To use netsh, open Command Prompt as Administrator and type netsh to enter the netsh shell or run commands directly like netsh interface ip show config. 2. For IP configuration, set a static IP with netsh interface ip set address "Ethernet" static 192.168.1.100 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1, switch to DHCP using netsh interface ip set address "Ethernet" dhcp, and configure DNS with netsh interface ip set dns "Ethernet" static 8.8.8.8 or set it to automatic with dhcp. 3. To reset network components, use netsh int ip reset C:\resetlog.txt to reset TCP/IP stack and netsh winsock reset to clear Winsock catalog, followed by a system restart. 4. Manage Wi-Fi networks using netsh wlan: show available networks with netsh wlan show networks, list saved profiles with netsh wlan show profiles, view a Wi-Fi password via netsh wlan show profile name="YourWiFiName" key=clear, export a profile with netsh wlan export profile name="YourWiFiName" folder=C:\, and delete a profile using netsh wlan delete profile name="OldNetwork". 5. Control Windows Firewall with netsh advfirewall: disable it using netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state off (not recommended), enable it with netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state on, and allow a program through firewall by adding a rule such as netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Allow Chrome" dir=in program="C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" action=allow. 6. For remote configuration, run netsh -r \\RemotePC -u AdminUser -p Password interface ip show config, though PowerShell with WinRM is now preferred. Always run Command Prompt as Administrator, verify interface names using netsh interface show interface, back up configurations using netsh dump > C:\backup_network.cfg, restore them with netsh exec C:\backup_network.cfg, and use resets cautiously.

The netsh command in Windows is a powerful built-in tool that lets you configure, monitor, and troubleshoot network settings from the command line—either locally or remotely. Whether you're resetting network components, changing IP addresses, or diagnosing connectivity issues, netsh can handle it all. Here’s how to use it effectively for common network configuration tasks.

1. Accessing and Navigating netsh

To use netsh, open Command Prompt as an administrator:

1. Press Win X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin).
2. Type netsh and press Enter.

This drops you into the netsh> prompt, where you can navigate different contexts like interface, wlan, firewall, etc.

You can also run commands directly without entering the netsh shell:

netsh interface ip show config

Use ? or help at any time to see available commands.

2. Configuring IP Addresses (DHCP or Static)

One of the most common uses of netsh is managing IP configurations.

Set a Static IP Address

Replace the values with your network settings:

netsh interface ip set address "Ethernet" static 192.168.1.100 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1

• "Ethernet": Name of your network interface (use netsh interface show interface to list them).
• static: Indicates static IP assignment.
• IP, subnet mask, and gateway follow.

Set IP to Use DHCP

To revert to automatic IP assignment:

netsh interface ip set address "Ethernet" dhcp

Set DNS Servers

Set DNS to automatic (via DHCP):

netsh interface ip set dns "Ethernet" dhcp

Set a manual DNS server (e.g., Google DNS):

netsh interface ip set dns "Ethernet" static 8.8.8.8

Add a secondary DNS:

netsh interface ip add dns "Ethernet" 8.8.4.4 index=2

3. Resetting Network Components

If you're having network issues, resetting TCP/IP stack or Winsock can help.

Reset TCP/IP Stack

netsh int ip reset C:\resetlog.txt

This resets the IP configuration to default and logs actions to the specified file.

Reset Winsock

netsh winsock reset

This clears Winsock catalog to fix connectivity issues, especially after malware or misconfigurations.

?? Note: You’ll need to restart your computer after running these reset commands.

4. Managing Wireless Networks (Wi-Fi)

netsh wlan lets you view, export, and manage Wi-Fi profiles.

Show Available Wi-Fi Networks

netsh wlan show networks

List Saved Wi-Fi Profiles

netsh wlan show profiles

Show Password for a Wi-Fi Network

netsh wlan show profile name="YourWiFiName" key=clear

Look for the Key Content field under Security settings to see the password.

Export a Wi-Fi Profile

Useful for backing up or transferring Wi-Fi settings:

netsh wlan export profile name="YourWiFiName" folder=C:\

This saves an .xml file you can import on another machine.

Delete a Wi-Fi Profile

netsh wlan delete profile name="OldNetwork"

5. Firewall Management

You can control Windows Firewall using netsh advfirewall.

Turn Off Firewall (Not Recommended)

netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state off

Turn On Firewall

netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state on

Allow a Program Through Firewall

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Allow Chrome" dir=in program="C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" action=allow

6. Remote Configuration (Advanced)

You can run netsh commands on a remote machine if you have admin access:

netsh -r \\RemotePC -u AdminUser -p Password interface ip show config

Note: This method is older; PowerShell with WinRM is now preferred for remote management.

Tips and Best Practices

• Always run Command Prompt as Administrator for configuration changes.

• Double-check interface names using netsh interface show interface.

• Use netsh dump to export current network configuration to a script:

  netsh dump > C:\backup_network.cfg

  You can later reapply it with:

  netsh exec C:\backup_network.cfg

• Be cautious with resets—only use them when necessary.

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Basically, netsh is a versatile tool that gives you deep control over Windows networking. While newer tools like PowerShell (NetTCPIP, NetAdapter) are replacing some functions, netsh remains widely used—especially in scripts and troubleshooting scenarios.

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