Your PC needs a way to communicate with other devices, and that’s where TCP/IP can help. It makes sure data moves smoothly across the network, whether you’re browsing the web or sharing files. This guide explores how to configure TCP/IP settings in Windows, as well as troubleshooting common TCP/IP issues.
1. Checking Current TCP/IP Settings
Before you configure your TCP/IP settings in Windows, it’s a good idea to check what they are currently. The easiest way is through the Network and Internet settings panel, where you can see all the details in a clean, visual format. Go to Network & Internet -> Network and Sharing Center. Choose “Wi-Fi” if you’re connected wirelessly or “Ethernet” if using a wired connection.
Click on your Internet connection to view IP settings, then click Details to see the network connection details.
However, if you need more detailed information, go straight to the command line and run:
ipconfig /allThis command returns the IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and more details in just a few seconds.
2. Configuring TCP/IP Settings Using Control Panel
TCP/IP settings can be configured dynamically or statically. Dynamic configuration uses DHCP to automatically assign an IP address, which makes network management easier. Static configuration requires manually setting an IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS servers.
To configure TCP/IP settings, open Network and internet, and select the network type.
Navigate to Manage Known Networks.
Choose a network.
Click on Edit next to IP assignment to edit network IP settings.
Select the Automatic (DHCP) or Manual in IP assignment settings, and click to configure the settings automatically or manually.
If you select Automatic (DHCP) settings, Windows will automatically assign an IP address and other network details from the DHCP server. However, if you select Manual, you will need to enter the IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS settings yourself.
First, enable IPv4 or IPv6, based on your requirements:
Provide details like IP address, subnet prefix length, gateway, preferred DNS, and alternate DNS in their respective fields.
You can also enable DNS over HTTPS (DoH) for secure DNS requests and choose between automatic or manual.
When using DNS over HTTPS (DoH), you can choose to enable or disable Fallback to plaintext. If enabled, DNS requests will be sent without encryption when HTTPS is unavailable. If disabled, DNS requests will not be sent at all if HTTPS is unavailable, ensuring no unencrypted queries are transmitted.
Finally, save the changes.
3. Configuring TCP/IP Settings Using CMD
The Command Prompt (CMD) provides a powerful way to configure TCP/IP settings without relying on the graphical interface, giving you full control over your network configuration. You can use the netsh command to set a static IP, enable DHCP, or adjust DNS settings.
To set a static IP address using the command line, open Command Prompt or PowerShell as administrator, and type:
netsh interface ip set address "<InterfaceName>" static <IPAddress> <SubnetMask> <Gateway>
netsh interface ip set dns "<InterfaceName>" static <DNSServer>Replace <InterfaceName> with your network adapter name (e.g., “Ethernet” or “Wi-Fi”), <IPAddress> with the desired static IP, <SubnetMask> with the correct subnet mask, <Gateway> with your default gateway, and <DNSServer> with the preferred DNS server.
To configure TCP/IP settings dynamically, type:
netsh interface ip set address "<InterfaceName>" dhcp
netsh interface ip set dns "<InterfaceName>" dhcpReplace <InterfaceName> with the network adapter name (e.g., “Ethernet” or “Wi-Fi”). This will enable DHCP for both the IP address and DNS settings, allowing the system to obtain them automatically.
4. Troubleshooting and Fixing TCP/IP Common Issues
If you’re facing network issues, troubleshooting TCP/IP settings can help restore connectivity. You can use tools like ipconfig and netsh to efficiently diagnose and fix problems.
Start by checking your configuration with ipconfig /all to verify the IP settings. If the connection is unstable, reset the TCP/IP stack using the command:
netsh int ip resetThe output confirms that the netsh int ip reset command successfully reset various network components, including TCP/IP settings, network interfaces, IP addresses, routing, and neighbor caches.
For DHCP-related issues, release and renew your IP address with the commands:
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renewIf DNS problems arise, clear the cache using the command:
ipconfig /flushdns
For persistent issues, consider manually reconfiguring IP settings or updating network drivers.
Whether you’re using DHCP for automatic setup or a static IP for more control, you have the tools to manage your network with ease and configure your TCP/IP settings.
In some cases, resetting network settings may be necessary to resolve persistent connectivity issues. This practice restores default configurations, clears corrupted settings, and reinitializes network adapters. However, this process also erases saved Wi-Fi networks, paired Bluetooth devices, VPN settings, and custom network configurations, requiring you to set them up again manually.
Image credit: Grok. All screenshots by Anees Asghar.
