How to Turn Off IPv6 on Your Device

Why you might want to disable IPv6

IPv6 is the newer internet protocol that your device uses to connect to networks and websites. Most modern devices support both IPv6 and the older IPv4 protocol at the same time. Disabling IPv6 means your device will use only IPv4 to communicate on the network.

You might disable IPv6 if your router or network doesn't support it properly, if you're troubleshooting a connection problem, or if your workplace or school requires IPv4-only connections. Some people also disable it for privacy reasons, though this is less common. The process differs depending on whether you're using Windows, Mac, Linux, or a mobile device.

Key Takeaways

On Windows, you can disable IPv6 through Network Settings or by editing the Registry, depending on your version.
Mac users can turn off IPv6 in System Preferences by selecting "Link-local only" or "Off" for each network connection.
Linux users typically disable IPv6 by editing system configuration files like sysctl.conf or grub, which requires terminal access.
Mobile devices (iPhone, Android) don't offer a direct toggle for IPv6, but you can disable it on your router instead.
Disabling IPv6 rarely causes problems on home networks, but check with your IT department before doing this on a work network.

Disabling IPv6 on Windows 10 and Windows 11

The easiest method on Windows is through Settings. Open Settings, go to Network & Internet, then select your active connection (Ethernet or Wi-Fi). Scroll down to IP settings and look for "IPv6 address". If you see an address listed, your IPv6 is currently active. Unfortunately, Windows doesn't offer a simple on-off toggle in the Settings app itself.

To actually disable IPv6 on Windows, you'll need to use the Registry Editor. Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip6\Parameters. Find or create a DWORD value called DisabledComponents and set it to 0xffffffff (which is 4294967295 in decimal). Restart your computer for the change to take effect.

If you're not comfortable editing the Registry, you can also disable IPv6 through Device Manager. Right-click your network adapter, select Properties, uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6), and click OK. This method is simpler but may not fully disable IPv6 on all network connections.

Disabling IPv6 on Mac

On Mac, open System Preferences (or System Settings on newer versions) and go to Network. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) from the list on the left, then click Advanced. Click the TCP/IP tab at the top.

You'll see a dropdown menu for "Configure IPv6". The options are "Automatic", "Link-local only", and "Off". Select Off to completely disable IPv6, or Link-local only if you want to keep IPv6 for local network communication but disable it for internet traffic. Click OK, then Apply to save your changes.

If you have multiple network connections (Wi-Fi and Ethernet, for example), you'll need to repeat this process for each one. The setting applies only to the connection you're currently editing.

Disabling IPv6 on Linux

Linux users have several options depending on their distribution. The most common method is to edit the sysctl.conf file. Open a terminal and type sudo nano /etc/sysctl.conf. Add these two lines at the end of the file:

net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6 = 1 net.ipv6.conf.default.disable_ipv6 = 1

Save the file (Ctrl+O, then Enter, then Ctrl+X), then run sudo sysctl -p to apply the changes immediately. You can verify IPv6 is disabled by running ip addr and checking that no IPv6 addresses are listed.

On systems using GRUB bootloader, you can also add ipv6.disable=1 to the kernel parameters. Edit /etc/default/grub, find the line starting with GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX, and add ipv6.disable=1 inside the quotes. Then run sudo update-grub and restart your computer.

Disabling IPv6 on your router instead

If you want to disable IPv6 for all devices on your network at once, you can turn it off in your router settings instead of on individual devices. This is especially useful for phones and tablets, which don't have straightforward IPv6 toggles.

Log into your router's admin panel (usually by typing 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into a web browser). Look for settings labeled "IPv6", "Internet Protocol", or "WAN Settings". The exact location varies by router manufacturer. You should see an option to enable or disable IPv6 — select disable. Save your changes and restart the router if prompted.

Disabling IPv6 on the router affects all connected devices, so you won't need to change settings on individual computers or phones. However, if you later need IPv6 for a specific device, you'll have to re-enable it on the router.

What to expect after disabling IPv6

After you disable IPv6, your device will continue to work normally for most tasks. Websites, email, video streaming, and other internet services rely primarily on IPv4, so you won't notice a difference in everyday use. Your device will simply use IPv4 for all network communication instead of trying to use both protocols.

In rare cases, a website or service might be IPv6-only, meaning it won't load if IPv6 is disabled. This is uncommon but possible. If you encounter a site that won't load after disabling IPv6, you can re-enable it and try again. Most services maintain IPv4 support specifically to avoid this problem.

If you disabled IPv6 to fix a connection problem and the problem persists, re-enable IPv6 and investigate other causes. IPv6 issues are rarely the root cause of network problems on home networks.

When not to disable IPv6

If you're on a work or school network, check with your IT department before disabling IPv6. Some organizations rely on IPv6 for security, network management, or specific services. Disabling it without permission could cause problems or violate network policies.

Similarly, if you're using a VPN or other security software, disabling IPv6 might interfere with how it works. Some VPNs use IPv6 for part of their connection, and disabling it could create security gaps or cause the VPN to malfunction. Test your VPN after making changes to confirm it still works as expected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling IPv6 make my internet slower?

No. IPv6 and IPv4 perform similarly in terms of speed. Your internet will work the same way on IPv4 alone. If you were experiencing slow speeds before disabling IPv6, the problem was likely something else.

Can I disable IPv6 on just one website or app?

No. IPv6 is a network-level setting that applies to all your internet traffic. You can't disable it for one website while keeping it for others. If a specific app or website has problems with IPv6, disabling it network-wide is the only option.

How do I re-enable IPv6 if I change my mind?

On Windows, set DisabledComponents back to 0 in the Registry. On Mac, change the IPv6 setting back to "Automatic". On Linux, remove the lines you added to sysctl.conf or remove ipv6.disable=1 from your GRUB settings. Restart your device after making changes.

Will my IP address change if I disable IPv6?

Your IPv4 address might change, but this is unrelated to disabling IPv6. Your ISP assigns IPv4 addresses dynamically, and they can change at any time. Disabling IPv6 doesn't affect how your IPv4 address is assigned.

Is it safe to disable IPv6?

Yes, it's safe on home networks. IPv6 is designed to eventually replace IPv4, but IPv4 still works fine for all common uses. The only risk is if a service you rely on requires IPv6, in which case you'd simply re-enable it.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.