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Optimize your network connection for your Windows computer

Are you having problems with the network connection for your Windows computer? Does your Internet connection seem slow? If so, here are some tips on how to optimize the network connection in your Windows computer.

Optimize your network connection for your Windows computer

In today's world, being connected to the Internet is essential for both personal and professional purposes. However, sometimes, the network connection for your Windows computer can be slow or unstable, which can be frustrating and affect your productivity. In this article, we'll explore some tips to optimize the network connection in your Windows computer.

Reset your network adapter

Overtime, the settings for your network adapter can get corrupted. Resetting the network protocols back to factory default will often restore the speed and stability of your network connection. This works for both wired and wireless adapters.

Now, if you have any unique network settings, like a static IP address or preferred DNS servers, you will need to make note of them. Resetting your network adapter(s) will clear all custom settings and return them to out-of-the-box status.

How to reset your network adapter in Windows 11

How to reset your network adapter in Windows 10

Update the drivers for your network adapters

Outdated or corrupted network drivers can cause network connection problems. You will need to download the latest drivers for your network adapter to update your software. And depending on if your computer is custom-built or pre-built, the manufacturer's website will vary.

If your system is pre-built, you must go to the manufacturer's website and search for drivers for your computer model. If your system is custom-built, you must go to the motherboard manufacturer's website and search for your motherboard model.

You can also update your network drivers from the Device Manager. But remember that these drivers will be generic drivers and not the latest version. To do this, right-click on the Start Windows logo menu, left-click on Device Manager, left-click on the Network adapters category on expand it, right-click on your network adapter, and select Update driver from the context menu that appears.

Disable bandwidth-hogging applications

If you have applications running in the background that use a lot of bandwidth, your network connection may be slow or unstable. To check which applications are using the most bandwidth, open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc (all together simultaneously), select the Performance tab, and left-click on Open Resource Monitor. Under the Network tab, you can see which applications are using the most bandwidth. If you find an application that's using a lot of bandwidth and you don't need it, consider disabling it or uninstalling it.

Check your WiFi signal strength

If you connect to your network via a wireless connection, check the WiFi signal strength throughout your home. You might find out that the signal is weak in the areas where you use the network the most. This is where having a smartphone comes in handy.

By installing a WiFi analyzer on your smartphone, you can walk around your home and map the signal strength thought the different rooms. If you find the signal to be weak in a particular area, you can consider moving your WiFi router to another location or getting a WiFi range extender.

Also, if your router or modem is located near other electronics or appliances, they may be causing interference. Consider moving it to a different location or away from other electronics.

Use a wired connection

If possible, use a wired connection instead of WiFi. A wired connection is generally faster and more stable than WiFi, especially if you're transferring large files or streaming video. To connect your computer to your router or modem using a wired connection, plug an Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port on your computer and the Ethernet port on your router or modem.

Optimize your router or modem

Your router or modem may also need some optimization to improve your network connection. Some tips to optimize your router or modem include:

  • Updating the firmware: Check the manufacturer's website for firmware updates for your router or modem. Updating the firmware can improve performance and fix security vulnerabilities.
  • Changing the channel: If you're experiencing interference from neighboring WiFi networks, changing the channel on your router can help. You can do this in the router's settings.

By following these tips, you can optimize the network connection in your Windows computer and enjoy faster, more stable Internet. Remember to always keep your computer and network equipment up-to-date and secure to avoid network problems.

How to reset your network adapter in Windows 10

Updated July 19, 2020

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.

How to reset your network adapter 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 Windows logo 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
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.

3 things you can do to restore network connectivity

One of the most frequent issues I get doing computer repair is the loss of internet connectivity. Yes, a good portion can be attributed to viruses/malware. But there are times when something, plain and simple, goes wrong. A couple of bad settings or corrupt software, and you're not getting on the internet any time soon. Here are three things you can do to restore network connectivity.

Reset the TCP/IP stack and Winsock

If you recently installed or uninstalled software before losing your network connection, it could be some of your TCP/IP settings had been changed. TCP/IP is the internet protocol suite used for the internet and other networks. Resetting them back to default is easy; it requires an administrator command prompt to do it.

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

The command syntax and accessing an administrator command prompt is different for each version of Windows, so just click on the link below for your version of Windows. And make sure you reset Winsock, too, while you're at it. Winsock defines the interface between applications and the TCP/IP stack. Remember to restart Windows after you reset the TCP/IP stack and Winsock.

Resetting your network adapter in Windows XP

Resetting your network adapter in Windows Vista

Resetting your network adapter in Windows 7

Resetting your network adapter in Windows 8

Resetting your network adapter in Windows 10

Resetting your network adapter in Windows 11

Check security software

Quite often, the problem can be caused by security software that has become corrupt. Most of them have some type of network monitoring, and if it stops working correctly, it could block network access. To check if the problem is with your security software, just open it up, disable it, and try your network connection. If you now have network connectivity, you know that there is something wrong with the software. Try resetting it back to default settings and then enable it. If you still cannot get network access after you reset it, then reinstalling it may be the way to go.

If you open your security software and all you get is a blank white box, it has become corrupt. The same is true if it doesn't open up at all. At this point, uninstalling and reinstalling is the best thing to do. And if you find that it will not uninstall, most anti-virus software vendors have removal tools for their products. Using another computer and a flash drive, search the 'name of the product' + 'removal tool' (example: bogus security removal tool) and download it to the flash drive. Remember to restart your computer after you have run the removal tool.

Reinstall the 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 go into Device Manager and 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
Do not delete the driver when reinstalling the network adapter

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

Resetting your network adapter in Windows 8

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
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 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 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.

Resetting your network adapter in Windows 7

Network shell (Netsh) is a tool an administrator can use to configure and monitor network devices on Windows based computers at a command prompt. A common use of Netsh, is to reset the TCP/IP stack back to default settings.

But not only will Netsh reset the TCP/IP stack, but it can also completely reset your network adapter(s). It will reset the Windows Firewall in Windows 7 too.

Using Netsh in Windows 7

To use Netsh, you will need to open a Command Prompt as an administrator. There are two ways to do this:

  • Click the Start button, then All Programs, then Accessories, then right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
  • or

  • Click the Start button. In the search box, type Command Prompt, and then, in the list of results, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Netsh commands in Windows 7

The following is a list of the Netsh commands you can use to reset your Windows 7 network adapter:

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 advfirewall reset

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

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

Resets IPv6 configuration state.netsh int ipv6 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.netsh winsock reset

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