Windows 🟡 Intermediate

3 Simple Steps to Reset Network Adapters in Windows 11

Written by

Richard

Jul 18, 2021 Updated Aug 1, 2026 4 min read

How to Reset Network Adapters in Windows 11

Resetting network adapters in Windows 11 gives your computer’s internet connection a fresh start.

Network adapters are the parts that let your PC connect to the internet or your home network, like tiny digital gateways for data.

When these connections get tricky, a network reset in Windows 11 acts like a complete tune-up for your PC’s networking parts.

Network adapter reset removes and adds back all your network adapters, returning other network settings to their defaults. This process can fix persistent connection issues that a simple restart can't solve, especially if you are experiencing slow Wi-Fi or frequent dropped connections.

⚡ Quick Answer

Open Windows 11 Settings, go to Network & internet, then Advanced network settings, and select Network reset. Click “Reset now” and confirm; your PC will restart to apply the changes, effectively reinstalling network adapters and settings.

Option 1The Easy Way to Reset Your Network Adapters

Windows 11 network adapters can get a fresh start. This method uses the built-in Settings app , which is typically the quickest way to reset network adapters. You do not need to be a computer expert.

Step 1Open Your Settings

Open your computer’s settings. The quickest method involves pressing the ⊞ Win and the I key on your keyboard simultaneously. This will open the Settings window.

Windows 11 Start menu with Settings gear icon highlighted.

Step 2Go to Network Settings

Once Settings is open, look at the list of options on the left side. Click on Network & internet. On the right side of the window, you'll see more options. Scroll down a bit until you find and click on Advanced network settings.

Step 3Find the Network Reset Option

You are now in the advanced network area. Look through the options on this page. You should see a section called Network reset. Click on it.

Windows 11 network reset tile in Settings app.

Step 4Start the Reset

You're almost done! On the Network reset screen, you'll see a button that says Reset now. Click this button to begin the process.

Click the 'Network reset' button in Windows 11 Settings.

Step 5Confirm Your Choice

Windows will ask you to confirm that you really want to reset your network adapters. A small box will appear asking, "Are you sure you want to reset all network adapters?" Click Yes to continue.

Step 6Wait for the Restart

After you confirm the network adapter reset, Windows will let you know your PC will restart automatically in 5 minutes. This automatic restart is important to make sure all the network adapter changes are applied correctly. If you need to stop the automatic restart, you can open the Windows Terminal (Admin) and type a specific command.

If you absolutely must stop the automatic restart because you're not ready or need to finish something else, you can. Open the Windows Terminal (Admin) (instructions follow in Option Two) and type the following command, then press Enter:shutdown /a

Option 2Using the Command Prompt for a Network Reset

Alternatively, for those more comfortable with commands, or if the Settings app isn't cooperating, Option Two offers a way to reset network adapters using the Windows Terminal. This method works just as well and is a good alternative.

Step 1Open Windows Terminal as an Administrator

To reset your network adapters in Windows 11 using commands, you first need to open Windows Terminal as an administrator. Click the Start button, type Windows Terminal, then right-click the app and choose 'Run as administrator.' You'll likely see a User Account Control prompt asking for permission, just click Yes.

When Windows Terminal opens, it might start with PowerShell. That's fine for this command. If you prefer to use Command Prompt, click the small down arrow next to the plus (+) sign at the top of the Terminal window and select Command Prompt.

Step 2Enter the Reset Command

The administrator command window allows you to reset your network adapters. Type or copy and paste the command `netsh winsock reset` into the Terminal window to reset network adapters to their default settings.

💻Code

netcfg -d

After you type or paste the command, press the Enter key on your keyboard.

Step 3Restart Your Computer

After running the command to reset your network adapters, you must restart your computer for the changes to take effect. Windows works on the reset in the background when you press Enter. Once the command prompt is ready for another command, you can manually restart your PC to complete the network adapter reset process.

Summary

Resetting your network adapters in Windows 11 can help solve many internet connection issues. You can easily do this using the Settings app, which guides you and restarts your PC automatically. Alternatively, you can use the Windows Terminal with an administrator command to reset the adapters, followed by a manual restart to apply the changes.

3 Simple Steps to Reset Network Adapters in Windows 11