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To reset Windows 11’s TCP/IP configuration, open Command Prompt as administrator and run these commands one at a time, in order:

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns

The direct TCP/IP reset is netsh int ip reset. The other commands reset Winsock, request a fresh DHCP address, and clear the local DNS cache. Restart Windows afterward, then test the connection.

What a TCP/IP reset does—and what it cannot fix

TCP/IP is the set of networking components Windows uses to communicate across IP networks. The netsh int ip reset command restores relevant TCP/IP configuration and registry-backed networking parameters to their defaults. It does not reinstall Windows, erase personal files, or reset the whole PC. Microsoft documents the command as a remedy for some internet-connection problems: TCP/IP reset with NetShell.

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A reset can help when Windows says it is connected but sites will not load, IP-related errors appear, shared network drives stop connecting, or the problem began after a Windows upgrade. It is not a fix for every connection failure: it cannot repair a failed router, ISP outage, defective adapter, missing driver, unavailable remote service, or incorrect VPN, proxy, firewall, or security-software configuration. It also will not resolve a captive-portal sign-in or enterprise authentication problem.

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Before you reset the stack

First check whether the fault seems limited to this PC. Microsoft recommends starting Wi‑Fi troubleshooting with the Network and Internet troubleshooter in the Get Help app: Fix Wi‑Fi connection issues in Windows.

  1. Check whether another device can use the same Wi‑Fi network or Ethernet connection. If no device can connect, investigate the router or internet service first.
  2. Check whether Windows shows Wi‑Fi or Ethernet as connected. For Ethernet, check the cable and try another cable or router port if available.
  3. Restart the PC and, if appropriate, the router.
  4. Save work and close downloads, video calls, remote sessions, and file transfers. Releasing an IP address can interrupt connectivity.
  5. Note any manually configured IP address or DNS server, VPN, Hyper‑V virtual switch, or work-managed network settings. The DHCP commands are primarily useful for automatically assigned addresses; Windows exposes IP assignment under the relevant Wi‑Fi or Ethernet connection. See Windows network settings and tasks.

Reset TCP/IP in Windows 11

Open an elevated Command Prompt

  1. Select Search on the taskbar and type Command Prompt.
  2. Select Run as administrator, then approve the User Account Control prompt by selecting Yes.

Administrator privileges are required. If a command returns an access or permission error, close the window and reopen it using Run as administrator.

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Run the commands in order

Type each line and press Enter before entering the next one. Check the result after each command rather than pasting the entire block at once.

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  1. netsh winsock reset
  2. netsh int ip reset
  3. ipconfig /release
  4. ipconfig /renew
  5. ipconfig /flushdns

Microsoft groups these as related but distinct operations in its Ethernet connection troubleshooting steps. Output varies with the adapter and its state. A release or renewal command may report that it cannot operate if the adapter is disconnected or disabled; that does not establish that TCP/IP reset failed. If a command reports an access error, check elevation. A successful message also does not prove that the command addressed the cause of the outage.

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What each command changes

Command Purpose When it matters
netsh winsock reset Resets the Winsock catalog, the Windows socket layer used by applications for network communication. Useful alongside TCP/IP reset when applications cannot connect; it is not itself the TCP/IP reset.
netsh int ip reset Resets relevant TCP/IP settings to their default state. The central command for a TCP/IP configuration problem.
ipconfig /release Releases the current DHCP-assigned IPv4 configuration. Temporarily disconnects the adapter’s IPv4 connectivity until it receives a lease again; most relevant to DHCP-managed connections.
ipconfig /renew Requests a new DHCP configuration from the network. Can fail if the adapter is disconnected or the router’s DHCP service is unavailable.
ipconfig /flushdns Clears the local DNS resolver cache. May help if cached name-resolution information is stale; it does not change the DNS server configured for the connection.

For an optional log of the TCP/IP reset, Microsoft documents this form: netsh int ip reset C:resetlog.txt. It writes a log to that path; the simpler command without a path is sufficient for most users.

Restart and test the connection

Restart Windows after the reset. Microsoft includes a restart in its TCP/IP reset guidance. Once back at the desktop, test a few unrelated websites, then the affected application. If the original problem involved a shared drive or local device, test that too. Note whether the failure affects Wi‑Fi, Ethernet, or both. If only one site or application still fails, the network stack may not be the cause.

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If the commands do not restore connectivity

Check the adapter and address

If Windows shows a 169.254.x.x address, it generally has not obtained an IP address from the router’s DHCP service. Microsoft identifies this range as a clue in its Wi‑Fi troubleshooting guidance. Check that Wi‑Fi is associated with the right network or the Ethernet cable is connected, confirm the router is available, and check whether other devices receive addresses. If the adapter is disabled or has a driver problem, a TCP/IP reset will not fix that underlying issue.

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If Wi‑Fi works but Ethernet does not, inspect the cable, port, Ethernet adapter status, and driver. If Ethernet works but Wi‑Fi does not, the fault may be specific to the wireless adapter, radio, saved Wi‑Fi profile, driver, or router band. A shared TCP/IP reset cannot rule out those adapter-specific causes.

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Check proxy and VPN settings

A manual proxy setting can prevent browsing even when the network connection is otherwise working. Review Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy and disable a manual proxy only if it is not required for your network. A TCP/IP reset does not necessarily correct an incorrect proxy configuration. If a VPN is active, disconnect it briefly to test whether it is involved; restore it if it is required for work or access.

Use Windows troubleshooting and check the driver

Run the Get Help app’s Network and Internet troubleshooter if you have not already done so. If the issue began after a Windows or driver update, Microsoft suggests uninstalling the network adapter driver and restarting so Windows can try to reinstall it. Before uninstalling, obtain a backup driver from the PC manufacturer, especially if this PC has no other internet connection. See Microsoft’s Windows network troubleshooting and reset guidance.

On a work-managed computer, contact IT before further resets. Group policy, endpoint security, certificates, 802.1X authentication, VPN software, or management tools may control the settings and reapply them.

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Use Windows 11 Network reset only as a broader fallback

Network reset is not the same as resetting TCP/IP from Command Prompt. Microsoft positions it as a later troubleshooting step when other options have not worked. It is broader: Windows removes installed network adapters and their settings, then reinstalls the adapters and restores defaults after restarting. It can affect VPN software and Hyper‑V virtual switches, which may need to be reinstalled or configured again; known networks may also change to the Public profile.

To use it, open Settings → Network & internet → Advanced network settings → Network reset → Reset now, then select Yes to confirm. Wait for Windows to restart. Review any VPN, virtual-network, or network-profile configuration afterward. Microsoft’s descriptions of the feature and its effects are in its network reset guidance.

Quick Recap

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