How to Reset Network Settings on a PC or Mac

2025 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-24 13:28

This article explains how to reset network settings on a computer running Windows or macOS. Resetting the network settings can solve various problems with your internet connection, such as difficulties accessing the web.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Windows

Reset Network Settings on PC or Mac Step 1

Step 1. Press ⊞ Win + S

The search bar will open.

Reset Network Settings on PC or Mac Step 2

Step 2. Type cmd in the bar

A list of relevant results will appear.

Reset Network Settings on PC or Mac Step 3

Step 3. Click on Command Prompt with the right mouse button

A menu will open.

Reset Network Settings on PC or Mac Step 4

Step 4. Click Run as administrator

An administrative type terminal window will open containing a command prompt.

Depending on your settings, you may be required to enter a password before the command prompt appears

Reset Network Settings on PC or Mac Step 5

Step 5. Type netsh advfirewall reset in the prompt and press Enter

Reset Network Settings on PC or Mac Step 6

Step 6. Type netsh int ip reset and press Enter

Reset Network Settings on PC or Mac Step 7

Step 7. Type netsh int ipv6 reset and press Enter

Reset Network Settings on PC or Mac Step 8

Step 8. Type netsh winsock reset and press Enter

Now that you have entered all these commands, the network settings will be reset completely.

Reset Network Settings on PC or Mac Step 9

Step 9. Restart your PC

To do this, click on the menu

then on

and on "Reboot system". The computer will be shut down and restarted. Since the network settings have been reset, you need to turn Wi-Fi back on and connect to the network again, as if you were doing it for the first time.

Method 2 of 2: macOS

Reset Network Settings on PC or Mac Step 10

Step 1. Reset the Mac

Resetting the network settings on macOS requires deleting certain files belonging to the system configuration. To learn how to back up a Mac, read this article.

Reset Network Settings on PC or Mac Step 11

Step 2. Close all programs that use the network

For example, you need to close browsers, messaging applications and social networks.

Reset Network Settings on PC or Mac Step 12

Step 3. Turn off Wi-Fi

To do this, click on the wireless connection icon in the menu bar and select "Disable Wi-Fi".

Reset Network Settings on PC or Mac Step 13

Step 4. Click the Finder icon

It features a two-tone smiley face and is located in the Dock, usually located at the bottom of the screen.

Reset Network Settings on PC or Mac Step 14

Step 5. Press ⌘ Command + ⇧ Shift + G

This will open the "Go to folder" window.

Reset Network Settings on PC or Mac Step 15

Step 6. Type or paste / Library / Preferences / SystemConfiguration / in the blank space

Reset Network Settings on PC or Mac Step 16

Step 7. Click Go

The list of system configuration files will open.

Reset Network Settings on PC or Mac Step 17

Step 8. Select all network related files inside the folder

Here's how to do it:

Hold down the ⌘ Command key.
Click on the following files while continuing to hold down the ⌘ Command key:
- com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
- com.apple.network.eapolclient.configuration.plist
- com.apple.wifi.message-tracer.plist
- NetworkInterfaces.plist
- preferences.plist
All selected files should be highlighted in blue.

Reset Network Settings on PC or Mac Step 18

Step 9. Drag the selected files to another location

You can drag them to your desktop or any other folder on your computer. It is important to remove them from the system configuration folder.

Reset Network Settings on PC or Mac Step 19

Step 10. Restart your Mac

To do this, click on the menu

and click "Restart". The computer will be shut down and then restarted. Since the network settings have been reset, you will need to turn Wi-Fi back on and connect to the network again, as if you were doing this for the first time.

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