What is WiFi Direct?

There is a wireless connection that is used by everyone and every type of device, but almost no one talks about it. It’s called WiFi Direct and has enabled flexible, peer-to-peer wireless connections for over 10 years.

What is WiFi Direct? What can it do? Here’s what you need to know.

What is WiFi Direct?

WiFi Direct is a connection that allows device-to-device communication
WiFi Direct is a connection that allows device-to-device communication

WiFi Direct is a connection that allows device-to-device communication, linking devices together without the need for a centralized network nearby. One device acts as an access point and the other connects to it using the WiFi Protected Setup (WPS) and WiFi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2) security protocols. This standard was developed and incorporated in devices in the early 2000s.

You may think that the technology is similar to Bluetooth, but there are some important differences between them. One of the most important is that WiFi Direct can process a lot of information at a higher speed than Bluetooth (about 10 times under optimal conditions). This increase makes WiFi Direct a great choice when peer-to-peer connections need to transmit data-rich content, like high-resolution images or videos – or when WiFi networks are down.

One of the most significant advantages of WiFi Direct is how flexible it can be when there is no WiFi network to act as an intermediary. Multiple devices can link together and share important files in common settings or special cases, without the security concerns (and time-consuming setup process) that come with connect to a previous hub or central network.

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You can usually tell when a device offers WiFi Direct, because when you search, it shows up with a wireless network, usually one that starts with the word “DIRECT”, followed by the product name or number.

WiFi Direct supported devices

WiFi Direct supported devices
WiFi Direct supported devices

WiFi Direct has been available to consumers for at least a decade now, thanks to a 2011 Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) update that included instructions for the feature. Now, the world is flooded with devices that are compatible with this technology, some of which you might not expect. Android devices have supported Direct since Android 2.3, and Apple devices have since iOS 7 (although Apple markets the feature under the separate names AirDrop and AirPlay).

There are also many entertainment devices that use the Direct feature to stream content or project the screen from a mobile device. Roku and many smart TVs also offer WiFi Direct connectivity. There are many peripherals that provide wireless connectivity that can use WiFi Direct instead of Bluetooth. That includes wireless headphones with high fidelity sound and wireless printers.

The exact way a WiFi Direct connection is created may vary from device to device. Some devices may ask you to scan a QR code, enter a numerical PIN, or press physical buttons to initiate the connection. Over time, as security becomes more and more important, more devices use a combination of these techniques, and a few will connect automatically.

What do people use WiFi Direct for?

WiFi Direct has many uses
WiFi Direct has many uses

Some of the most popular uses of WiFi Direct today include:

  • Share files quickly: Direct is a great way to quickly share large files with friends or groups when establishing a wired connection isn’t possible.
  • Print photos on a wireless printer: Direct can handle large amounts of information wirelessly, making it ideal for serious wireless printing jobs.
  • Screen projection and sharing: From playing mobile games on the big screen to sharing family photos on TV or digital portraits, WiFi Direct is used for all kinds of screen sharing tasks.
  • Play games together: If everyone has the same game on their phone, they can connect to Direct and play together, even without WiFi.
  • Quick sync: Some devices will also use WiFi Direct to sync information and update their media content. This feature can make the process much faster, especially if you have to add a lot of new media at once (for example, when updating an old music playlist).
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WiFi Direct and Internet of Things (IoT)

WiFi Direct is rarely found on IoT
WiFi Direct is rarely found on IoT

From what the article has explained, you might think that WiFi Direct seems like a suitable technology for IoT. There has been discussion about using WiFi Direct for smart home devices, especially in the late 2000s and early 2010s, when IoT connectivity was rapidly evolving. Today, WiFi Direct is rarely found on IoT, as the two technologies follow very different paths.

WiFi Direct is everything related to the connection between two devices that are not part of the wireless network but exist in their own space. However, IoT has been dominated by WiFi networking, with older connectivity technologies like Zigbee and WiFi Direct quickly being left behind. That happens because today’s smart devices need to be connected to each other for complex systems or scenarios to manage. They should be easily accessible remotely by people who may not be at home and WiFi Direct can’t keep up.

There is also another reason why WiFi Direct is not suitable for smart devices: It has some security issues, which usually occur when automatic connection is enabled.

WiFi Direct and Security

WiFi Direct has a much worse security advantage over other options
WiFi Direct has a much worse security advantage over other options

WiFi Direct has a much worse security advantage over other options, but it has minimal security risk. It can be risky to simultaneously use a device connected to another network. If you use a Direct connection on one device while connecting to another network, there are risks involved. Hackers can defeat a link, and that’s easier with legacy protocols like WPS. You must know how to make sure your Direct connection is secure. Anyone can take advantage of getting information using WiFi Direct.

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Find out how to make your device secure with Direct and how to make it more secure. There are two different types of WiFi Direct connections: Temporary and persistent. Persistent connection allows you to save information on your device so that it connects automatically. While convenient, it’s a huge security risk. You can’t contact unknown devices, so it’s best to limit persistent connections. Temporary connections do not automatically connect and are more secure. You can also use the temporary pin feature.

Use the new WiFi Direct connections with more safety features and never use them in public. Hackers are always looking for new ways to steal information. A recent bug on Linux devices allows hackers to access mobile devices on WiFi Direct if the WiFi feature is enabled.

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