25 Windows Network Commands

25 Windows Network Commands

Windows provides a rich set of command-line tools for network management, diagnostics, and troubleshooting. These commands are valuable not only for IT professionals and administrators but also for home users who want to resolve connectivity issues or learn more about how their system communicates with the network. Below is a comprehensive list of 25 essential and advanced Windows network commands, including some lesser-known ones.

1. ipconfig

Displays IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway.

• ipconfig /all → detailed network info.

• ipconfig /release and /renew → refresh IP.

• ipconfig /flushdns → clear DNS cache.

2. ping

Tests connectivity to a host.

• ping google.com → check availability.

3. tracert

Shows the route data takes to reach a host, hop by hop.

4. pathping

Combines ping and tracert, showing packet loss at each hop.

5. netstat

Displays active connections and ports.

• netstat -ano → includes process IDs.

6. nslookup

Queries DNS to resolve domain names.

7. arp

Shows the ARP table (IP ↔ MAC mappings).

• arp -a → displays entries.

8. netsh

Advanced network configuration tool.

• netsh wlan show profiles → list saved Wi-Fi networks.

9. getmac

Displays MAC addresses of network adapters.

10. telnet

Tests connections on specific ports (if enabled).

11. ftp

Transfers files via FTP.

12. net use

Maps network drives and printers.

13. net user

Manages local or domain user accounts.

14. net view

Lists shared resources in the network.

15. net config

Displays or changes network service settings.

16. route

Shows and edits routing tables.

• route print → current routes.

17. tasklist / taskkill

Manages processes, useful with netstat.

18. sc

Controls Windows services (start, stop, configure).

19. wmic nic

Displays adapter details.

• wmic nic get name, macaddress → quick overview.

20. PowerShell Test-NetConnection

Modern version of ping and tracert.

21. nbtstat

Displays NetBIOS over TCP/IP statistics.

• nbtstat -n → shows NetBIOS names.

• Useful for troubleshooting name resolution issues in LANs.

22. whoami

Shows current username and domain info. Useful when checking permissions in network environments.

23. hostname

Displays the computer’s hostname. Often needed when identifying a system in a network.

24. PowerShell Get-NetIPConfiguration

A modern cmdlet providing IP configuration details similar to ipconfig, but with more structured output.

25. PowerShell Get-NetTCPConnection

Shows current TCP connections, similar to netstat, but with enhanced filtering and formatting options.

Conclusion
From basic connectivity checks with ping to advanced PowerShell cmdlets like Get-NetIPConfiguration, Windows offers a broad toolkit for diagnosing and managing networks. Learning these 25 commands ensures you can troubleshoot nearly any connectivity issue, monitor traffic, and manage network resources more effectively.