Category: Network & internet

Resetting network apdaters in Windows

Resetting network apdaters in Windows 11 removes your network adapters and installs them again, with networking components returned to their defaults. It is a good last step when the internet keeps dropping or an adapter misbehaves and simpler fixes have not helped. The reset starts from one page in Settings.

In Settings, select Network & internet, then Advanced network settings, then Network reset, and confirm.
After the reset, your PC restarts and you must reconnect to your networks, so keep your Wi-Fi password at hand.
If only one adapter is the problem, you can turn it off and on again from Manage Network Adapter settings instead of resetting everything.

Finding your app-wise data usage in Windows

Finding your app-wise data usage in Windows 11 takes only a few clicks in Settings. The data usage overview shows how much data your apps have used, so you can spot which ones consume the most. This helps if you are on a limited data plan or a metered connection.

Open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Data usage overview to see data usage by app.
You can also open ms-settings:network-advancedsettings directly to reach the same page.
The same Data usage overview entry is where you work with a data plan or limit.

Fixing Ethernet connection issues

Fixing Ethernet connection issues in Windows 11 usually starts with the hardware: the cable, the router port, and a restart of your modem and router. If the wired connection still fails, you can check its status in Settings, run a few network commands, and reinstall the network adapter driver.

Reseat the cable and restart the modem and router, then open Settings > Network & internet > Ethernet > Ethernet settings to check the connection.
If the connection still fails, run the network commands in an administrator command window, in the order given below.
Reinstall the Ethernet adapter driver next, and use a network reset only as the last resort.

Tags Ethernet

What’s my IP address

What’s my IP address? On Windows 11, you can read it in Settings, in the details of the network you’re connected to, where it is listed as the IPv4 address. The steps below cover a wired connection, and a separate section covers wireless networks.

Open Settings > Network & internet > Ethernet, select your connected network, and read the IPv4 address.
The address you see is the one your PC uses on your local network, and a router usually assigns it automatically.
On a wireless connection, the same details appear on the page for your wireless network in the same section.

Tags Ethernet, Wi-Fi

Network adapter driver Windows 11

A network adapter driver in Windows 11 is the software that lets your PC talk to its network hardware, such as the wired Ethernet port. Windows installs recommended drivers on its own, while optional driver updates have to be chosen by hand. This article shows how to get a missing or outdated network adapter driver and how to check the result.

Install the driver from the optional updates in the update settings of Settings, then restart your PC.
To check the result, open Settings > Network & internet > Ethernet and look at Ethernet settings.
Optional drivers are never installed automatically, so you must select them yourself.

Tags Ethernet, Windows Update

Use your PC as a mobile hotspot Windows 11

To use your PC as a mobile hotspot in Windows 11, configure your network settings to share an existing internet connection with nearby devices over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Windows allows you to broadcast internet access from an active Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or cellular connection so phones, tablets, and other computers can get online. You can manage access with a custom network name and password or provide a quick QR code for clients to scan.

In Settings, go to Network & internet > Mobile hotspot and turn on Turn on mobile hotspot to share internet with other devices.
To stop sharing, switch off the same toggle or click the mobile hotspot tile in the taskbar Quick Settings panel.
You can share Ethernet, cellular data, or Wi-Fi, and connecting devices can join using your password or a QR code.

Tags Mobile hotspot