Network Troubleshooting 101: The Most Useful Windows Commands You Should Know

Whether you're supporting remote teams, configuring devices through SCCM, or dealing with on-site network issues, your command line is more powerful than most people realize.

A well-timed command can fix a DNS issue, reset a broken connection, or pinpoint the exact cause of lag, all before the problem gets escalated. This guide breaks down the essential Windows network commands every IT support professional (or power user) should know and use.

IP Configuration Commands

These help you understand what’s happening with your IP address and reset things when needed.

• ipconfig
  Shows your basic IP address and network setup (use this first to see where things stand).

• ipconfig /all
  Provides a full view of your IP configuration, including DNS servers, MAC address, DHCP status, and more.

• ipconfig /release & ipconfig /renew
  Release your current IP address and request a new one from the DHCP server. Great for resolving IP conflicts.

• ipconfig /flushdns
  Clears your DNS cache. Useful when DNS changes aren’t reflecting or if you’re having issues with unreachable websites.

Connectivity & Routing Checks

These commands help you test whether the problem is with your machine, the network, or something further down the line.

• ping [IP or domain]
  Sends packets to test connectivity to a device or website. Use this to check basic reachability and packet loss.

• tracert [IP or domain]
  Traces the route from your computer to the destination, hop by hop. Great for spotting where delays or drop-offs are occurring.

• nslookup [domain]
  Looks up DNS records for a domain. Use it to verify if a domain resolves correctly or to test DNS server functionality.

Connection Diagnostics

Useful for inspecting what’s happening on your local network and verifying existing connections.

• netstat -an
  Displays all active connections and listening ports. Helps detect unusual traffic or confirm whether a port is open.

• arp -a
  Shows the ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) table mapping IP addresses to MAC addresses on your local network.

• getmac
  Displays the MAC address of your network adapter. Sometimes necessary when setting access rules or identifying devices.

• hostname
  Shows your device name useful in remote support or when working in a domain environment.

Network Resource & Service Management

Managing shared folders and services becomes easier with these commands:

• net use
  Connects (or views connections) to shared folders or network drives. Example: net use X: \\server\sharedfolder

• net share
  Lists all shared folders on your system. Good for checking what you're exposing to others.

• net start / net stop
  Starts or stops a Windows service. Use this to quickly restart networking services like DHCP Client or DNS Client.

• netsh
  A powerful tool to view or change almost any network configuration setting. Use with caution, it can do a lot.

Pro Tip: Why These Matter

Knowing these commands can help you solve:

• DNS resolution failures

• IP address conflicts

• Slow or dropped connections

• Latency and routing problems

• Misconfigured network adapters

• Broken shared folder connections

…before they turn into help desk escalations or user frustration.