Are you having problems connecting to the Internet in Windows 11? Or you may be having issues with your local network connection. If so, you might need to reset your network adapter in Windows 11.

When it comes to the Internet, there can be several things that could be preventing you from making a connection. It could be as simple as a misconfigured firewall or a bad proxy.

However, with Windows 11, a good portion of all network problems can be resolved by resetting the network adapter. There are two (2) different ways of doing this: Simple and Advanced.

Resetting your network adapter has pros and cons. If your computer is a member of a corporate domain or network, you may want to contact your administrator before doing so. Some network settings may need to be manually entered in the network configuration.

Also, if you have a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or virtual appliance set up, resetting the network adapter might affect it. Resetting the network adapter can also reset the Windows Firewall.

The simple way to reset your network adapter in Windows 11

To do this you will need to bring up the Settings app. There are four (4) different ways to get to the Settings app. You can either:

• Left-click the Start button to bring up the Start menu and select Settings in the pinned apps.
• Right-click the Start button to bring up the Power User menu, and then left-click on Settings.
• Press the Windows logo key + X to bring up the Power User menu, and then press the letter N to select Settings.
• Press the Windows logo key + I to bring up Settings.

Once you have the Settings app open:

1. In the left-hand column, left-click on the Network and internet category.
2. In the right-hand column, left-click on Advanced network settings.
3. In the right-hand column, left-click on Network reset.
4. Left-click on Reset now. You will get a prompt asking you are sure you want to reset your network settings.
5. Left-click Yes, and your computer will restart within five (5) minutes.

The advanced way to reset your network adapter in Windows 11

Windows 11 has a command-line utility called Netsh (Network Shell) that allows you to display and modify your computer's network configuration. The most common use of Netsh is to reset the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) stack back to default. Since Netsh is a command-line tool, you will need to use a Command Prompt with Administrative privileges.

How to open a Command Prompt with Administrator privileges in Windows 11 (link will open in a separate window)

Netsh commands for resetting your network adapter in Windows 11

Note: This section is intended for advanced computer users. If you are not comfortable with advanced troubleshooting, ask someone for help. Follow these steps to manually reset the Windows Firewall, TCP/IP stack, and Winsock. You will have to restart your system to complete the reset.

The following is a list of the Netsh commands with descriptions that you can use to reset your network adapter in Windows 11:

netsh advfirewall reset

Restores the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security policy to the default policy. The current active policy can be optionally exported to a specified file. This command returns all settings to not configured and deletes all connection security and firewall rules in a Group Policy object.

netsh int ip reset

Removes all user-configured IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) settings. Restarting the computer is required before the default settings take effect.

netsh int ipv6 reset

Removes all user-configured IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) settings. Restarting the computer is required before the default settings take effect.

netsh winsock reset

Resets Winsock Catalog to a clean state. All Winsock Layered Service Providers, which were previously installed, must be reinstalled. This command does not affect Winsock Name Space Provider entries.

Has your Internet connection gotten slower over time? Maybe you had a virus, and now your Internet connection isn't running correctly? It may be time to clean up your network connection. Here's how to reset your network adapter(s) in Windows 10.

When it comes to restoring network connectivity in Windows 10, sometimes the best thing you can do is reset the network adapter(s). I have found that this is one of the most effective ways of getting a system back online. There are two (2) ways of resetting network adapter(s) in Windows 10, primary and advanced.

The one thing to keep in mind when resetting your network adapter(s) is you may have to reinstall networking software, like VPN software and virtual appliances. Resetting the network adapter(s) back to default will reset the Windows Firewall back to its default settings.

The primary way of resetting the network adapters in Windows 10.

1. Left-click on the Start button to bring up the Start menu.
2. Left-click on Settings (gear icon).
3. Left-click on Network & Internet.
4. In the left-hand column, left-click on Status.
5. In the right-hand column, left-click on Network reset.
6. On the Network reset page, left-click on Reset now.
7. A dialog box will appear, asking if you are sure about resetting the network setting. Left-click on Yes.
8. Your computer will automatically restart within five minutes.

The advanced way of resetting the network adapters in Windows 10.

Windows 10 has a command-line utility called Netsh (Network Shell) that allows you to display and modify your computer's network configuration. The most common use of Netsh is to reset the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) stack back to default. Since Netsh is a command-line tool, you will need to use a Command Prompt with Administrative privileges.

How to open a Command Prompt with Administrator privileges in Windows 10 (link will open in a separate window)

Netsh commands for resetting your network adapter in Windows 10

Netsh commands run in a Command Prompt with Administrative privileges

Note: This section is intended for advanced computer users. If you are not comfortable with advanced troubleshooting, ask someone for help. Follow these steps to reset the Windows Firewall, TCP/IP stack, and Winsock manually. You will have to restart your system to complete the reset.

The following is a list of the Netsh commands with descriptions that you can use to reset your network adapter in Windows 10:

netsh advfirewall reset

Restores the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security policy to the default policy. The current active policy can be optionally exported to a specified file. This command returns all settings to not configured and deletes all connection security and firewall rules in a Group Policy object.

netsh int ip reset

Removes all user-configured IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) settings. Restarting the computer is required before the default settings will take effect.

netsh int ipv6 reset

Removes all user-configured IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) settings. Restarting the computer is required before the default settings will take effect.

netsh winsock reset

Resets Winsock Catalog to a clean state. All Winsock Layered Service Providers, which were previously installed, must be reinstalled. This command does not affect Winsock Name Space Provider entries.

Is your Windows-based computer having trouble connecting to the Internet? One of the most frequent issues I get doing computer repair is the loss of network connectivity. Don't worry. There are several things you can do to restore your network connection. Here are three things you can do to restore network connectivity.

Check your network hardware

The first step in restoring network connectivity on your Windows-based computer is to check your network hardware. Start by ensuring that your modem and router are powered on and properly connected. Check the indicator lights on the modem and router to confirm that they are functioning correctly. If you're using a wired connection, make sure that the Ethernet cable is securely plugged into both your computer and the router or modem. If you're using a wireless connection, verify that your computer's Wi-Fi is turned on and that you're connected to the correct network.

If your network hardware appears to be functioning correctly, try power cycling your modem and router. To do this, disconnect the power cables from both devices, wait for about 30 seconds, and then plug them back in. This can help resolve temporary network connectivity issues caused by glitches in the hardware.

Reset your network adapter(s)

If you recently installed or uninstalled software before losing your network connection, some of your TCP/IP settings could have been changed. TCP/IP is the Internet protocol suite used for the Internet and networks in general. Resetting them back to default is easy, and there are two ways of doing it.

Reset the TCP/IP stack and Winsock interface using an administrator command prompt

There are two ways to reset your network adapter(s): simple and advanced. The procedures are similar for all current versions of Windows, with a few differences. Just click on the link below for your Windows version.

Resetting your network adapter in Windows 11

Resetting your network adapter in Windows 10

Reinstall your network adapter(s)

Sometimes, the network adapter settings, wired or wireless, may get corrupted and cause a loss of network connectivity. Uninstalling and then reinstalling the driver(s) will reset it back to manufacturer defaults. Just right-click on the Start menu and select Device Manager from the Power User menu. Once Device Manager is open, expand the network adapters section. From there, right-click on the adapter you want to reinstall and select Uninstall.

Do not delete the driver when reinstalling the network adapter

When the Uninstall Device prompt comes up, make sure the Delete the driver software for this device box is unchecked, as you want to keep the driver, and then click on Uninstall. Exit Device Manager and restart Windows. When Windows restarts, it will discover the network adapter and automatically install the driver(s) with the default settings.

In conclusion, restoring network connectivity on your Windows-based computer may involve checking your network hardware or resetting/reinstalling your network adapter(s). By following these three tips, you can effectively diagnose and resolve network connectivity issues, keeping your computer connected and online.

Is your network connection running slow? Or maybe your Internet browser isn't allowing you to go to specific websites? Installing/uninstalling applications or viruses/malware/spyware can add unwanted entries into the network protocol. If so, it may be time to reset your network adapter inside of Windows 8.

Command Prompt with administrator privileges in Windows 8

Windows 8 has a built-in administrator tool, Network Shell (Netsh), that allows you to configure and monitor network adapters on your Windows 8 computer. Netsh can completely reset your network adapter back to its default state. It can also reset the Windows Firewall in Windows 8. All you need is a Command Prompt with administrator privileges.

How to open a Command Prompt with administrator privileges in Windows 8

To use Netsh, you will need to open a Command Prompt with administrator privileges. There are a few ways to do this:

Using a mouse
1. Go to the Start menu.
2. Right-click the Start menu background to bring up the app commands.
3. Select 'All apps'.
4. Right-click the 'Command Prompt' tile to bring up the app commands.
5. Select 'Run as administrator'. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Using a keyboard
1. Go to the Start menu.
2. Press the Windows logo key + Z to open the app commands.
3. Press Enter to select 'All apps'.
4. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the 'Command Prompt' tile.
5. Press the Application key to bring up the app commands.
6. Use the arrow keys to navigate to 'Run as administrator' and press Enter. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Using touch
1. Go to the Start menu.
2. Swipe up from the bottom of the Start menu to bring up the app commands.
3. Select 'All apps'.
4. Scroll to the 'Command Prompt' tile and press and hold it to bring up the app commands.
5. Select 'Run as administrator'. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Netsh commands for resetting your network adapter in Windows 8

The following is a list of the Netsh commands you can use at a Command Prompt with administrator privileges to reset your network adapter in Windows 8.

netsh advfirewall reset Restores the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security policy to the default policy. The current active policy can be optionally exported to a specified file. This command returns all settings to not configured and deletes all connection security and firewall rules in a Group Policy object.

netsh branchcache reset Resets the BranchCache service. Flushes the local cache. Every configuration parameter of BranchCache will be reset to its default value.

netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt Resets TCP/IP and related components to a clean state.

netsh int ipv6 reset Resets IPv6 configuration state.

netsh winsock resetResets Winsock Catalog to a clean state. All Winsock Layered Service Providers which were previously installed must be reinstalled. This command does not affect Winsock Name Space Provider entries.

One of the components of the Internet connection on your computer is a built-in set of instructions called TCP/IP. TCP/IP can sometimes become corrupted. If your connection to the Internet is really slow or you cannot connect to the Internet, and you have tried all other methods to resolve the problem, TCP/IP might be causing it.

Because TCP/IP is a core component of Windows, you cannot remove it. However, you can reset TCP/IP to its original state. If you have any custom settings (default gateway, DNS server, etc.), you will need to set these again manually.

Use a manual method to reset TCP/IP

Note This section is intended for advanced computer users. If you are not comfortable with advanced troubleshooting, ask someone for help. In Windows Vista, a reset command is available in the IP context of the NetShell utility. Follow these steps to use the reset command to reset TCP/IP manually. You will have to restart your system to complete the reset.

1. To open a command prompt, click on the Start button, then All Programs, then Accessories, then click on Command Prompt.


2. At the command prompt, copy and paste (or type) the following command and then press ENTER:

   netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt

   Note: If you do not want to specify a directory path for the log file, use the following command:

   netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt

When you run the reset command, it rewrites two registry keys used by TCP/IP. This has the same result as removing and reinstalling the protocol. The reset command rewrites the following two registry keys:

SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\
SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\DHCP\Parameters\

To run the manual command successfully, you must specify a file name for the log, in which the actions that netsh takes will be recorded. When you run the manual command, TCP/IP is reset, and the actions taken are recorded in the log file, known as resetlog.txt in this article.

The first example, c:\resetlog.txt, creates a path where the log will reside. The second example, resetlog.txt, creates the log file in the current directory. In either case, if the specified log file already exists, the new log will be appended to the end of the existing file.