How to See Active Network Connections (Windows)

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Get a full list of your computer's network connections

Co-authored by Eric McClure

Last Updated: June 9, 2024 Fact Checked

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Checking Internet Connectivity Fast

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Using Windows 11

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Using Windows 10

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Using the Command Prompt

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Video

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Q&A

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Tips

On Windows 10 and 11, you can see your network connections in the Settings app, or by clicking the Wi-Fi or network icon on the taskbar. We’ll cover this in-depth and also show you how to use the netstat command to view information about active network connections so you can figure out if you have an internet connection or server problem.

Viewing Network Connections

In Windows 11, type “settings” into the search bar, click "Settings," and then click "Network & Internet."
In Windows 10 and earlier, open Settings from the Start menu, then open the "Network & Sharing Center" to view your connections.
You can also check your network connections and traffic by typing “netstat -a” in the command prompt.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Checking Internet Connectivity Fast

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1
Click the WiFi logo
or globe
on the taskbar. On every version of Windows, the network connectivity is displayed on the taskbar. Click the little radio signal logo (WiFi) or globe (ethernet).
- This will not show you all of the network connections on your computer, but it will show you if you have an active internet network connection.
2
Locate your current network connection at the top. Windows will display the name of the network, the strength of the connection, whether the internet is active, and whether you’re on a secured network or not.
- Below your network, there may be a list of more networks if you’re looking for a specific connection.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Accessing Network Connections in Windows 11

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1
Open Windows Settings
. Press the Start menu and click on the little gear icon in the bottom left to open the settings.^{[1]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

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- If you don’t see a gear icon, you can also just type “settings” into the search bar and click it when it pops up in the results.
You can now see the status of your network connection and the name of any internet networks you’re connected to.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Accessing the Network and Sharing Menu in Windows 10

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If the Settings are pinned to your start menu, click it. Otherwise, type “settings” into the menu’s search bar and click Settings.
The Network and Sharing Center is a feature of Windows 10 where you can find the status of your network, the type of connection you have, if you can connect to other computers other than your own, and if you are connected to your network or the internet.^{[2]
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This should correspond to your connection type. For example, "Ethernet" will be paired with an ethernet cable "plug" and a wireless network connection will be paired with five bars.^{[3]
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This will prompt a window to display the details of your network connection.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Netstat at the Command Prompt (Windows 10 and 11)

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1
Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. You can use the netstat command on any version of Windows (including older versions like Windows 7 and 8.1) to view your network connections, network status, connected hosts, and other helpful details. You'll need to use an administrator-level command prompt to use the command effectively. To open the command prompt as an administrator:
- Press the Windows key (or click the Start menu) and type cmd.
- Right-click "Command Prompt" and select Run as administrator.
- Click Yes when prompted.
This command will show you a list of your current TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) connections and ports, physical computer names listed for local addresses, and hostnames for remote addresses. It will also tell you the state of the port (waiting, established, etc.)^{[4]
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This command will show you the same list as netstat -a, but it will also show you which programs are using the connections/ports.^{[5]
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This command will show you the same list of connections and ports but with numerical IP addresses instead of hostnames.^{[6]
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to see the different netstat command. This command will provide you with additional options for using netstat.^{[7]
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Community Q&A

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Question

Why isn't my computer shown in the network group?

Community Answer

Your computer is probably not set to work with the networking group then. You need to re-configure that correctly.

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How do I get access on other websites using my active network connections?

Community Answer

If you have the proper credentials, use an ssh-connection, if this port is open on the website you would like to access.

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Tips

Experiment - many UNIX commands are available (i.e., "netstat" mentioned above) in Windows. Use your favorite search engine to look them up.

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On Linux, use "ip –s," "ss," or "ip route" instead of the netstat command.

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