Driver flags link quality below a threshold3 | In the WDI driver model, the radio's driver tells Windows a roam is needed when link quality falls below a threshold; Windows may then scan or roam, without disconnecting first. Microsoft publishes no dBm figure |
| Roam on a disassociation-imminent request | Also a BTM request with disassociation imminent4 | The WDI driver model defines a critical BSS transition request (a BSS Transition Request from the AP with the Disassociation Imminent bit set) as its own roam trigger |
| Roam scan channels | Shortens its scan list to neighbor-report channels1 | Only when the AP sends 802.11k neighbor reports and the driver supports 802.11k |
| Off-channel time in low-latency mode | Low-latency hint caps time off channel per scan5 | Windows passes the driver a connection quality hint; in low-latency mode it sets the maximum milliseconds off channel during an active scan (a passive scan may run longer). The figure is not published |
| Background scan interval while connected | Not published by the vendor5 | Checked the fast roaming page and the WDI roaming and connection quality pages |
| Bands and standards | 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz; Wi-Fi 7 from Windows 11 24H26 | Wi-Fi 6 on Windows 10; Wi-Fi 6, 6E and 7 on Windows 11. Each needs an adapter and driver that support it (netsh wlan show drivers lists the radio types) |
| Wi-Fi 7 with enterprise access points | Windows 11 24H2 with the September 2025 update7 | Needs WPA3-Enterprise, a Wi-Fi 7 chipset and an updated driver. Microsoft's support article still says Wi-Fi 7 enterprise is not currently supported |
| Wi-Fi security | WPA2/WPA3 Personal and Enterprise, 192-bit, OWE8 | WLAN profile authentication values WPA2PSK, WPA2, WPA3SAE, WPA3ENT, WPA3ENT192 and OWE; WPA2/WPA3 transition mode profiles from Windows 11 21H2. The adapter's driver must list WPA3 |
| Roaming between WPA2 and WPA3 access points | Needs an adapter that supports cross-roaming6 | Applies where part of a network is not yet WPA3; Windows tries WPA3-Personal first when both are offered |
Sources
- Fast Roaming in Windows 10 with 802.11k, 802.11v, and 802.11r. Read Oct 8, 2026.
- security (MSM) element (for WLAN_profile). Read Oct 8, 2026.
- NDIS_STATUS_WDI_INDICATION_ROAMING_NEEDED. Read Oct 8, 2026.
- WDI_ROAM_TRIGGER enumeration (wditypes.hpp). Read Oct 8, 2026.
- WDI_TLV_LOW_LATENCY_CONNECTION_QUALITY_PARAMETERS. Read Oct 8, 2026.
- Faster and more secure Wi-Fi in Windows. Read Oct 8, 2026.
- Introducing Wi-Fi 7 for enterprise connectivity. Read Oct 8, 2026.
- authEncryption (security) element. Read Oct 8, 2026.
About this page
Built from 9 sources: 9 vendor documents. Researched and drafted with AI assistance. How pages are made
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Cite this page
Plain
Ben Rutter. "Windows roaming." OT Wireless, published October 8, 2026. https://otwireless.com/requirements/windows-wifi-client/
APA 7
Rutter, B. (2026, October 8). Windows roaming. OT Wireless. https://otwireless.com/requirements/windows-wifi-client/
BibTeX
@misc{rutter2026windowswificlient,
author = {Rutter, Ben},
title = {{Windows roaming}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://otwireless.com/requirements/windows-wifi-client/}},
organization = {OT Wireless},
}