How to Reset Network Settings on Windows, macOS, and Linux? Print

Overview
Sometimes network issues (such as websites not loading, DNS errors, or connection drops) can be fixed by resetting your device’s network settings. This process clears saved configurations like DNS, Wi-Fi, and adapter settings, restoring them to default.

⚠️ Note: Resetting may remove saved Wi-Fi passwords and custom configurations. Make sure you have login details handy before proceeding.

Windows 10 / 11

Method 1: Full Network Reset

1. Open Settings (Windows + I).

2. Go to Network & Internet.

3. Scroll down and select Advanced network settings (Windows 11) or Status > Network reset (Windows 10).

4. Click Network reset → Reset now.

5. Restart your computer.

This will reinstall network adapters and reset all networking components.

Method 2: Reset via Command Prompt

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

2. Run these commands one by one:

    

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

3. Restart your computer.

macOS (Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, older)

Resetting Wi-Fi & Network Preferences

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions).

2. Go to Network.

3. Select your active network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) → click Details/Advanced.

4. Remove the network and re-add it:

   • For Wi-Fi: Select the network → click – (minus) to delete.

   • Reconnect by selecting the Wi-Fi network again and entering the password.

Resetting DNS Cache

Open Terminal and run:

(Works for most modern macOS versions.)

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian/Fedora)

Method 1: Restart Network Manager

1. Open a terminal.

2. Restart the network service:

    

   sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

Method 2: Flush DNS Cache

• On Ubuntu (systemd-resolved):

   

  sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches

• On other Linux systems:

   

  sudo /etc/init.d/nscd restart

  (You may need to install nscd if it isn’t already.)

Method 3: Reset Network Configuration Files

If issues persist, you can reset the configuration by deleting and recreating connections:

Router/Office Network Reset (Optional)

Sometimes the issue isn’t your computer but the office network equipment. To reset:

1. Power off your router/modem.

2. Wait 30 seconds.

3. Power it back on and reconnect.

Verify Connection After Reset

Once reset, test your connection by:

• Opening a web browser and visiting a site like https://www.google.com

• Running a connectivity test:

  • Windows: ping 8.8.8.8 -t

  • macOS/Linux: ping 8.8.8.8

✅ Tip: If problems continue after a reset, try changing your DNS to a reliable provider (Google DNS, Cloudflare, Quad9, or OpenDNS).