When you reset Windows network settings, Windows removes every installed network adapter and its settings, restarts, and reinstalls the adapters with defaults. The consequences are practical: you may need to rejoin Wi-Fi, re-enter static IP and DNS values, reinstall VPN software, recreate Hyper-V switches, and review known networks that return as Public.

Use it only as a last device-side step after you have shown that the failure follows one PC across trusted networks. Before resetting, record Wi-Fi credentials, static IP and DNS values, proxy settings, VPN software, virtual switches, network profile type, and organization policy.

Key Takeaways

Network Reset removes installed network adapters and their settings, then reinstalls adapters with defaults after restart.

A VPN client or Hyper-V virtual switch may need to be reinstalled or configured again.

Known networks may return as Public, which changes discovery and file or printer sharing behavior.

Do not combine this procedure with router factory reset, blanket driver removal, firewall disabling, or command bundles.

First use the device and app troubleshooting guide to confirm the failing layer.

When should you reset Windows network settings?

Microsoft describes Network Reset as the last step to try after earlier connection checks. It removes installed network adapters and their settings, restarts the PC, and reinstalls the adapters with default settings.［1］

Use it only when the evidence points to Windows network state, for example:

the same PC fails on more than one trusted network;
simpler reconnect, restart, update, and adapter checks did not help;
a Windows upgrade left the PC unable to connect normally;
or shared network drives stopped working because of device-side network configuration.

Do not reset Windows when every device fails on one router, when one app alone is broken, or when a service is down. Use the Windows Wi-Fi no-internet checklist or Windows app connectivity guide to narrow those cases first.

On a work or school device, stop and contact the administrator if network configuration is managed. A reset can remove required connectivity until organizational software and policy are restored.

What should you save before a Windows 11 network reset?

Create a recovery record from trusted sources. Do not put passwords or internal network details in a public ticket.

Item	What to record	Why it matters
Wi-Fi	Network names and a safe way to retrieve credentials	Known connections may need to be joined again
IP and DNS	DHCP or manual, addresses, gateway, prefix, DNS, DoH choice	Defaults may not match a static network
Proxy	Automatic state, setup script, server, port, exceptions	Apps may fail until the intended proxy returns
VPN client	Product owner, profile source, recovery/install method	Client software may need reinstallation or setup
Virtual networking	Hyper-V, container, VM, bridge, or filter details	Virtual switches or adapters may disappear
Network profile	Public or Private and required sharing behavior	Recreated networks may default to Public
Managed policy	Organization contact and required configuration	Local reconstruction may not be authorized

Windows exposes IP and DNS assignment under the connected Wi-Fi or Ethernet properties. Microsoft recommends automatic DHCP when the network supports it; manual networks require the exact address, gateway, and DNS values.［2］

Make the record operational rather than descriptive. Note which adapter and trusted network were active, the exact symptom and time, whether another device worked on that network, and whether this PC failed on a second trusted network. Keep installers or organization instructions available offline when possible. Confirm that local sign-in works without a network and that you can retrieve required Wi-Fi credentials without relying on the connection you are about to reset.

For every non-default value, name its owner and recovery source. A static address should come from the network owner, a proxy or VPN profile from its administrator or service owner, and a virtual switch from the workload that uses it. If you cannot identify or restore a required managed component, stop before Reset and ask the owner to perform or supervise the change.

Use the Windows proxy settings guide to record automatic, script, manual, and per-VPN layers without deleting them.

How do you run Windows 11 Network Reset?

After completing safer checks and the recovery record:

Save work and close applications that use the network.
Confirm you have local sign-in access and any required recovery material.
Open Start > Settings > Network & internet.
Select Advanced network settings > Network reset.
Read the warning and select Reset now.
Select Yes to confirm.
Wait for Windows to restart; do not interrupt the restart or start deleting adapters manually.

On Windows 10, Microsoft places Network reset under Settings > Network & Internet > Status. Do not translate this Windows action into a router factory reset: it changes the PC, not the router.

Avoid adding administrator command sequences, registry cleaners, mass driver uninstalls, or a disabled firewall. Those are separate changes with separate failure modes and would make the result impossible to attribute.

Can you reset network settings on Windows 7?

Windows 7 has no Network reset page. Microsoft documents the button only for Windows 11 and for Windows 10 under the Status page shown above. Windows 7 support ended on 14 January 2020 and Windows 10 support on 14 October 2025. An unsupported version no longer receives security updates, and Microsoft recommends replacing a device that cannot run a current Windows release with one that supports Windows 11.［3］

On a Windows 7 PC, keep the same recovery record and do not paste old command bundles from forums. A rebuilt network stack still runs on drivers, certificates, and security software that no longer get fixes, so upgrading or replacing the PC is the durable repair.

What does Network Reset remove or change?

Expect the following device-side effects:

installed network adapters and their settings are removed;
Windows reinstalls adapters after restart with defaults;
VPN client software or other network filters may require reinstallation or configuration;
Hyper-V or other virtualization software may require virtual switches to be recreated;
known network connections may be classified as Public.

Microsoft notes the VPN, virtual-switch, and Public-profile consequences explicitly. A Public profile hides the PC from other devices and normally prevents file and printer sharing. Microsoft recommends Public for most networks; use Private only for a network whose people and devices you trust.

Network Reset is not a backup, malware cleanup, router repair, or guarantee of internet service. It also does not reconstruct undocumented static settings.

What network reset aftercare is required?

Restore only the settings you actually need, one layer at a time:

Sign in locally and confirm Windows completed the restart.
Join the intended trusted Wi-Fi or connect Ethernet.
Check whether IP and DNS should remain automatic or be restored from the approved static record.
Confirm the network profile is Public or Private for the actual trust level.
Restore the approved proxy configuration.
Reinstall or reconfigure required VPN and virtual-network software from its trusted owner.
Restart once more only when an installer or policy requires it.

Do not mark a home network Private merely to make sharing work. First confirm it is the intended trusted network, then change the profile deliberately.

How do you verify the reset worked?

Compare the same baseline you recorded before the reset:

Confirm the adapter appears without a warning.
Check the assigned IP, gateway, and DNS values.
Open one ordinary HTTPS website.
Resolve and reach a second known destination.
Test a necessary local share or printer only if the network is trusted and the profile is appropriate.
Test required VPN, VM, container, or virtual-switch paths separately.
Reopen the original failing app and record the result.

If the PC still fails on every trusted network, save the adapter model, driver version, assigned addresses, exact errors, and recovery steps already performed before escalating. Do not immediately repeat Network Reset: a second reset without new evidence usually erases the same state again.

Treat partial recovery as evidence, not permission for broader changes. Internet access with failed local sharing points to the network profile, trusted-network decision, or restored local configuration. Working DNS with one failed app points back to that app or service. A required VPN or virtual workload that fails after ordinary browsing recovers should be checked against its saved profile and trusted installation instructions.

When the original symptom is gone, restart once only if a restored component requires it, then repeat the baseline tests in the same order. Record the final adapter, IP/DNS mode, profile type, proxy/VPN state, and any component that remains intentionally uninstalled. This closes the recovery path and avoids discovering later that basic browsing works while a printer, share, or business application was never restored.

For a newly prepared machine, the Windows 11 setup checklist helps verify updates, recovery, encryption, backups, and hardware around the network repair.

Summary

Prove that the failure follows one Windows PC before resetting its network stack.
Save Wi-Fi, IP/DNS, proxy, VPN, virtual-network, profile, and managed-policy details.
Use the Settings Network Reset path once and let Windows restart normally.
Restore trusted configuration in layers and verify internet, DNS, local access, and special network software.
Keep router reset, firewall changes, driver removal, and command bundles outside this procedure.

FAQ

Is Windows Network Reset the same as restarting the router?

No. Network Reset changes adapters and settings on the Windows PC. It does not restart or factory-reset the router.

Will Network Reset delete Wi-Fi passwords?

Known connections can require reconnection. Make sure you have an approved way to retrieve the necessary credentials before resetting.

Does Network Reset remove VPN software?

Microsoft warns that VPN client software may need to be reinstalled or configured again. Save its trusted installer and profile recovery path first.

What happens to Hyper-V virtual switches?

They may need to be recreated after the reset. Record virtual networking and ask its owner before resetting a development or managed machine.

Why did my network become Public after the reset?

Windows may classify recreated known connections as Public. Keep Public unless the network is trusted and you specifically need discovery or sharing.

Does Network Reset restore static IP and DNS settings?

It restores adapter settings to defaults. If the network requires manual values, restore them from an approved record after restart.

Should I disable the firewall before resetting?

No. Firewall disabling is not part of Network Reset and creates another variable and security exposure. Diagnose it separately only with evidence and a recovery plan.

What if the reset does not fix the connection?

Do not immediately repeat it. Preserve the adapter, driver, address, network comparison, and exact error evidence, then escalate to the device, network, or organization owner. A VPN is only one variable after a Windows network reset; adapter drivers, static IP, DNS, and managed profiles require their own recovery steps.

Sources:

Microsoft Support - Fix Wi-Fi connection issues in Windows — https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/fix-wi-fi-connection-issues-in-windows-9424a1f7-6a3b-65a6-4d78-7f07eee84d2c
Microsoft Support - Essential Network Settings and Tasks in Windows — https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/connectivity-networking/essential-network-settings-and-tasks-in-windows
Microsoft Support - What does it mean if Windows isn't supported? — https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-7-support-ended-on-january-14-2020-b75d4580-2cc7-895a-2c9c-1466d9a53962

Sources checked 4 October 2026.

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