How To Perform A Network Reset In Windows 10

Network connectivity issues often mean you can’t access the internet. While it can be tricky to determine the cause, performing a network reset may correct the problem and get you back online. There are some simpler fixes to try before taking the network reset route. However, if none of these do the trick, here’s how to perform a network reset in Windows 10.

What to Know

Select Start menu > Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset > Reset now > Yes.Before resetting, save network adapter details from Network & Internet > Status > Change adapter options > right-click adapter > Configure.If you use a VPN, back up usernames, passwords, and other setup information before a network reset.

What to Do Before Performing a Network Reset

A network reset removes drivers and settings for the network adapters installed on your PC, reinstalling drivers and settings to the default state. Configured custom settings are also removed. You may need to reinstall and reconfigure VPN software or network virtualization software if it doesn’t function as expected.

Before you perform a network reset, save pertinent information and settings.

The network reset option is available only in Windows 10 version 1607 and later.

Network Adapter Settings

Windows 10 users tend to leave the network adapter settings as-is, trusting that the out-of-the-box configuration delivers satisfactory results. If you customized the adapter settings, note these modifications so that you can restore those settings after the reset process finishes. To access these settings, take the following steps.

Open the Start menu and select Settings.
Select Network & Internet.
Select Status.
Select Change adapter options.
In the Control Panel window, right-click the adapter for which you want to view details.
Select Properties.
Select Configure in the connection’s Properties interface.
The properties for the network adapter display, with each tab containing relevant information. Note any pertinent values or settings in these properties, specifically those you modified, as these may change to the default state as part of the adapter reset process.

VPN Settings

If you use Virtual Private Networking (VPN) to connect to a workplace or other secure environment, store the necessary credentials and setup information before resetting your network adapters.

Open the Start menu and select Settings.

Select Network & Internet.

Select Status.

Select Change adapter options.

In the Control Panel window, right-click the adapter for which you want to view details.

Select Properties.

Select Configure in the connection’s Properties interface.

The properties for the network adapter display, with each tab containing relevant information. Note any pertinent values or settings in these properties, specifically those you modified, as these may change to the default state as part of the adapter reset process.

Not all relevant information is removed during the reset process, especially when using third-party software. Still, back up usernames, passwords, server addresses, and application-specific details in case this information is deleted.