Reset Network Settings Windows 11: Network Reset Done Right

When the internet works on your phone but not on your PC, and you have already restarted everything, the next big switch is Network reset. To reset network settings in Windows 11, you need about two minutes and one restart, but it also wipes out things you may not expect, such as saved Wi-Fi networks and VPN adapters. This guide explains what the reset does, the quicker commands Microsoft suggests trying first, the reset itself, and what to set up again afterwards.

The steps apply to Windows 11 version 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2 on Home and Pro.

What Network reset actually does

Microsoft’s description is precise: Network reset removes any network adapters you have installed and the settings for them. After the PC restarts, the adapters are reinstalled and their settings are set to the defaults.

That covers more than people think:

Affected	Not affected
Wi-Fi and Ethernet adapter settings	Your files and documents
Saved Wi-Fi networks (usually)	Installed apps (except network components)
Manual IP and DNS settings	Windows settings outside networking
VPN adapters and virtual switches	Your router’s own settings
Network profile (Private or Public)

Microsoft notes that after a reset you might need to reinstall and set up other networking software, such as VPN client software or virtual switches from Hyper-V, and that each known network may be set to the Public profile.

Try these first

Microsoft’s own Wi-Fi troubleshooting page puts Network reset at the very end of a long list and calls it the last step to try. Work through the quick fixes first:

1. Run the troubleshooter. On Windows 11, Microsoft suggests starting with the automated Network and Internet troubleshooter in the Get Help app.
2. Check the basics. Airplane mode off (Quick Settings, or Settings > Network & internet), Wi-Fi on, the right network selected.
3. Forget and reconnect to the Wi-Fi network: Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks, select the network and choose Forget, then join again.
4. Restart the modem and router: unplug them for at least 30 seconds, plug the modem in first, then the router.
5. Test another device on the same network. If nothing connects, the problem is the router or the internet provider, not Windows.

The network commands

The next step in Microsoft’s list is a set of commands that reset parts of the network stack without removing adapters. Right-click Start, select Terminal (Admin), and run these one at a time, in this order:

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

What they do in plain terms:

• netsh winsock reset resets the Windows sockets catalogue that programs use to talk to the network.
• netsh int ip reset resets TCP/IP settings to their defaults.
• ipconfig /release and /renew drop and request a new IP address from the router.
• ipconfig /flushdns clears the cached list of website addresses, which fixes many “this site can’t be reached” problems.

Restart the PC after the netsh commands. If the connection works again, you do not need a full Network reset.

Reinstall just the adapter driver

If one adapter misbehaves, a narrower fix is to reinstall its driver. Microsoft recommends having the latest network driver from the PC maker’s website on hand first (download it on another device or before you start, since you may lose internet).

1. Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters, right-click your Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter and select Uninstall device.
3. Restart the PC. Windows looks for and installs the driver automatically.

If Windows does not reinstall it, install the driver you downloaded.

How to run Network reset

1. Save your work; the PC will restart.
2. Make sure you know your Wi-Fi password. If you do not, find the Wi-Fi password in Windows 11 now, while you are still connected or the network is still saved.
3. Note any manual settings: a fixed IP address, custom DNS servers, proxy details or VPN configuration.
4. Open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings.
5. Under More settings, select Network reset.
6. Select Reset now, then Yes to confirm.
7. Wait for the PC to restart, which can take a few minutes.

After the reset

1. Reconnect to Wi-Fi from Quick Settings and enter the password.
2. Set the network profile. Go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi (or Ethernet), select the connection and choose Private network for a trusted home network if you share files or printers. Public is safer on networks you do not control. Our network discovery checklist covers sharing settings.
3. Reinstall or repair VPN software and recreate any Windows VPN connections; see Windows 11 VPN settings.
4. Re-enter manual DNS or proxy settings if you used them; see Windows 11 proxy settings.
5. Reconnect network drives if they do not come back; our guide to map a network drive in Windows 11 shows how.

Still no internet?

If the reset did not help, the problem is likely outside the network settings:

• Wi-Fi drops repeatedly: see Windows 11 Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting.
• Connected, no internet: see Windows 11 no internet.
• Cable connection problems: see Windows 11 Ethernet no internet.
• Adapter missing from Device Manager entirely: the hardware may be switched off in the firmware or faulty; check the PC maker’s support site.

Avoid “network booster” utilities and registry tweaks that promise faster internet. They change the same settings these steps reset, and are a common reason resets become necessary in the first place.