← Back to docs
Tools - Network•Updated: November 23, 2024

ipconfig /all

Show full IP configuration with detailed network adapter information.

ipconfig /all

Command: ipconfig /all

Category: Network

Type: CMD

Purpose

Displays comprehensive configuration information for all network adapters, including IP addresses, subnet masks, default gateways, MAC addresses, DNS servers, DHCP settings, and more. Essential for in-depth network troubleshooting and documentation.

Quick Summary

See everything about your network configuration in one command. Get detailed information about every network adapter including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, VPN, and virtual adapters. Shows IP addresses, DNS servers, DHCP settings, MAC addresses, and connection-specific details. Perfect for troubleshooting network issues and documenting network configuration.

How to Use

  1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
  2. Type ipconfig /all and press Enter.
  3. View comprehensive network configuration for all adapters.

Common variations:

ipconfig               - Basic IP configuration
ipconfig /all          - Detailed configuration (full information)
ipconfig /all | more   - Page through output
ipconfig /all > network-config.txt  - Save to file

Tips and Best Practices

  • Output can be lengthy; use | more to page through or redirect to file.
  • Save configuration before making changes: ipconfig /all > before.txt
  • Compare configurations: save before and after changes, then use fc to compare.
  • Look for "DHCP Enabled" to determine if using static or dynamic IP.
  • Check "Default Gateway" to identify your router's IP address.
  • Note "Physical Address" (MAC address) for network documentation.
  • Review "DNS Servers" to verify name resolution configuration.

Understanding the Output

Example adapter section:

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : local
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) Ethernet Connection
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-11-22-33-44-55
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100(Preferred)
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, November 23, 2024 10:30:00 AM
   Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, November 24, 2024 10:30:00 AM
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
   DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
   DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
                                       8.8.8.8
   NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Key Information Explained

Adapter Information:

  • Description: Network adapter name and model
  • Physical Address: MAC address (hardware identifier)
  • Status: Media State shows if cable is connected

IP Configuration:

  • IPv4 Address: Your computer's IP address on the network
  • Subnet Mask: Defines your local network range
  • Default Gateway: Router or gateway for internet access
  • IPv6 Address: IPv6 address if enabled

DHCP Settings:

  • DHCP Enabled: Yes = automatic IP, No = static IP
  • Autoconfiguration Enabled: APIPA (169.254.x.x) fallback
  • Lease Obtained/Expires: When DHCP IP was assigned and expires
  • DHCP Server: IP of DHCP server providing configuration

DNS Configuration:

  • DNS Servers: Servers used for name resolution (order matters)
  • DNS Suffix Search List: Domains appended to hostname lookups

Other Settings:

  • NetBIOS over Tcpip: Legacy Windows networking protocol status
  • Connection-specific DNS Suffix: Local domain name

Common Use Cases

  • Network troubleshooting: Verify IP configuration when connectivity issues occur.
  • Documentation: Record network settings for IT asset management.
  • Before/after comparison: Document changes after network modifications.
  • DNS issues: Check which DNS servers are configured.
  • DHCP troubleshooting: Verify DHCP settings and lease information.
  • Multi-adapter systems: Identify which adapter has which configuration.
  • MAC address lookup: Find physical addresses for network filtering.

Prerequisites

  • Windows Command Prompt or PowerShell
  • No administrator rights required
  • Available on all Windows versions
  • Works offline (shows configuration even without connectivity)

Interpreting Special Cases

APIPA Address (169.254.x.x):

  • Self-assigned when DHCP fails
  • Indicates DHCP server unreachable
  • Only allows local network communication

Multiple Addresses:

  • One adapter can have multiple IPs
  • Common with IPv4 and IPv6 enabled
  • Or manually configured additional IPs

Virtual Adapters:

  • VPN connections create virtual adapters
  • Virtual machines create bridge adapters
  • Bluetooth and mobile hotspot create virtual adapters

Media Disconnected:

  • Cable unplugged (Ethernet)
  • Wi-Fi not connected
  • Adapter disabled

Troubleshooting

  • No Default Gateway - Can't reach internet; check router connection or DHCP server.
  • APIPA Address (169.254.x.x) - DHCP failed; check cable, router, or DHCP service.
  • No DNS Servers - Name resolution will fail; configure DNS manually or check DHCP.
  • Duplicate IP Address - Another device has same IP; renew DHCP lease or change static IP.
  • "Media disconnected" - Cable unplugged, Wi-Fi not connected, or adapter disabled.
  • Incorrect Subnet Mask - Network communication issues; verify against network requirements.

Common Network Commands

View basic configuration:

ipconfig

Release DHCP IP:

ipconfig /release

Renew DHCP IP:

ipconfig /renew

Flush DNS cache:

ipconfig /flushdns

Display DNS cache:

ipconfig /displaydns

Register DNS name:

ipconfig /registerdns

Full network reset sequence:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /renew

Saving and Comparing Configurations

Save current configuration:

ipconfig /all > config-current.txt

Save with timestamp:

ipconfig /all > config-%date:/=-%_%time::=-%.txt

Compare two configurations:

fc config-before.txt config-after.txt

PowerShell Alternative

Get detailed network configuration:

Get-NetIPConfiguration -Detailed
Get-NetAdapter
Get-NetIPAddress
Get-DnsClientServerAddress

Export to CSV:

Get-NetIPConfiguration | Export-Csv network-config.csv

Adapter Types You Might See

  • Ethernet adapter: Physical wired connection
  • Wireless LAN adapter: Wi-Fi connection
  • Bluetooth Network Connection: Bluetooth tethering
  • VPN adapter: VPN client connections
  • vEthernet: Hyper-V virtual switch
  • VMware/VirtualBox: Virtual machine networking
  • Loopback adapter: Software loopback (127.0.0.1)
  • Tunnel adapters: IPv6 transition technologies (6to4, Teredo, ISATAP)

Quick Reference

Find specific information:

ipconfig /all | findstr /C:"IPv4 Address"
ipconfig /all | findstr /C:"Default Gateway"
ipconfig /all | findstr /C:"DNS Servers"
ipconfig /all | findstr /C:"Physical Address"
  • ipconfig - Basic network configuration
  • ipconfig /release and /renew - Manage DHCP leases
  • ipconfig /flushdns - Clear DNS cache
  • netsh interface ip show config - Alternative detailed view
  • Get-NetIPConfiguration (PowerShell) - PowerShell equivalent
  • systeminfo - Includes network adapter information
  • getmac - Display MAC addresses of all adapters