Friday, August 17, 2012

How to Disable IPv6 in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1


IPv6 is the imminent next evolution of the Internet protocol, but it can cause problems with legacy equipment and DNS in certain environments. Disabling IPv6 is an easy way to fix certain network issues with Windows machines. If you're not experiencing problems, there's no reason to disable IPv6. Otherwise, it's easy to turn on and off by editing the Windows registry. Let's check it out.

Unfortunately, IPv6 isn't disabled by editing the properties of a network adapter. Simply unchecking the box doesn't work. A registry hack is needed (This also works with Window 7).


Using an account with local admin access...

Press the Windows Key and the R key at the same time


Type regedit in the Run dialog box and click OK


Use Registry Editor to expand the registry tree and browse to:

\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TCPIP6\Parameters


Right click on Parameters, expand New, and select DWORD (32-bit) Value


Enter DisabledComponents into the Name field


Double click on the new DisabledComponents value, enter ffffffff into the Value data dialog box, and click the OK button


Confirm the new registry value contains the required data. 


That's it. After restarting the computer, IPv6 will be disabled

Verify that IPv6 is disabled by running ipconfig /all from the command prompt. The output should only show IPv4 addresses and no 6to4 adapters.

IPv6 can be enabled by either deleting the DisabledComponents registry value or changing its data to 0.

35 comments:

  1. Didn't work for me. I tried the registry Hack...I had an ! next to Teredo tunneling...uninstalled and reinstalled...! is gone..but still no internet access except through the start menu with Win8 apps - like "trending" "sporting news", "S&P", etc. No browsers will work and the IPV6 DOES NOT have an internet address. Windows 8 isn't worth the $$ if I cant get online

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  2. This worked for me. Weird, since I had no problems with Internet yesterday and today I couldn't connect with my wired connection. No change in equipment; no updates since the last time it was working. Thanks!

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  3. Can anyone explain why unchecking the box IPv6 in the network adapter properties doesn't work? What it does at all? How can one properly disable IPv6 just for a certain adapter?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cepren, unchecking the IPv6 box in the network adapter properties unbinds IPv6 from the adapter. Unbinding IPv6 from an adapter can lead to unintended consequences. The DisabledComponents registry value disables IPv6 for the entire host. Disabling IPv6 in the registry does not change the checkbox in the adapter properties.

      There is no way to disable IPv6 for individual adapters, but you can disable it for all native adapters or all tunneling adapters by entering different values in the DisabledComponents registry value. You can also set it to prefer IPv4 over IPv6. See the following link for details.

      http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929852

      Delete
  4. When I try to rename the value, it gives me an error message saying "error while renaming value". How can I fix this?

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  5. Funciono para mi, Venezuela, Windonws 8 Asus Computadora portatil.. Gracias Supports de League of Leguends

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  6. Did this for windows 7.. worked our great!!

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  7. This worked one time after I rebooted and I am sleepless again. Any suggestions?

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  8. I can't create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value. It says "Cannot create value: Error writing to the registry."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You need to use an account in the local admins group.

      Delete
  9. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  10. this solution worked for me on windows 8 and windows 8.1 Preview, BUT i updated to windows 8.1 final and it stopped working, i try the same steps and it has no effect... curiosly, i try disabling it via windows ethernet settings (( ipv6 checkbox )) and it worked.

    conclusion: for me on windows 8.1 final i need to do registry tweak + ethernet ipv6 checkbox disabling.

    pD :: the reason i turned off ipv6 is because i am a web developer and apache server delays too much (( at least 2 seconds )) to respond, doing it the problem was gone.

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    Replies
    1. My experience has not matched yours. I've upgraded three Windows 8's to 8.1's and IPv6 remained disabled.

      I was just setting up a Surface Pro 2 with Windows 8.1 and this procedure works as expected.

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    2. you know, WINDOWS... xD

      Delete
  11. Is it right I'm editing DWORD 32-Bit as I'm on a 64-Bit machine? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DWORD means double word. A word is 16-bits so a DWORD is 32-bits. The DWORD value just defines what the data in the registry key is so it can be correctly parsed. A DWORD value can contain an unsigned integer between 0 and 4,294,967,295. The key being 32-bit has nothing to do with the bitness of the operating system.

      Delete
  12. Ok. Since downloading Windows 8.1 I've had "sleep" & Internet connection problems thru ethernet on 2 different routers AND slow wi-fi on 2 iPhones. After regeditting out iPv6 as per the advice above, I got back to normal yesterday!! But today the problem reappearred?! So, I've now followed iim.vkx's advice and also disabled iPv6 in Ethernet Properties. Fingers crossed!!

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  13. Does not work for me. I've tried this and the other basic fixes online, but my wireless connection remains terrible.

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  14. I got extra data shown in the folder namely EnablelCSIPv6 which has the value of 1. Is it normal or i have to get rid of it?

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  15. fixed my problem! thanks so much!

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  16. Many Thanks Jeff,
    Problem seems to be sorted.
    I have a Mac and i am running Parallels with win8pro, this was the 1st time it has happened to me. My computer was working fine for the last month and then an hour ago this ip thingy started,
    Your solution was one of the many i tried and it was concise and easy to follow.
    (although Macbooks don't have a windows key to type with, but if you go into the windows 8 search from the corners and type in regedit it will come up)
    Regards
    ian

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    Replies
    1. Ian, I'm glad to hear that this helped.

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    2. i am working to re enable this, and it is still not showing up under my command prompt after i deleted the registry value DisabledComponents.

      Delete
  17. I was having the same issue no airplay icon w/ windows 8. This solution worked perfectly for me as well. I first tried uninstalling and reinstalling iTunes 11 and then Norton and neither helped. Disabling IPv6 worked perfectly.

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  18. It worked for me .. sometime people may face this after installing SEP.

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  19. Do this function with LoL problems? That you are normally playing and then only I'm moving, minions doesn't appears.

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  20. Thank You so much! That's Great! :)

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  21. It worked great for me and I am on Win10. Thanks for the Help

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  22. before setting on windows 8.1, TOR browser was not working, after changed this setting TOR browser is working well. Thank you

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