How to Completely Reset Your Network Settings in Windows 11

There are few things more frustrating than a Windows 11 computer that refuses to connect to the internet. Whether your Wi-Fi drops constantly, your VPN fails to connect, or you are staring at a stubborn “No Internet, Secured” message, network problems can completely derail your productivity.

When basic troubleshooting—such as restarting your router or toggling Airplane Mode—fails to resolve the issue, you do not need to reinstall your entire operating system. Instead, Microsoft provides a powerful, built-in “nuclear option” that allows you to completely reset your network settings in Windows 11.

What Does a Network Reset Actually Do?

Before you proceed, it is crucial to understand what this process entails. A network reset is not a simple reboot; it completely wipes your current network configuration and restores it to its factory defaults.

Specifically, a network reset will:

• Uninstall and then automatically reinstall every single network adapter on your computer (both Wi-Fi and Ethernet).
• Wipe all saved Wi-Fi networks and their associated passwords.
• Reset the TCP/IP stack and flush your DNS cache.
• Remove any custom VPN software configurations, requiring you to reinstall your VPN client.
• Delete any custom virtual switches created by virtualisation software like Hyper-V.

Because it forgets your saved networks, make absolutely sure you know your Wi-Fi password before clicking the reset button.

How to Perform a Network Reset in Windows 11

The entire reset process takes only a few clicks, but your computer will require a mandatory reboot to finalise the changes.

1. Click the Start button on your taskbar and select the Settings gear icon (or press Windows Key + I on your keyboard).
2. In the left-hand navigation pane, click on Network & internet.
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Advanced network settings.
4. Under the More settings section, click on Network reset.
5. You will see a warning explaining exactly what the reset will do. If you are ready to proceed, click the Reset now button.
6. A small confirmation window will pop up asking, “Are you sure you want to reset your network settings?”. Click Yes.

What Happens Next?

Once you click Yes, Windows will not reboot immediately. Instead, a command prompt window may flash on your screen, and you will receive a notification stating that Windows will shut down in 5 minutes.

You can use this five-minute window to save any open documents and close your applications. If you do not want to wait, you can manually restart your computer by clicking the Start button, selecting the Power icon, and choosing Restart.

Reconnecting to the Internet

When your computer boots back up, your network adapters will be fresh and unconfigured.

1. Click the Network icon in the bottom right corner of your taskbar (next to the clock).
2. Select your home or office Wi-Fi network from the list of available connections.
3. Enter your Wi-Fi password.
4. Windows will ask if you want your PC to be discoverable by other devices on the network. If you are at home, click Yes (Private network). If you are at a coffee shop or airport, click No (Public network).

In the vast majority of cases, this deep reset will permanently clear out corrupt configurations, IP conflicts, and stubborn driver glitches, restoring your internet connection to full working order.