--- title: "Netsh Winsock Reset Command (In 2021) : A Complete Guide" description: "Perform a Winsock Reset with the netsh winsock reset command and TCP/IP reset with the netsh int ip reset command to fix common network problems!" canonical: "https://adamtheautomator.com/netsh-winsock-reset/" --- # Netsh Winsock Reset Command (In 2021) : A Complete Guide > Perform a Winsock Reset with the netsh winsock reset command and TCP/IP reset with the netsh int ip reset command to fix common network problems! Source: https://adamtheautomator.com/netsh-winsock-reset/ --- ATA Learning Tap to hide [ ATA Learning ](/) * [Home](/) * [Tutorials](/tutorials/) * [Instructors](/author/) * [Advertising](/advertising/) * [Recommended Resources](/resources/) * [About Adam](/about-adam/) Search for: * [](https://twitter.com/adbertram) * [](https://github.com/Adam-the-Automator) * [](https://www.linkedin.com/company/adam-the-automator-llc) * [](/feed/) ![Netsh Winsock Reset Command (In 2021) : A Complete Guide](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/How-and-Why-to-Use-the-Netsh-Winsock-Reset-Command-In-2021.jpg) # Netsh Winsock Reset Command (In 2021) : A Complete Guide [![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/75fa5f572fb085a46bfff406309882e0848db4770557901e8de897b3f7d05a7a?s=192&d=mm&r=g)Nick Rimmer](https://adamtheautomator.com/author/nick/)4 March 20214 min. read Categories: [IT Ops](/category/it-ops/) Tags:[Windows 10](/tag/windows-10/)[windows server](/tag/windows-server/) Table of Contents * [Prerequisites](#h-prerequisites) * [What is Winsock?](#h-what-is-winsock) * [Why “Resetting” Winsock is Necessary](#h-why-resetting-winsock-is-necessary) * [How to Reset Winsock with netsh winsock reset](#h-how-to-reset-winsock-with-netsh-winsock-reset) * [Reset TCP/IP Settings with netsh int ip reset](#h-reset-tcp-ip-settings-with-netsh-int-ip-reset) * [Further Reading & Next Steps](#h-further-reading-next-steps) Are you having Windows network connectivity issues with software such as email clients and web browsers? Sometimes, these issues stem from a corrupt network configuration. The `netsh winsock reset` command will set important network settings to their defaults, often fixing these network problems! In this article, you will learn how to reset the Winsock catalog which is a database of network settings, where incorrect configurations and malware affect your network connectivity. Read on to learn practical tips on fixing your network connection and what this cryptic Winsock term is all about! ## Prerequisites This article will be a tutorial. If you plan on following along step-by-step, use [_any supported version of Windows_](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/?terms=Windows) along with local administrative rights. ## What is Winsock? Based on the [_Berkeley UNIX Sockets_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley_sockets) interface, [_Winsock is an application programming interface_](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/winsock/windows-sockets-start-page-2) (API) that orchestrates different network protocols communication between applications, such as a web browser, and actual network devices. Included below is a great diagram to demonstrate where exactly the Winsock `wsock32.dll` library sits in the Windows networking stack. ![Winsock Flowchart](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Untitled-2021-02-28T071407.302.png) Winsock Flowchart Besides acting as an API, Winsock stores its settings in a database known as the [_Winsock catalog_](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2008-R2-and-2008/cc753591\(v=ws.10\)?redirectedfrom=MSDN). In Windows 10 the catalog stores both [_namespace providers_](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/winsock/name-space-service-providers-2), providing a map between Winsock and a service such as DNS, and base service providers which provides detail on network protocols, such as TCP/IP. ## Why “Resetting” Winsock is Necessary Sometimes the Winsock catalog contains incorrect entries or becomes corrupt. Performing a Winsock reset via the `netsh winsock reset` in the Windows command prompt will set the Winsock catalog and associated registry settings to their defaults. The relevant registry settings are located in the below path. ```powershell HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9 ``` Why would you want to perform Winsock reset after all? * Malware or adware that uses Winsock to get in between the user and the internet. * A network device is incorrectly installed or removed. * Registry or file system issues corrupt the Winsock catalog. > _A real-life example of Winsock malware is [HackTool.Win32.Proxifier.A](https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/threat-encyclopedia/malware/HackTool.Win32.Proxifier.A/), from the [Trend Micro Threat Encyclopedia](https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/threat-encyclopedia/). Don’t worry, this won’t download any malware!_ Prior to Windows Server 2012 and Windows Vista, incorrect settings and malware often existed as _[Layered Service Providers (LSP)](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/winsock/categorizing-layered-service-providers-and-applications)_ in the Winsock catalog, as described in further detail later in the article. In recent versions of Windows, LSPs were deprecated with functionality moved into the _[Windows filtering platform](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/fwp/windows-filtering-platform-start-page)._ Winsock problems do not crop up as often anymore, but they still can! Learn to fix incorrectly installed network devices or corrupted Winsock catalogs by reading on. ## How to Reset Winsock with `netsh winsock reset` Resetting Winsock is best done through the Windows command-line tool `[_netsh_](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2008-r2-and-2008/cc753591\(v=ws.10\))`. The `netsh` command displays and modifies the running computer’s network configuration, along with resetting the Winsock catalog. When performing any Winsock change, you should first save a before and after snapshot of the changed settings, as shown in the below steps. 1. Open a **Command Prompt** as an administrator. 2\. Copy and run the command shown below to save the results of the Winsock catalog to the file _C:\\winsock-before.txt_ prior to resetting the Winsock catalog. > _The command below assumes you are in the C:\\ directory, otherwise the file will save to the directory your command prompt is currently in._ ```powershell netsh winsock show catalog > winsock-before.txt ``` An example of the saved Winsock catalog is shown below. Yours will look similar to this, reflecting your network devices and entries. ![Saved Winsock Catalog entry file](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Untitled-2021-02-28T072227.029.png) Saved Winsock Catalog entry file 3\. Next, reset the Winsock catalog by running the following command. ```powershell netsh winsock reset ``` ![Reset the Winsock catalog via the netsh winsock reset command. ](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Untitled-2021-02-28T072330.930.png) Reset the Winsock catalog via the `netsh winsock reset` command. > U_pon performing the reset command, the `Protocol_Catalog9` registry entry is saved to: `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog_Before_Reset`. These entries are binary encoded, so it is much easier to read in plaintext._ 4\. Now take another snapshot of the Winsock Catalog again to document the changes just made. ```powershell netsh winsock show catalog > winsock-after.txt ``` 5\. Restart the computer to complete the network reset. Not all network issues can be solved using the `netsh winsock reset` command, and in those cases, the `netsh int ip reset` command comes in handy! Read on to learn when and where to use this command. ## Reset TCP/IP Settings with `netsh int ip reset` The Winsock catalog is not the only set of network settings that can cause problems. As mentioned earlier, malware and incorrect settings often existed as Winsock LSPs, which are not as prevalent anymore due to their deprecation in newer versions of Windows. More commonly, network issues exist with [_TCP/IP_](https://www.thegeekstuff.com/2011/11/tcp-ip-fundamentals/) configurations. If you have any of the following network problems, then read on to learn how to reset your TCP/IP settings. * [_DNS lookup issues_](https://www.solarwindsmsp.com/blog/troubleshooting-dns-issues), provided that DNS is configured correctly. * DHCP IP address assignment problems, perhaps `[ipconfig](https://adamtheautomator.com/ipconfig-commands/) /renew` is not working correctly. Related:[Ipconfig Commands You Need to Know](https://adamtheautomator.com/ipconfig-commands/) * Limited or no connectivity in your web browser or email client. In the same local administrator command-prompt, follow the below steps to reset your TCP/IP settings. 1. Before resetting your IP settings, run the following command to see a snapshot of your current IP settings. In case the reset fails, it is helpful to have a record of your prior network settings. ```powershell ipconfig /all ``` ![Output from ipconfig /all](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Untitled-2021-02-28T072730.541.png) Output from ipconfig /all 2\. Run the following command in the command prompt to reset your IP settings. ```powershell netsh int ip reset ``` > _To save the output of the reset command, redirect the output to a file using a command such as: `netsh int ip reset > log.txt`._ When you reset the TCP/IP settings using the `netsh int ip reset` command, the following registry settings are overwritten. ```powershell SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\DHCP\Parameters ``` ![Output from netsh int ip reset](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Untitled-2021-02-28T072957.497.png) Output from netsh int ip reset 3\. Verify your network settings with the `ipconfig /all` command again, such as IP addresses, default gateways, and DNS settings. ## Further Reading & Next Steps Networking is a complicated topic with many potential issues, but two additional resources that may help are linked below. * **_[Fix Wi-Fi connection issues in Windows](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/10741/windows-10-fix-network-connection-issues)_** * [**_Fix network connection issues in Windows 10_**](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/fix-network-connection-issues-in-windows-10-166a28c4-14c1-bdb1-473c-09c1571455d8) Although not all networking issues may be resolved by performing a `netsh winsock reset` or `netsh int ip reset` command, both commands provide a great starting point! 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