ipconfig.exe is Windows’ built-in command-line utility for viewing and refreshing TCP/IP settings. Run ipconfig to see each network adapter’s IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, subnet mask, and default gateway; use its switches to inspect the complete configuration, clear the DNS resolver cache, register DNS names, or release and renew DHCP addresses.
This guide explains what every commonly useful switch does, when to use it, how to target one adapter, and what the results mean when you are diagnosing a connection. The commands apply to supported Windows client and server editions and do not require installing another networking utility.
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What ipconfig.exe does
Microsoft defines ipconfig as a command that displays current TCP/IP network configuration values and refreshes Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Domain Name System (DNS) settings. It reports information maintained by Windows for physical and logical network adapters, such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, virtual adapters, and other interfaces.
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ipconfig is most effective when an adapter obtains its address automatically through DHCP. The release and renew operations ask the DHCP service for a new configuration; they are not a general replacement for changing a statically assigned address.
Where it is available and how to open it
ipconfig is included with supported Windows environments. Microsoft’s current documentation lists Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows Server 2025, Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, and Azure Local 2311.2 and later.
Open Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell, type a command, and press Enter. The executable accepts the same syntax in either shell. To see the built-in syntax and switch list on your own installation, run:
ipconfig /?Most viewing and cache commands can be tried directly. If Windows reports that an operation cannot be completed, reopen the shell with the permissions requested by Windows and repeat the command.
Basic command: see your current addresses
Run ipconfig
ipconfigThe output is grouped by adapter. For each one, look for:
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- IPv4 Address: the address used for IPv4 communication on that adapter.
- IPv6 Address: an IPv6 address when IPv6 is configured and active.
- Subnet Mask: the IPv4 boundary that separates the local network from other destinations.
- Default Gateway: the local router or next-hop address Windows uses for off-network traffic.
To find the address another program or person needs, first identify the adapter that is actually connected. A disconnected Ethernet adapter, a disabled Wi-Fi adapter, or a virtual interface can also appear in the listing, so do not assume the first block is the active connection.
Get the complete configuration with /all
Run ipconfig /all
ipconfig /all/all prints the full TCP/IP configuration for every adapter instead of the short summary. It is the best starting point when the basic output does not explain a problem. Compare the active adapter’s settings with the behavior you expect: whether an address is present, whether DHCP is being used, and which gateway and DNS-related details Windows has recorded.
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Inspect and clear the DNS resolver cache
Display cached records with /displaydns
ipconfig /displaydns/displaydns shows entries currently held by the Windows DNS Client resolver cache. The display can include hosts-file entries and records resolved recently. This is useful when a name resolves to an unexpected address or when you want to confirm whether Windows has a cached answer before testing again.
Flush the cache with /flushdns
ipconfig /flushdns/flushdns clears and resets the resolver cache. Use it after correcting a stale or incorrect name-resolution result, changing a hosts-file entry, or moving a service whose DNS record has changed. Flushing does not change the DNS servers configured on the adapter and does not renew the network address; it only removes locally cached resolver data. After the command completes, retry the application or website so Windows can perform a fresh lookup.
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Release and renew DHCP configuration
Renew an IPv4 lease
- Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
- Release the current DHCP IPv4 configuration for all adapters:
ipconfig /release- Ask DHCP for a new IPv4 configuration:
ipconfig /renewUse the pair when an automatically configured adapter has lost a usable address, received a configuration that no longer works on the current network, or needs to obtain a lease again after a network change. Releasing first temporarily removes the IPv4 configuration, so an interruption while the commands run is expected.
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Renew only one adapter
You can append an adapter name to target one interface instead of every adapter:
ipconfig /release "Wi-Fi"
ipconfig /renew "Wi-Fi"Replace Wi-Fi with the exact name shown in your ipconfig output. If the name contains spaces, enclose it in quotation marks. Microsoft also documents asterisk wildcards in adapter names, so patterns such as Local* or *Con* can match the intended interface without typing its complete name.
Use the IPv6 DHCP switches
ipconfig /release6
ipconfig /renew6/release6 and /renew6 perform the corresponding DHCPv6 operations for automatically configured IPv6 adapters. Keep the address family in mind when troubleshooting: renewing IPv4 does not renew a DHCPv6 configuration, and renewing IPv6 does not obtain an IPv4 lease.
Register DNS names without restarting
Run /registerdns
ipconfig /registerdnsThis switch manually initiates dynamic registration of the configured DNS names and IP addresses without requiring a reboot. It is aimed at environments that use dynamic DNS registration. Allow the registration attempt to complete, then inspect the adapter’s configuration again if you need to verify the local values.
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Choose the switch by the problem layer
Select the command that matches the part of networking you are testing rather than running every switch at random.
| Question or symptom | Command | What it examines or changes |
|---|---|---|
| What address, mask, and gateway does each adapter have? | ipconfig |
Quick current IPv4 and IPv6 configuration view |
| What is the complete configuration for every interface? | ipconfig /all |
Full TCP/IP details for physical and logical adapters |
| What names and addresses are cached locally? | ipconfig /displaydns |
DNS Client resolver cache, including hosts-file entries and recently resolved records |
| Could a stale local DNS answer be causing the problem? | ipconfig /flushdns |
Clears and resets the DNS resolver cache |
| Does the adapter need a fresh automatically assigned IPv4 configuration? | ipconfig /release, then ipconfig /renew |
Releases and renews DHCP IPv4 configuration |
| Does the adapter need a fresh automatically assigned IPv6 configuration? | ipconfig /release6, then ipconfig /renew6 |
Releases and renews DHCPv6 configuration |
| Should configured DNS names and addresses be registered again? | ipconfig /registerdns |
Starts dynamic DNS registration without a reboot |
A practical troubleshooting sequence
1. Establish what Windows currently has
Start with ipconfig. Identify the adapter you believe is in use and note its IPv4 or IPv6 address, subnet mask, and default gateway. If the summary is ambiguous, run ipconfig /all and use the complete adapter block.
2. Separate address-assignment problems from DNS problems
An absent or unsuitable address or gateway points toward address assignment or the local network. In that case, use the appropriate release and renew pair for the address family, preferably targeting the affected adapter. If addresses look correct but a hostname behaves incorrectly, inspect the cache with /displaydns and flush it with /flushdns before testing again.
3. Re-register when dynamic DNS is part of the network
If the environment expects Windows to register its current names and addresses dynamically, run /registerdns. This initiates registration without restarting the computer, which is useful after an address or network change.
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Run ipconfig or ipconfig /all again and compare the adapter values with the state you intended to obtain. A renewed lease should be assessed by its resulting address and gateway, not merely by the fact that the command accepted your input.
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Common mistakes and limits
Expecting /flushdns to fix every connection failure
Flushing affects the local DNS cache only. It cannot repair a missing DHCP address, a disabled adapter, a broken physical connection, or a remote DNS service that is unavailable. Use the command when the evidence points to stale local name-resolution data.
Renewing a statically configured adapter
Release and renew are designed for DHCP-assigned configuration. If an administrator entered the address manually, those switches are not the right way to change it; inspect the complete configuration and use the network’s approved method for static settings.
Renewing the wrong interface
Modern Windows installations may list several virtual, tunnel, wireless, wired, or disconnected adapters. Target a named adapter when possible, and quote names containing spaces. Wildcards can help select a consistent name pattern, but verify the matching adapter before releasing a lease.
Confusing IPv4 and IPv6 operations
The unqualified release and renew switches concern DHCP IPv4. Use /release6 and /renew6 for DHCPv6. A successful operation in one address family does not prove that the other family is configured or working.
Is ipconfig.exe safe?
ipconfig is a built-in Windows networking utility, not an additional download. Its display switches only report configuration or cache contents. The release, renew, flush, and registration switches do alter the local networking state in their specific ways, so use them deliberately when a connection is active. A release can temporarily remove an adapter’s DHCP address until renewal succeeds, while flushing DNS removes cached answers that applications may otherwise reuse.
Because output can reveal internal addresses, gateway details, adapter names, and cached hostnames, treat copied output as diagnostic information rather than harmless text. Remove sensitive values before posting it in a public forum.
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Key takeaways
- Use
ipconfigfor a fast view of IPv4, IPv6, subnet-mask, and gateway values. - Use
/allwhen you need complete details for every physical and logical adapter. - Use
/displaydnsand/flushdnsfor local DNS-cache questions. - Use the release and renew pairs for DHCP IPv4 or DHCPv6 address-assignment problems, selecting a named adapter when necessary.
- Use
/registerdnsto initiate dynamic DNS registration without rebooting.
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