Fix Windows sockets registry entries required for network connectivity are missing

If you’re facing the above error message, then this error’s main cause is because the Windows Sockets registry entries have got corrupted. Windows Sockets (Winsock) is a programming interface that manages incoming and outgoing network requests on Windows. You wouldn’t directly see this error message until you run the network troubleshooter, and you won’t be able to access the internet because of this error:

One or more network protocols are missing on this computer Windows Sockets registry entries required for network connectivity are missing.

Fix Windows sockets registry entries required for network connectivity are missing error

The main reason to run network troubleshooter is that you can’t get online or can’t access the internet. If the network requests aren’t processed properly, then the network won’t work at all. Anyway, without wasting any time let’s see How to Fix Windows sockets registry entries required for network connectivity are missing with the help of the below-listed troubleshooting guide.

Fix Windows sockets registry entries required for network connectivity are missing

Make sure to create a restore point just in case something goes wrong.

Method 1: Reset Winsock Components

1. Open Command Prompt. The user can perform this step by searching for ‘cmd’ and then press Enter.

Open Command Prompt. The user can perform this step by searching for ‘cmd’ and then press Enter.

2. Now type the following command and press Enter after each one:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /renew

ipconfig settings | Fix Windows sockets registry entries required for network connectivity are missing

3. Again, open Admin Command Prompt and type the following and hit enter after each one:

ipconfig /flushdns
nbtstat –r
netsh int ip reset
netsh winsock reset

resetting your TCP/IP and flushing your DNS.

4. Reboot to apply changes. Flushing DNS seems to Fix Windows sockets registry entries required for network connectivity are missing error.

Method 2: Run Network Troubleshooter

1. Press Windows Key + I to open Settings then click on Update & Security.

Press Windows Key + I to open Settings then click on Update & security icon

2. From the left-hand menu, select Troubleshoot.

3. Under Troubleshoot, click on Internet Connections and then click Run the troubleshooter.

Click on Internet Connections and then click Run the troubleshooter

4. Follow further on-screen instructions to run the troubleshooter.

5. Reboot your PC to save changes.

Method 3: Delete Winsock Registry Entry And Reinstall TCP/IP

1. Press Windows Key + R then type regedit and hit Enter to open Registry Editor.

Run command regedit

2. Navigate to the following Registry Key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2

3. Right-click on WinSock2 then selects Export. Browse to a safe location and then click Save.

Right-click on WinSock2 then select Export | Fix Windows sockets registry entries required for network connectivity are missing

Note: You have made a backup of the WinSock registry key, just in case something goes wrong.

4. Again right-click on WinSock2 registry key and select Delete.

Right-click on WinSock2 then select Delete

5. Now navigate to the following registry entry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock

6. Again perform the steps 3 to 4 on Winsock registry key.

7. Press Windows Key + R then type ncpa.cpl and hit Enter to open Network Connections.

ncpa.cpl to open wifi settings

8. Right-click on your Local Area Connection or Ethernet connection and select Properties.

Right-click on that network connection (WiFi) and select Properties

9. In the Properties window, click on the Install button.

Select items one by one under 'This connection uses the following items' and click Install

10. Then on the “Select Network Feature Type” window select Protocol and click Add.

On the 'Select Network Feature Type' window select Protocol and click Add

11. Now click on “Have Disk…” on Select Network Protocol window.

Click on Have Disk on the Select Network Protocol Window

12. On Install From Disk window, type the following in “Copy manufacturer’s files from” field and hit Enter:

C:\Windows\inf

In Copy manufacturer's files from field type Windows INF folder address

13. Finally, on the Select Network Protocol window, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) – Tunnels and click OK.

Select Internet Protocol (TCP IP) – Tunnels and click OK | Fix Windows sockets registry entries required for network connectivity are missing

14. Close everything and reboot your PC to save changes.

If you get the following error message while trying the above steps:

Could not add the requested feature. The error is: This program is blocked by group policy. For more information, contact your system administrator.

Fix Could not add the requested feature

1. Download Windows Socket registry entries and then import them into your Registry Editor:

Download WinSock Registry File
Download WinSock2 Registry File

2. Right-click on above download registry keys then selects Run as Administrator.

3. Click Yes to continue and then reboot your PC.

Click Yes to continue and then reboot your PC

4. Now follow the above steps once again to see if you can fix Windows sockets registry entries required for network connectivity are missing error.

Method 4: Use Google DNS

You can use Google’s DNS instead of the default DNS set by your Internet Service Provider or the network adapter manufacturer. This will ensure that the DNS your browser is using has nothing to do with the YouTube video not loading. To do so,

1. Right-click on the network (LAN) icon in the right end of the taskbar, and click on Open Network & Internet Settings.

Right-click on the Wi-Fi or Ethernet icon then select Open Network & Internet Settings

2. In the settings app that opens, click on Change adapter options in the right pane.

Click Change adapter options

3. Right-click on the network you want to configure, and click on Properties.

Right-click on your Network Connection and then click on Properties

4. Click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) in the list and then click on Properties.

Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCPIPv4) and again click on the Properties button

Also Read: Fix Your DNS Server might be unavailable error

5. Under the General tab, choose ‘Use the following DNS server addresses’ and put the following DNS addresses.

Preferred DNS Server: 8.8.8.8
Alternate DNS Server: 8.8.4.4

use the following DNS server addresses in IPv4 settings | Fix Windows sockets registry entries required for network connectivity are missing

6. Finally, click OK at the bottom of the window to save changes.

7. Reboot your PC and once the system restart, see if you’re able to Fix socket error occurred and Windows sockets registry entries required for network connectivity are missing error.

Method 5: Disable IPv6

1. Right-click on the WiFi icon on the system tray and then click on “Open Network and Sharing Center.

Right click on WiFi icon on system tray and then click on Right click on WiFi icon on system tray and then click on Open Network & Internet settings

2. Now click on your current connection to open Settings.

Note: If you can’t connect to your network, then use an Ethernet cable to connect and then follow this step.

3. Click the Properties button in the window that just open.

wifi connection properties

4. Make sure to uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IP).

uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP IPv6) | Fix Windows sockets registry entries required for network connectivity are missing

5. Click OK, then click Close. Reboot your PC to save changes.

Method 6: Disable Proxy

1. Press Windows Key + R then type inetcpl.cpl and hit enter to open Internet Properties.

inetcpl.cpl to open internet properties

2. Next, Go to Connections tab and select LAN settings.

Lan settings in internet properties window

3. Uncheck Use a Proxy Server for your LAN and make sure “Automatically detect settings” is checked.

Uncheck Use a Proxy Server for your LAN

4. Click Ok then Apply and reboot your PC.

Method 7: Reinstall Network Adapter Drivers

1. Press Windows Key + R then type devmgmt.msc and hit Enter.

devmgmt.msc device manager | Fix Windows sockets registry entries required for network connectivity are missing

2. Expand Network adapters then right-click on your WiFi adapter and select Uninstall.

uninstall network adapter

3. Again click Uninstall to confirm.

4. Now right-click on Network Adapters and select Scan for hardware changes.

Right-click on Network Adapters and select Scan for hardware changes

5. Reboot your PC and Windows will automatically install the default drivers.

Method 8: Restart your router

If your router is not configured properly, you may not be able to access the internet even though you’re connected to WiFi. You need to press the Refresh/Reset button on your router, or you can open the settings of your router locate the reset option in setting.

1. Turn off your WiFi router or modem, then unplug the power source from it.

2. Wait for 10-20 seconds and then again connect the power cable to the router.

Restart your WiFi router or modem

3. Switch on the router and again try to connect your device.

Method 9: Disable then Re-enable your Network Adapter

1. Press Windows Key + R then type ncpa.cpl and hit Enter.

ncpa.cpl to open wifi settings

2. Right-click on your wireless adapter and select Disable.

Right-click on your wireless adapter and select Disable

3. Again right-click on the same adapter and this time choose Enable.

Right-click on the same adapter and this time choose Enable | Fix Windows sockets registry entries required for network connectivity are missing

4. Restart your and again try to connect to your wireless network.

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That’s it, you successfully Fix Windows sockets registry entries required for network connectivity are missing error but if you still have any questions regarding this tutorial then feel free to ask them in the comment’s section.

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