Before you start
- Administrator access
- Your Wi-Fi password, to reconnect afterwards
What a network reset does
It removes every network adapter, then reinstalls them after a restart, and resets networking components to their original settings. You’ll lose saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, VPN adapters, and custom DNS or proxy settings. Your files aren’t affected.
Method 1 Reset network settings
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Step 1: Open Advanced network settings
Go to Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings.
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Step 2: Click Network reset
Under More settings, click Network reset.
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Step 3: Reset now
Click Reset now and confirm with Yes.
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Step 4: Let it restart
Windows restarts after 5 minutes (save your work). Then reconnect to your Wi-Fi network and enter the password.
Method 2 Command-line alternative
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Step 1: Open Terminal as administrator
Right-click Start > Terminal (Admin).
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Step 2: Run the commands
Run the commands below one at a time, then restart. This resets Winsock and TCP/IP without removing adapters.
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdnsTroubleshooting
Wi-Fi is missing after the reset
Wait a minute after login for drivers to reinstall. If it’s still missing, install the Wi-Fi driver from your laptop maker’s website using Ethernet or a phone USB tether.
My VPN doesn’t work any more
Network reset removes VPN adapters. Reinstall your VPN app.
Frequently asked questions
Will network reset delete my files?
No. It only affects network settings.
Do I need to reset my router too?
Not usually. Restarting it is enough. Resetting the router to factory settings is a separate, bigger step.
Summary
Go to Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset and click Reset now. After the restart, reconnect to Wi-Fi and reinstall any VPN software.
