How to restart your winsock

Restarting Winsock on Windows

When troubleshooting network issues on Windows, one common step is to reset Winsock (Windows Sockets API). This can fix problems caused by corrupted network configuration, malware, or software conflicts. It can also be caused by ISPs that enforce content filtering or DPI (Deep Packet Inspection) that interacts badly with VPN/proxy drivers.

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⚠️ Before You Begin

• You need Administrator privileges.

• Resetting Winsock will remove all custom Layered Service Providers (LSPs). If you use VPN software, firewalls, or proxy clients, you may need to reinstall or reconfigure them afterward.

• Always consider restarting your computer after making changes.

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Step 1: Open Command Prompt as Administrator

1. Press Win + S, type cmd.

2. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

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Step 2: Reset Winsock

Run the following command:

netsh winsock reset

You should see output similar to:

Successfully reset the Winsock Catalog.
You must restart the computer in order to complete the reset.

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Step 3: Restart Your Computer

To apply the reset, restart your computer:

shutdown /r /t 0

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Step 4: (Optional) Reset TCP/IP Stack

If you continue having issues, also reset the TCP/IP stack:

netsh int ip reset

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Step 5: Verify

After reboot:

• Test connectivity with ping google.com.

• Use ipconfig /all to confirm network adapter settings.

• Confirm that applications relying on network sockets (e.g., browsers, chat tools) are working properly.

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Quick Reference

Action	Command
Reset Winsock	netsh winsock reset
Reset TCP/IP stack	netsh int ip reset
Restart immediately	shutdown /r /t 0
Verify adapter configuration	ipconfig /all
Test network connection	ping google.com

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When to Use

• After malware removal

• If network apps fail to connect

• If DNS or socket errors persist

• When VPN/proxy software breaks connectivity

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✅ That’s it! Winsock should now be reset and your network connection refreshed.