How to Disable IPV6 on Windows 11

Why disable or change IPv6?

Users sometimes prefer the older IPv4 internet protocol over IPv6. Other users wish to turn off IPv6 tunnel interfaces, which automatically connect when a computer detects specific network conditions. Completely disabling IPv6 is not advised, but users can control how IPv6 functions.

Understanding IPv6 settings

Let’s look at where these IPv6 settings are stored. They live in the Windows registry at this location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip6\Parameters

The specific setting you’ll change is called DisabledComponents, and it uses a numbering system called hexadecimal (a base-16 system) to control various IPv6 features.

IPv6 options and what they do

Prefer IPv4 over IPv6

You can make Windows 11 prefer the older IPv4 connection over the newer IPv6 connection. This is a good option if you don't want to fully disable IPv6 but want to make sure your computer uses the most compatible network type first.

Recommended: This is the best option instead of completely disabling IPv6.

To confirm this is working, follow these steps:

1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell
2. Type: ping bing.com
3. Look at the response. If IPv4 is preferred, you should see an IPv4 address returned

You can also check network settings by running:

netsh interface ipv6 show prefixpolicies

Look for entries with higher precedence numbers. These will be preferred over lower numbers.

Disable IPv6 completely via Registry - Recommended

You can disable most of IPv6 on Windows 11 by changing a specific setting in the Windows Registry. This method turns off IPv6 for most uses, though it will still run minimally for essential system tasks.

⚠️ Admin Required: Administrator rights are necessary for these changes.

1. Right-click on Command Prompt and select "Run as administrator"
2. Type this command and replace with the number you want (like 0x20 or 0xFF):
   

   reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip6\Parameters" /v DisabledComponents /t REG_DWORD /d 0xFF /f
3. Press Enter
4. Restart your computer for changes to take effect

Unbinding IPv6 from your network adapter - Not Recommended

Unbinding IPv6 from your network adapter means you are completely removing it from your connection, which is not recommended for Windows 11. Windows works best with IPv6 active, and some features require it to function correctly.

Disabling IPv6 on Windows 11 isn't recommended because the operating system performs best with it active. Certain programs and computer features, like some network discovery tools, actually require IPv6 to function correctly.

If you still want to unbind IPv6, you have two options:

Option 1Using Network Settings

1. Right-click on the network icon in your taskbar
2. Select "Network and internet settings"
3. Find your network adapter
4. Uncheck "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)"

Option 2Using PowerShell

You can use PowerShell to disable IPv6 on Windows 11, but you need administrator rights to do this. You'll need to replace '' with the name of your network connection, like 'Ethernet' or 'WiFi'.

Replace <MyAdapter> with your network adapter name (like "Ethernet" or "WiFi"):

IPv6 tunnel interfaces act as special pathways, essentially allowing the newer IPv6 internet 'language' to travel over the older IPv4 network. Windows automatically creates these interfaces when required, employing methods such as 6to4, ISATAP, and Teredo for network connections.

Users can disable Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) and automatic network connections if IPv6 is not needed or if these connections cause problems. Turning off IPv6 on a computer can prevent network conflicts and improve performance for systems that use older network setups. This action helps ensure a smoother internet experience.

The main tunneling methods are:

• 6to4 tunneling
• ISATAP
• Teredo

How to disable tunnel interfaces

Method 1Using the registry

You can turn off IPv6 tunnel interfaces in Windows 11 using either the Windows Registry or Group Policy, both needing administrator access. Changing the registry's 'DisabledComponents' value to '0x01' is one way to do this.

Set the DisabledComponents value to 0x01

Method 2Using Group Policy (Windows Pro/Enterprise only)

You can turn off IPv6 tunnel interfaces in Windows 11 using either the Windows Registry or Group Policy, both needing administrator access. Changing the registry's 'DisabledComponents' value to '0x01' is one way to do this.

1. Press Windows key + R
2. Type gpdit.msc and press Enter
3. Navigate to: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Network\TCPIP Settings\IPv6 Transition Technologies
4. Set the following to "Disabled":

   • 6to4 State
   • ISATAP State
   • Teredo State

Important things to remember

• Changing the DisabledComponents registry setting doesn't change the checkbox in network properties. The checkbox and the registry setting work separately.
• You cannot completely disable IPv6. It runs internally for system tasks.
• Disabling IPv6 incorrectly (using 0xffffffff instead of 0xff) can delay your computer startup by five seconds.
• Some programs and features expect IPv6 to work properly.

Summary