How to Reset a Network Adapter on Windows 10

To reset the network adapter on Windows 10, open Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset, select Reset now, confirm, and let the PC restart. Windows removes the installed network adapters and their settings, then reinstalls the adapters with default settings after the restart. This is a useful last-resort fix when Wi-Fi or Ethernet still fails after simpler troubleshooting.

Microsoft recommends trying basic connection checks and the built-in network troubleshooting steps before using a full network reset. A reset can also require you to set up networking software again, including some VPN clients and virtual switches.

Reset the network adapter from Windows 10 Settings

Open Start > Settings > Network & Internet.
Select Status in the left pane.
Scroll down and select Network reset.
Select Reset now, then select Yes to confirm.
Save any open work and allow Windows to restart. After you sign back in, reconnect to your network and test the connection.

Windows 10 Network and Internet Status page with the Network reset link highlighted — In Windows 10, Network reset is available from Settings under Network & Internet > Status.

Windows 10 Network reset page showing the Reset now button — Select Reset now only after simpler connection checks have failed.

A full reset is broader than merely turning Wi-Fi off and on. According to Microsoft's Windows network troubleshooting guidance, it removes installed network adapters and their settings. Windows then reinstalls the adapters after the PC restarts.

Windows 10 Network reset confirmation dialog with the Yes button highlighted — Confirm the reset when Windows asks whether you want to continue.

After the restart, check Settings > Network & Internet > Status and reconnect if necessary. Microsoft also notes that known network connections may be set to a public network profile after a reset. If you need file or printer sharing on a trusted home or office network, verify the network profile before enabling sharing.

Windows 10 Network Status page after restarting with an active Wi-Fi connection — After Windows restarts, return to the Status page and confirm that the connection is working.

What network reset changes

Action	What it does	When to use it
Reconnect to Wi-Fi or restart the router	Refreshes the connection without changing Windows network configuration	Try first for a temporary outage or weak connection
Run network commands	Resets Winsock and TCP/IP, renews the IP address, and flushes the DNS cache	Use when Windows has an IP, DNS, or socket configuration problem
Uninstall the adapter driver	Removes the selected adapter device so Windows can detect and reinstall it after restart	Useful when the adapter stopped working after an update or driver change
Network reset	Removes installed network adapters and resets their settings to defaults	Use as a later troubleshooting step when other fixes have not worked

Reinstall the network adapter driver

If the connection stopped working after a Windows or driver update, Microsoft also recommends uninstalling the affected network adapter in Device Manager and restarting the PC. Before doing this, download the latest network driver from your PC manufacturer's support site if possible, especially if the computer currently has no working internet connection.

Search for Device Manager and open it.
Expand Network adapters.
Right-click the Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter that is having the problem and select Uninstall device.
If Windows offers an option to remove the driver, use it only if you have a replacement driver available or are following your device manufacturer's instructions.
Restart the PC. Windows should detect the adapter again and attempt to install a driver.

Windows 10 Device Manager with a wireless network adapter selected and Uninstall device highlighted — Use Device Manager when you need to reinstall a specific Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter.

Windows 10 Uninstall Device dialog for a wireless network adapter — Confirm the device uninstall, then restart Windows so the adapter can be detected again.

Reset TCP/IP, Winsock, and DNS from Command Prompt

If you want to repair the Windows networking stack without performing a full network reset, open Command Prompt as administrator and run these commands in order:

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns

These are the same core commands Microsoft lists for troubleshooting Wi-Fi and Ethernet problems. netsh winsock reset resets the Winsock catalog, while the other commands reset TCP/IP, request a fresh IP address, and clear the DNS resolver cache. Restart the computer afterward if Windows prompts you or the connection still does not recover.

Administrator Command Prompt in Windows 10 showing Winsock TCP IP and DNS reset commands — Run the network repair commands from an Administrator Command Prompt, one command at a time.

If the reset does not fix the connection

Before assuming the adapter itself has failed, check whether another phone or computer can use the same router. If every device is offline, restart the modem and router and check for an ISP outage. If only this PC is affected, make sure Airplane mode is off, forget and reconnect to the Wi-Fi network, check the Ethernet cable, and temporarily disable or remove third-party VPN software if it is interfering with the connection.

You can also run the Windows 10 Network troubleshooter from the Network & Internet Status page. For managed work or school PCs, do not remove corporate VPN, security, or network software without approval; domain policies can control networking behavior.

Windows 10 Network and Internet Status page showing the Network troubleshooter option — The Network troubleshooter is a lower-impact step to try before a full network reset.

Windows 10 support status

Windows 10 version 22H2 was the final general Windows 10 release, and Microsoft ended standard support on October 14, 2025. The operating system still runs, but devices outside an eligible Extended Security Updates program no longer receive regular security fixes. If your PC supports Windows 11, Microsoft recommends upgrading; otherwise review the official Windows 10 end-of-support options.

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