How to Reset Winsock ? (Resetting Windows Socket)

Do you face problems accessing the Internet on any of the applications installed on your computer? For example, Google Chrome is not opening websites despite having a good Internet connection.

If so, I recommend you reset the WinSock to fix the issue.



Windows Socket is an Application Program Interface of the Windows Operating system through which applications interact with TCP/IP.

For example, the Google Chrome browser makes input and output requests for Internet services via Windows Socket.



So, any corruption in the WinSock settings will disturb Chrome's ability to communicate with the TCP/IP protocol suit. As a result, you will face problems accessing websites via the Chrome browser.

How do we fix network connectivity problems caused by a corrupted Windows Socket on a PC? The answer is simple; we will reset the Windows Socket.

That leads to the next question. How do we perform a Winsock reset?

We can reset the Windows Socket on a device by running a Command Prompt utility.



You can follow the same process for Windows 11 and Windows 10 devices. Let me explain the process step by step.

1. Right-Click on the Microsoft Start button and click Search.
   
   
2. Type Command Prompt on the Search box.
   
   
3. Click on Run as administrator.
   
   
   
   You cannot complete the process if the Command Prompt does not have administrative power. You will get an error message like the requested operation requires elevation.
   
   
4. Type netsh winsock reset on the Command Prompt and Press the Enter key.
   
   
   
   
5. Restart your computer to complete the process.

Winsock is essential for any application to access the Internet, but you do not need to install it with them. For example, if your web browser wants to go online, it can access it through Winsock only.





It doesn't mean the browser installation file must include this software interface. It will be loaded automatically in the form of a DLL file whenever the browser wants to go online.

It is important to note that the DLL file comes with different versions.



You must make sure that your PC has the correct version.

1. Fix the issue 169.254.X.X On a computer
   
   
2. No Reply from Global DNS
   
   
3. Ping Error Code 2
   
   
4. Ping Transmit Failed
   

You have learned how to reset Winsock on the latest Windows Operating Systems like Windows 11 and 10.

However, many people still use Windows 7, 8, etc. So, let us check the steps to reset the Windows socket for Older Windows versions.

1. Click on Start
   
   
2. Run Command Prompt as Administrator: To reset Windows Socket, you need to run the command prompt runs as administrator. To do this, right-click the Command Prompt icon and select Run as administrator. To learn more about this, click on the link below.
   You Don't have Administrative Rights to Run the Command.
   
   
3. Type netsh winsock reset and press enter
   
   
   
4. Restart the computer

Just like we reset Windows Socket from the command prompt, we can do the same for other Windows services/ applications. Follow the link below to learn to configure WINS from the command prompt.
How to Configure Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) from Command Prompt

1. How to Solve TTL Expired in Transit
2. Asianet Dataline Cable Broadband Modem WiFi Connectivity
3. Resolve Windows Automatic IP Address

Another network error you may receive while sharing files over a network can be fixed by a simple DOS Prompt command. To learn this, follow the link below.
An Error Occurred While Trying to Share. The Server Service Not Started

1. Important Network Commands
2. Steps to Reset Winsock On Your Computer
3. Ping Request Could Not Find Host

Like the Winsock error, another possible error that may prevent you from accessing websites is a DNS error.

1. PING: Transmit failed. General Failure
2. How to Configure Idea 3G on Android Phone
3. How to Test Local Network For Connectivity Issues

If the DNS settings configured in your computer is not correct, it can cause the domain to have IP resolution issues.

1. How to Enable Disabled Adapter
2. Destination host unreachable
3. What is the Destination Net Unreachable - Error

To fix this issue, click on the link below.
Ping Request Could Not Find Host. Please Check the Name and Try Again

1. Can Ping Global DNS Server IP Address But Unable To Open URL
2. Error 769: The Specified Destination is not Reachable
3. The Requested Operation Requires Elevation

Winsock is a standard interface between TCP/IP and the network applications installed. If the Windows Socket (Winsock) corrupts, you may face issues with network applications installed on your computer.

In the worst-case scenario, your computer may not be able to access the Internet. To fix these network issues, you need to reset Winsock. Winsock can be corrupted by the improper installation of any software or by malware infection.

It is a supporting article for many of our network troubleshooting guides that include "Winsock reset" as one of the troubleshooting steps.