How to Reset Network Settings in Windows 10

What to Know

To reset network settings, go to Start menu > Settings > Network and Internet > Status > Network Reset.
If you have a VPN or a proxy server, it may need to be reconfigured following the reset.
Resetting network settings removes and reinstalls every network adapter installed on your system.

This article explains how to reset your network settings on Windows 10.

How to Reset Network Settings in Windows 10

Using the network reset utility in Windows 10 is fairly simple.

Go to Start menu > Settings, then select Network and Internet.
In the left navigation pane, select Status to make sure you’re viewing the network status window. Then scroll down until you see the Network Reset link.
Click the Network Reset link and review the Network Reset information message. When you’re prepared to network your reset settings, select Reset now.
Select Yes in the network reset confirmation window. This will initiate the reset process and restart your computer.
You will get a warning when the computer’s about to reboot. You should have plenty of time to save your work and close out all applications.
When the computer restarts, you’ll notice that your network connection isn’t active. This is because your network card reset and released its previous connection. Just select the network icon, pick the network you want to reconnect to, and choose Connect.
If your TCP/IP settings are set to automatically detect, your network connection should detect the appropriate network settings and connect to the internet without any problems.

Fixing Any Remaining Settings

If you configured a VPN client or other network software before the network reset, you may need to reconfigure them to get them working again.

Fixing this software is as simple as opening the VPN software and entering your IP and other settings like you did when you originally installed the software.

If you were connecting to a corporate network using a proxy server, you may need to reconfigure your proxy server settings.

Select the Start menu and type Internet Options. Select Internet Options.
In the Internet Options window, select the Connections tab.
Select the LAN settings button, and in the LAN Settings window, select Use a proxy server for your LAN. In the Address field, type the address for your corporate LAN proxy server. Select OK on both windows to accept the changes.

If you don’t know the correct proxy server settings, contact your IT help desk to ask for the correct network address and port of your proxy server.
You may need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect, and your network card to reconnect to your corporate network.

What Does a Windows 10 Network Reset Do?

Resetting network settings in Windows 10 should be a last resort. When you initiate a network reset, it removes and reinstalls every network adapter currently installed on your system.

The Network Reset Utility was originally introduced by Microsoft after the Windows 10 Anniversary Update build (version 1607) so people could quickly resolve network problems caused by the update. The utility still remains to help people fix network connection issues.

The network reset utility also sets every networking component on your system back to the original factory settings. The components that get reset are as follows:

Winsock: This is an interface for applications that handles input and output requests to the internet.
TCP/IP: This stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, and allows all network devices on your computer to communicate over the internet.

If you’ve customized any of these settings from their defaults, you’ll need to note those settings because performing a network reset will remove any custom settings.

However, most people have all of these components set to automatically detect, so in most cases you won’t see any issues after a network reset.

FAQ

How do I change my network from public to private in Windows 10?

To change a network from public to private on wireless, select the Wi-Fi icon, then select Properties > Network profile > Private. For a wired connection, right-click the Ethernet icon, then Open Network & Internet settings > Properties > Network profile > Private.
How do I turn on network discovery in Windows 10?

To turn network discovery on or off, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings.