Have you ever met with a situation where the Internet Connection stops working but the computer shows you are connected with the internet? If yes, then you are facing an error ‘missing network protocols’ and this appears when the Windows socket registry is missing from the system. The error message arrives on the screen when you click on the diagnose button and the result will show one or more network protocols are missing on this computer.
What does “One or more network protocols are missing” error mean?
Network Protocols missing is an error that occurs mainly due to corrupt Windows Sockets registry entries required for network connectivity. Windows Network Diagnostics reports this error when these Windows Socket registry entries are missing or corrupt. Whenever your system fails to connect to the internet, and you click on the Diagnose button then this Network Protocols missing error arises.
Your browser will not be able to connect to a webpage even after pinging the destination. Error in Windows Sockets API may be the primary reason behind this issue. Both the incoming and outgoing network requests could be affected by this issue. Sometimes the network issue at the service provider end can be a suspect to this error. To check the issue at the service provider end you can the network connectivity on other devices. If other devices are working fine then you can suspect the error in your system and proceed for the steps to fix the error.
Errors Common to One or More Network Protocols are Missing
Due to Windows Sockets registry, you can face any of the error messages on your computer screen such as:
- Network Protocols Missing error.
- Network Protocols Missing wifi.
- Could not add the requested feature.
- One or More Network Protocols are Missing on this computer.
- One or More Network Protocols are Missing on this computer wifi.
- Windows Sockets registry entries required for network connectivity are missing.
- Restore Network Protocols to Default Settings for the internet connection to work again.
How to fix Missing Network Protocols Windows 10 error?
If a network protocol is missing on your computer then you will not be able to share any files or data between your network computers or even unable to access the Internet. To fix this error just follow these solutions one by one until you haven’t find the suitable one depending on your system situation:
Use Network Troubleshooter
Network Troubleshooter is a unique feature in Windows 10. By using this feature many configuration errors can be resolved easily. To use this feature follow these steps:
- Open Settings and then go to the Updates & Security section.
- Click on Troubleshoot option.
- Now the troubleshooting wizard will start and ask for the problem to troubleshoot.
- Select internet Connections and one or more network protocols are missing on this computer and then Run the troubleshooter.
- Now follow the on-screen instructions to fix the error.
- Once the process is finished, restart your PC and check for the error.
Disable Internet Protocol version 6
IPv6 is next to IPv4 and it is specially designed and developed to provide support to the IPv4 addresses. Most of the users get their issue ‘missing network protocol Windows 10’ resolved by disabling IPv6. The process is simple and the steps are provided below.
- Click on the ‘Start’ button, type Control Panel in the search bar and then press the ‘Enter’ key.
- A new window will open and here you need to select the ‘Network and Internet’ section.
- In the ‘Network and Internet’ page, you will find the ‘Network and Sharing Center’ section, click on it.
- The above step will direct you to the new page that will fetch the network information and at the left end of the page, you will find additional options, click on ‘Change adapter settings’.
- A new pop-up window will appear which will show the list of networks and you need to select the one which you access.
- After selecting the connected network, right-click on it and then choose ‘Properties’ from the featured list.
- Soon, a new pop-up window will appear on the screen and here you will have to uncheck the box which states ‘Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)’.
- After completing the task, restart your computer.
Restore Network Protocol Settings to Default
Try to reset the Network Protocol settings to default and hopefully the error will be resolved. To do so follow these steps:
- Open Command Prompt as administrator.
- Now type the following commands one by one and press Enter.
netsh int ip set dns
netsh winsock reset
- Now close the command prompt and check for the error.
Modify System Registry- Winsock
Microsoft excellently built the Windows OS and gave the power to the users to change the system registry for the smooth performance of the PC. The prime reason behind the error’ missing network protocol Windows 10’ is the corrupt Winsock registry and to fix the same you need to delete such registry file and then import the fresh one from the other PC. But before performing the task, make sure to take a copy of the Winsock registry file from the other computer which is working properly. Now follow the process to fix the issue.
- Hover your mouse to the ‘Start’ menu, right-click on it and then choose ‘Run’ option from the list. You can also open the Run Box directly by pressing Win+R keys together.
- In the Run box, type ‘regedit’ and then click on the ‘OK’ button.
- In the registry editor page, you will get My computer icon and clicking on the arrow key will give you additional options.
- Here, you need to go inside the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE >> SYSTEM >> CurrentControlSet >> Services and then double click on the arrow button to reach the destination point.
- Below the services folder, you will get multiple sub-folders of registry files and your job is to find the Winsock If you get those registry files, right-click on it and then click on the ‘Delete’ icon.
- Also, repeat the above process to delete Winsock 2 files.
- Now close the registry editor page and then restart your computer.
- After restarting the computer, open the registry editor again and reach to the ‘Services’ section as done earlier. The path will be ‘HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services’.
- After reaching the destination point’ you need to click on the ‘File’ tab located at the top of the page and then select the ‘Import’ option from the drop-down list.
- Soon, you will be asked to upload the file and your job is to select the path where you have copied the fresh Winsock registry files.
- After completing the above task, close the Registry Editor page.
- Now open the command box and for that click on the ‘Start’ button, type ‘CMD’ in the search bar but don’t press the ‘Enter’ key as you need to run the command prompt in the administration mode, so select the ‘CMD’ from the search result and then right-click on it to choose an option ‘Run as administrator’.
- If you want to open the Command Prompt directly, press Win+X+A keys together.
- In the command box, type ‘netsh winsock reset’ and then press the ‘Enter’ key.
- Now check whether the error ‘missing network protocol Windows 10’ persists or not.
Restart your Network Adaptor
If there is any minor bug in your Network adaptor then it may not pick up the protocols. So a simple restart to network adaptors may fix this error. Follow these steps:
- Press Windows+R key to open the Run box and type ncpa.cpl and press OK.
- A list of Network Adaptors will be there. Right-click on your Network Adaptor and choose to Disable.
- Once again right-click on the same Network Adaptor and choose Enable.
- This will restart your Network Adaptor and now check for the error.
Turn off NetBIOS over TCP/IP feature
NetBIOS is a feature that enables the applications to connect from one computer to another via the Local Area Network. If you disable the same, then it will help you to get rid of an error ‘missing network protocols’. The comprehensive procedure is listed below.
- Open ‘Control Panel’ and for that type Control Panel in the search bar followed by pressing the Start button. You can also press Win+X keys together to see the list.
- In the Control Panel page, you will find a way to change the computer settings, click on the ‘Network and Internet’ section.
- After reaching the ‘Network and Internet’ page, you will get a few options, click on the ‘Network and Sharing Center’.
- On the next page, you will find your internet connection and at the left end of the page, you will get an option ‘change adapter settings’ click on it.
- Now select your internet connection, right-click on it and further click on ‘Properties’.
- Soon, you will find a pop-up window on your screen, select ‘Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and then click on ‘Properties’.
- Thereafter, another pop-up window will open and you need to click on the ‘Advanced’ tab located at the bottom of the page.
- The above step will direct you to the ‘TCP/IP’ setting page, click on ‘WINS’ tab located at the top of the page. You need to move to the ‘NetBIOS settings’ section and then click on ‘Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP’ followed by the OK button.
- After completing the above task, click on the ‘OK’ button.
Turn off Manual Proxy Settings
- Click on the ‘Start’ button and further click on the ‘Settings’ icon.
- In the Windows settings page, you will get a bunch of options to make changes in your PC, move to the ‘Network and Internet’ section.
- Soon, you will get the Network settings and additional options at the left end of the page, click on ‘Proxy’ located at the bottom of the page.
- Move to the ‘Manual Proxy setup’ section and then turn the radio button of ‘Use a proxy server’ in off mode.
Update Network Adapter
- Move to the ‘Start’ menu, right-click on it and then choose ‘Device Manager’. You can press Win+X+M keys at a time to open Device Manager directly.
- In the Device Manager page, you will get access to make changes in the driver settings, select ‘Network adapter’ and then double click on ‘Network adapter’ to get the driver list.
- After getting the list, select the one which you access and then right-click on it to choose ‘Update driver.
- Soon, you will get an option to perform the task ‘select Search automatically for updated driver software’.
- Now wait for a while and allow Windows to update the driver.
- After completing the above task, restart your computer.
Restore Network Components
- Open Command Prompt as administrator.
- Type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each command.
IPconfig /release
IPconfig /flushdns
IPconfig /renew
- Now your DNS has been flush and renewed and check for the error.
Import Winsock Keys from a working Computer
If nothing worked for then import Winsock keys from some another computer that is working properly. Before that, you need to keep in mind both computers should have the same version of Windows. Since it is a registry repair solution, it can create problems for the Windows registry so follow these steps carefully:
- Press Win+R keys together in the second PC which is in working condition. And then enter regedit.
- Once the Registry Editor panel opens, search for the following registry keys HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/CurrentControlSet/Services/Winsock
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/CurrentControlSet/Services/Winsock2
- Now click on Export option after clicking on the File tab in the menu.
- And then save the registry Winsock keys to a clean flash drive.
- Now come back to your Windows 10 PC having Network Protocol Missing error.
- Uninstall Network drivers and remove both the Winsock registry keys from Registry Editor.
- Now restart your Windows computer and insert that flash drive when it restarts.
- Go to Registry Editor again and go to the same location where you had those registry keys. If you find the registry keys again, delete them and import the Winsock registry keys from the USB and close the Registry Editor.
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the netsh winsock reset command.
- Restart your computer and check for the error.
Change internet router’s Wireless Mode to 802.11g
Almost all wireless routers are set to the 802.11b+g+n Wireless Mode by default. To fix this error you need to change the Wireless mode to 802.11g. To do so follow these steps:
- Log in to your wireless router’s administration and settings panel.
- Under the Settings, head to Wireless mode and Delete everything under the Wireless category.
- Now set your wireless router’s Mode to 802.11g.
- Save the changes and exit administration panel.
- Restart your computer and wireless router and check for the error.
Hard Reset your Wireless Router
If you are reading here means none of the above methods worked for you. There is still one more thing that you can try, and that is to hard reset your wireless router. By doing so all of your wireless router’s settings and preferences will revert to their default values. To hard reset your router follow these steps:
- Take a paperclip or a sim ejector pin.
- Look to the back of the router and locate the Reset button in a tiny hole with the term Reset written near there.
- Insert the paperclip or the pin into the Reset button and push it in. Press and hold the button for some 5 seconds. Doing this will reset your router.
- Now restart your router and then reconfigure it as per your choice.
Install Protocol
There are chances that the correct protocol hasn’t been installed for internet settings. To install the correct protocol for the computer follow these steps:
- Go to the System tray and right-click on the Wifi icon.
- Select Network and Internet Settings.
- Now click on the Change Adapter Option.
- Right-click on the connection that you are using and select Properties.
NOTE: If you are using the wifi then click on the Wifi option otherwise click on Ethernet option if you are using an ethernet connection.
- Click on the Client for Microsoft Networks option and select Install.
- In the next screen, choose the Reliable Multicast Protocol option and select to Add.
- After that, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
- Once it is installed then close all the windows and check for the error.
Disable your Antivirus
Some users reported that the Antivirus was the culprit behind this error and disabling antivirus had fixed the connectivity issues. Though, we don’t recommend to run a Windows 10 PC without any antivirus. Because it is not safe and your data could be at high risk. However, it is recommended that you should never download any file from the Internet if you have disabled the antivirus to fix this error. To disable the antivirus follow these steps:
- Double-click on your Antivirus icon to open it.
- Go to the Settings and Disable it from there.
- Restart your computer and check for the error.
- If you are facing the error again then reinstall the antivirus.
- Now disable network phishing feature from Settings.
Bottom Line
That’s it; these entire solutions will help you to get rid of a missing network protocol error. Let us know in the comment section which method worked for you? Wanna some more DeviceTricks? Stay tuned to this space to get the latest updates on errors related to Windows, macOS and Android.
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