Netsh is an MS-DOS command that enables users to change network settings. For example. users may switch their network device from a dynamic address to a static address or changing the IP address.

Availability

Netsh is an external command accessed through C:\Winnt\System32 directory and is available for the following Microsoft operating systems as netsh.exe.

  • Availability

  • Netsh syntax

  • Netsh examples

  • Windows 2000

  • Windows XP

  • Windows Vista

  • Windows 7

  • Windows 8

  • Windows 10

  • Windows 11

Netsh syntax

Windows Vista and later syntax

netsh [-a AliasFile] [-c Context] [-r RemoteMachine] [-u [DomainName]UserName] [-p Password | *] [Command | -f ScriptFile]

The following commands are available:

  • Windows Vista and later syntax.
  • Windows XP and earlier syntax.

Windows XP and earlier syntax

netsh [-a AliasFile] [-c Context] [-r RemoteMachine] [Command | -f ScriptFile]

Available commands after you have entered the netsh command (typing netsh at the prompt and pressing Enter).

Netsh examples

netsh

Enter the netsh command.

netsh dump

Dump all the network information as a script to the screen. Can also be sent to a file by doing netsh dump > file.txt at the prompt. This script can then be executed using the exec command.

set address name=“Local Area Connection” source=dhcp

Set the “Local Area Connection” to DHCP.

set address local static 10.0.0.9 255.0.0.0 10.0.0.1 1

Set the local address to static address.

netsh interface ip show config

View network IP configuration. Below is an example of what may be seen.

Configuration for interface “Local Area Connection” DHCP enabled: Yes InterfaceMetric: 1 DNS servers configured through DHCP WINS servers configured through DHCP

  • See our network definition for further information and related links on this term.