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 /releaseand/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.
