Essential Network Settings and Tasks in Windows
Applies To
Windows 11 Windows 10Network & Internet settings in Windows allow you to manage your network connections and internet settings. Whether you need to connect to Wi-Fi, configure a VPN, or troubleshoot network issues, these settings provide all the necessary options to ensure a seamless online experience. Explore the various sections to customize your network preferences and maintain a reliable connection.
To access these settings, you can:
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Select the Start button, then type settings. Select Settings > Network & internet .
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Right-click the Network or Wi-Fi icon on the taskbar, then select Network and internet settings.
Go to Network & internet settings
Additionally, Network & internet settings let you quickly check your network connection status. The status of your network connection will appear at the top.
Find your IP address
Tip: To quickly see details about the connected network, go to Network & internet settings, then select Properties near your connected network.
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Go to Network & internet settings and then select the appropriate option:
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For Wi-Fi connection, select Wi-Fi, then select the Wi-Fi network you're connected to.
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For an Ethernet connection, select Ethernet.
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Under Properties, look for your IP address listed next to IPv4 address.
Set your data limit
Windows can help you stay under your data plan limit and look for ways to reduce data usage. After you set a data limit, we'll let you know when you're getting near it and when you exceed it.
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Go to Network & internet settings.
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Select Data usage near the network connection status for the network you're connected to.
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To enter a data limit for that network, select Enter limit, choose the Limit type you have for your data plan, enter other limit info, and then select Save.
Turn airplane mode on or off
Airplane mode gives you a quick way to turn off all wireless communications on your PC. Some examples of wireless communications are Wi-Fi, cellular, Bluetooth, and Near Field Communication (NFC).
Here are two ways you can turn airplane mode on or off:
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Select the Network, volume, or battery icon on the taskbar, then select Airplane mode.
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Go to Network & internet settings > Airplane mode, then select the toggle for On or Off.
Note: Airplane mode retains the settings you used last time. When you turn on airplane mode, Windows remembers if you had Wi-Fi or Bluetooth on last time and keeps that setting so your Wi-Fi or Bluetooth will be on again. If you want to return to the default settings with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off, turn them off while you're in airplane mode—they'll remain off next time you use airplane mode. They'll also stay off when you exit airplane mode.
Make a network public or private
When you first connect to a network in Windows 11, it’s set as public by default. This is the recommended setting. However, you can set it as public or private depending on the network and what you want to do:
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Public network (Recommended). Use this for networks you connect to at home, work, or in a public place. You should use this in most cases. Your PC will be hidden from other devices on the network. Therefore, you can’t use your PC for file and printer sharing.
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Private network. Your PC is discoverable to other devices on the network, and you can use your PC for file and printer sharing. You should know and trust the people and devices on the network.
To change a network to public or private
Tip: To quickly see details about the connected network, go to Network & internet settings, then select Properties near your connected network.
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Go to Network & internet settings, and then select the appropriate option:
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For Wi-Fi connection, select Wi-Fi, then select the Wi-Fi network you're connected to.
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For an Ethernet connection, select Ethernet.
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On the network screen, under Network profile type, select Public (Recommended) or Private.
Change TCP/IP Settings
TCP/IP defines how your PC communicates with other PCs. To make it easier to manage TCP/IP settings, we recommend using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). DHCP automatically assigns Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to the devices on your network if your network supports it. If you use DHCP, then you don't have to change your TCP/IP settings if you move your device to another location.
If you need to update your device's IP assignment, follow these steps:
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Go to Network & internet settings, then do one of the following:
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For a Wi-Fi network, select Wi-Fi > Manage known networks. Choose the network for which you want to change the settings.
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For an Ethernet network, select Ethernet, then select the Ethernet network you’re connected to.
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Next to IP assignment, select Edit.
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Under Edit IP settings, select Automatic (DHCP) or Manual.
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When you select Automatic (DHCP), the IP address settings and DNS server address setting are set automatically by your router or other access point (recommended).
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When you select Manual, you can manually set your IP address settings and DNS server address.
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Under Edit IP settings, choose Manual, then turn on IPv4.
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To specify an IP address, in the IP address, Subnet mask, and Gateway boxes, type the IP address settings.
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To specify a DNS server address, in the Preferred DNS and Alternate DNS boxes, type the addresses of the primary and secondary DNS servers.
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To specify if you want to use an encrypted (DNS over HTTPS) or unencrypted connection to the DNS server or servers you specify, for DNS over HTTPS, choose the setting you want:
Note: DNS over HTTPS setting is not available in Windows 10.
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Off: All DNS queries will be sent to the DNS server unencrypted in plaintext over HTTP.
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On (automatic template): DNS queries will be encrypted and sent to the DNS server over HTTPS. DNS queries will use the default settings for the automatic template or try to discover them automatically.
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On (manual template): DNS queries will be encrypted and sent to the DNS server over HTTPS. They’ll use the settings you enter in the DNS over HTTPS template box.
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If you use DNS over HTTPS (automatic or manual template), turn Fallback to plaintext on or off:
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When it’s turned on, a DNS query will be sent unencrypted if it can’t be sent over HTTPS.
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When it’s turned off, a DNS query won’t be sent if it can’t be sent over HTTPS.
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When you’re done, select Save.
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Under Edit network IP settings or Edit IP settings, choose Manual, then turn on IPv6.
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To specify an IP address, in the IP address, Subnet prefix length, and Gateway boxes, type the IP address settings.
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To specify a DNS server address, in the Preferred DNS and Alternate DNS boxes, type the addresses of the primary and secondary DNS servers.
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To specify if you want to use an encrypted (DNS over HTTPS) or unencrypted connection to the DNS server or servers you specify, for DNS over HTTPS, choose the setting you want:
Note: DNS over HTTPS setting is not available in Windows 10.
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Off: All DNS queries will be sent to the DNS server unencrypted in plaintext over HTTP.
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On (automatic template): DNS queries will be encrypted and sent to the DNS server over HTTPS. DNS queries will use the default settings for the automatic template or try to discover them automatically.
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On (manual template): DNS queries will be encrypted and sent to the DNS server over HTTPS. They’ll use the settings you enter in the DNS over HTTPS template box.
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If you use DNS over HTTPS (automatic or manual template), turn Fallback to plaintext on or off:
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When it’s turned on, a DNS query will be sent unencrypted if it can’t be sent over HTTPS.
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When it’s turned off, a DNS query won’t be sent if it can’t be sent over HTTPS.
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When you’re done, select Save.
Note: To install IPv4, run Command Prompt as an administrator, type netsh interface ipv4 install, and then press Enter.
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