Command reference

ipconfig /all

Use ipconfig /all to display the full TCP/IP configuration for Windows network adapters and interpret IPv4, DHCP, default gateway, DNS server, lease, and adapter details.

Syntax

ipconfig /all

Purpose: Displays the full TCP/IP configuration for all Windows network adapters so you can inspect addressing, DHCP, gateway, DNS, and adapter details before changing network settings.
Administrator: No — displaying the configuration is read-only and does not require an elevated terminal.
Risk: Read-only, but the output can reveal local IP addresses, physical (MAC) addresses, DNS suffixes, host information, DHCP details, and other network identifiers. Review and redact output before posting it publicly.
Windows support: Windows 11 and Windows 10

When to use it

Checking whether the active adapter received a usable IPv4 address, default gateway, and DNS servers
Determining whether an adapter is using DHCP and reviewing its lease information
Comparing network configuration before and after a router, adapter, VPN, DNS, or DHCP change

When not to use it

You need to prove that the gateway, DNS server, internet, or another host is reachable
You need to measure packet loss, latency, or connection speed
You intend to post the complete output publicly without reviewing network identifiers

Steps

Open Windows Terminal or Command Prompt. Administrator rights are not required just to display the configuration.
Run ipconfig /all and identify the adapter that corresponds to the connection you are troubleshooting, such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Ignore disconnected adapters unless they are relevant to the problem.
Read the active adapter fields together: IPv4 Address, Subnet Mask, DHCP Enabled, Default Gateway, DNS Servers, and, when DHCP is enabled, lease information. Use those values as diagnostic evidence rather than changing settings immediately.

Expected result

Windows displays the full TCP/IP configuration for its adapters. The useful result is not a single success message: identify the adapter actually carrying the connection and verify that its addressing, gateway, DNS, and DHCP information make sense for that network.

What ipconfig /all does

Microsoft documents /all as displaying the full TCP/IP configuration for all adapters. This makes it a useful first diagnostic command when you need to see how Windows is currently configured before resetting or changing anything.

The shorter ipconfig command shows basic addressing information. Adding /all exposes substantially more adapter and TCP/IP details, which helps distinguish an addressing problem from a later connectivity or DNS problem.

How to find the adapter that matters

A Windows PC can show several adapters: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, VPN software, virtual-machine networking, Bluetooth-related interfaces, tunnels, and disconnected hardware. Start with the adapter that matches the connection being tested rather than assuming the first block is the active path.

A disconnected adapter can legitimately report that its media is disconnected. That does not by itself mean the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection is broken.

How to read the important fields

Read several fields together instead of treating one value as a diagnosis. The IPv4 address and subnet mask describe the local IPv4 configuration. Default Gateway identifies the configured route normally used to reach networks beyond the local subnet. DNS Servers identifies the resolvers configured for name lookups.

DHCP Enabled tells you whether the adapter is configured for dynamic addressing. Microsoft specifically documents that DHCP Enabled: Yes indicates dynamic addressing, while No indicates a static IP configuration. On DHCP-configured adapters, lease information helps show when the current configuration was obtained and when the lease is due to expire.

Note: The exact values that are correct depend on the network. Do not replace an unfamiliar gateway, DNS server, or address merely because it differs from an online example.

What a 169.254 IPv4 address can tell you

Microsoft notes that ipconfig is useful for determining configuration supplied by DHCP, Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA), or alternate configuration. A 169.254.x.x IPv4 address commonly indicates automatic private addressing rather than a normal DHCP lease.

Treat that result as evidence about address assignment, not as proof that the network adapter itself has failed. Check the physical or Wi-Fi link and the availability of DHCP before changing unrelated DNS settings.

Use ipconfig /all for DNS troubleshooting

When investigating name-resolution problems, first confirm that the active adapter has a valid address, subnet mask, and default gateway, then inspect the DNS servers shown by ipconfig /all. Microsoft DNS troubleshooting guidance uses this command to verify those client settings.

The command only tells you which DNS servers are configured. It does not prove those servers are reachable or returning correct answers. If the IP configuration is valid, continue with a targeted DNS or connectivity test rather than repeatedly running ipconfig /all.

What ipconfig /all cannot test

ipconfig /all is a configuration report, not a reachability test. It does not send traffic to the default gateway, test a website, measure packet loss, or prove internet access.

Use the information it reveals to choose the next test. For example, a valid-looking gateway can be tested separately, while a DNS-specific symptom can be compared using hostname and IP-based tests. This diagnose-first sequence avoids unnecessary network resets.

Before sharing ipconfig /all output

Review the output before posting screenshots or copying the complete result into a public forum. It can contain physical addresses, local addressing, DNS suffixes, host and adapter information, and other details that are useful for troubleshooting but unnecessary for a public post.

Share only the fields needed for the diagnosis when possible. Redacting unrelated identifiers does not reduce the usefulness of IPv4, gateway, DNS, and DHCP evidence for most basic troubleshooting.

DISM RestoreHealth FAQ

What does ipconfig /all show?

It displays the full TCP/IP configuration for all Windows network adapters. The output can include addresses, subnet information, default gateways, DNS servers, DHCP status, physical addresses, and lease-related details.

Do I need to run ipconfig /all as administrator?

No. Displaying the current configuration is read-only, so an ordinary Terminal or Command Prompt is sufficient.

Why does ipconfig /all show so many adapters?

Windows can have physical and logical adapters created by Wi-Fi, Ethernet, VPN software, virtualization, tunnels, and other networking components. Focus on the adapter that corresponds to the connection you are actually troubleshooting.

Does ipconfig /all test my internet connection?

No. It reports configuration. A valid-looking IP address, gateway, and DNS configuration does not prove that the gateway, DNS server, or internet is reachable.

What does DHCP Enabled mean in ipconfig /all?

Microsoft documents DHCP Enabled: Yes as indicating that the adapter uses dynamic IP addressing. DHCP Enabled: No indicates static IP addressing.

Limitations

ipconfig /all reports configuration; it does not establish that a gateway, DNS server, website, or internet service is reachable. Use an appropriate connectivity test after reading the configuration.
Windows can list physical, virtual, VPN, tunnel, and disconnected adapters. The presence of an adapter in the output does not mean ordinary traffic is using it.