Resetting network settings in Windows 11 removes installed network adapters and their settings, then reinstalls the adapters after a restart. It can help with stubborn connection problems, but it is a broader change than reconnecting to Wi-Fi or clearing the DNS cache.
The option is under Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset. Before selecting Reset now, save your work and make sure you can reconnect afterward, especially if you use a VPN or custom network configuration.
Save Your Connection Details Before the Reset
Network Reset applies to the computer’s networking setup, not just the Wi-Fi network currently giving you trouble. An Ethernet problem can therefore lead to changes affecting Wi-Fi and virtual adapters as well.
For a typical home computer, the main preparation is having your Wi-Fi password available. You may need to select the network and enter it again. Keep a copy somewhere you can access without an internet connection.
There is more to record on a computer with a customized setup:
- Manual IP or DNS settings: Record the addresses and whether IP assignment is automatic or manual. In Settings, open the relevant Wi-Fi network’s properties or the Ethernet page and review the assignment settings.
- VPN access: Keep the installer and setup instructions available. A VPN app or its virtual adapter may need repair or reinstallation afterward.
- Virtual-machine networking: Note any custom virtual switches. Hyper-V and other virtualization software may need network reconfiguration.
- Network driver: Download the correct Wi-Fi or Ethernet driver from your computer manufacturer’s support site as a backup, particularly if the connection is already unstable.
On a work or school computer, check with IT before removing a configuration they manage. Also perform the reset while you have physical access to the PC: a remote session can disconnect before you finish restoring connectivity.
Network Reset does not reset your router or reinstall Windows. Your documents and ordinary applications are not its target, although networking software may require additional setup.
Make Sure a Full Reset Fits the Problem
A reset is worth considering when other devices connect normally, your PC’s network adapter has a working driver, and simpler checks have not restored the connection. Microsoft places it late in its Windows Wi-Fi troubleshooting guidance.
Try a normal PC restart and check Airplane mode first. Then compare the connection with another device on the same network. When every device has lost internet access, investigate the router or service provider before rebuilding one computer’s network settings.
An unknown network controller is another reason to pause. Network Reset cannot supply a compatible driver that Windows does not have. A Code 28 message in Device Manager points to a driver-installation problem; use our network adapter driver guide before resetting the connection.
Reset the Network Through Windows 11 Settings
You can open this Settings page while the PC is offline. You do not need to download a reset tool.
Find the Network Reset page
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Select Network & internet.
- Open Advanced network settings.
- Under More settings, select Network reset.
The highlighted row opens Network Reset. Screenshot source: ASUS official support. The two screenshots in this section show an earlier Windows 11 layout; spacing and some surrounding options may differ on your PC.
To open Advanced network settings directly, press Windows + R, enter ms-settings:network-advancedsettings, and press Enter. Select Network reset from there. This shortcut opens the page; it does not start a reset.
Confirm the reset and let Windows restart
Read the warning on the Network Reset page. It explains that Windows will remove and reinstall adapters and that other networking software may need to be set up again.
Select Reset now only after saving your work and recording any custom connection settings. Screenshot source: ASUS official support, linked above.
Select Reset now, then select Yes in the confirmation prompt. Approve an administrator prompt if Windows asks for one, and follow the restart notification shown on your computer.
Allow Windows to restart and finish configuring the adapters. Do not use the power button to interrupt the process. Selecting Reset now is only part of the operation; the restart is needed to complete it.
Reconnect Before Judging the Result
After signing back in, check Settings > Network & internet. A reset followed by a disconnected Wi-Fi status does not automatically mean the reset failed. You may simply need to reconnect.
For Wi-Fi, turn it on if necessary, select your network, and connect using its password. Test a familiar website, then the application that originally had the problem.
For Ethernet, check the cable and connection status. A normal home network generally uses automatic IP assignment through DHCP. A network that requires a manual address needs its correct configuration restored; do not copy an arbitrary address from an online example.
For a VPN, first confirm that ordinary internet access works without the VPN, where your network policy permits it. Then reconnect the VPN. If its adapter or connection is missing, follow the provider’s repair or installation instructions. Restoring basic internet access and restoring a VPN tunnel are separate checks.
For shared folders or printers, inspect the network profile. Network Reset can change a connection to Public, which limits discovery. On a network whose people and devices you trust, open the connected Wi-Fi network’s properties or the Ethernet page and review Network profile type. Use Private when you need trusted local sharing; keep public or unfamiliar networks set to Public.
Smaller Changes That Do Not Require a Full Network Reset
“Reset network settings” is often used to describe several different actions. Choose the one that matches what you actually need to change.
Forget one Wi-Fi network when the problem concerns that saved connection. Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks, select the network, and choose Forget. Reconnect with the correct password. This does not remove every installed adapter.
Restore automatic IP assignment when an unwanted manual configuration is the issue. Open the relevant network’s settings, select Edit beside IP assignment, and choose Automatic (DHCP) if that is what your network uses. Record the old configuration first, particularly on a managed network.
Clear the DNS cache when troubleshooting cached name-resolution information. In an administrator Command Prompt, run:
ipconfig /flushdnsThis clears the local DNS resolver cache. It does not remove adapters, change your configured DNS server, or perform the full Settings reset. It also cannot repair a missing Wi-Fi driver or an internet-service outage.
These actions are alternatives for specific problems, not a command sequence you must run after Network Reset. Adding unrelated resets makes it harder to tell which part of the connection was faulty.
Still Offline After Network Reset?
The next useful question is what Windows can detect now.
No Wi-Fi adapter or an adapter error: Right-click Start, open Device Manager, and inspect Network adapters and Other devices. Install the correct manufacturer driver if it is missing. Repeating Network Reset will not replace an unavailable driver package.
Connected to the network, but no internet: Compare with another device on the same router. If both are affected, check the router and ISP. If only this PC is affected, review the IP, DNS, proxy, or VPN configuration relevant to that connection.
Works after a reset, then fails again: Record what happens immediately before the failure returns. A VPN launch, driver update, or a particular power transition provides more useful evidence than another reset. When the connection fails after shutdown and power-on but works after Restart, turning off Windows 11 Fast Startup is a separate setting you can test.
Once connectivity is restored, check the services you actually use: web browsing, your VPN, shared folders, and any virtual machines. A working browser confirms internet access; it does not confirm that every part of your previous network setup has been restored.
