How to fix IPv4 properties not working in Windows 10, 8, 8.1, 7?

Since the release or launch of Windows 8, we can say that Microsoft has struggled to release versions of its operating system without bugs that often disturb internet connectivity or disrupt it. In this guide, we will be focusing on a specific line of the problem—issues that have something to do with IPv4.

From the reports we have seen, we can confidently state that most people are experiencing one of the following strains of the problem below:

• Some users cannot change or alter IPv4 settings no matter how much they try or how they go about the process.
• A select group cannot open the Properties window where the settings, configurations or options are contained. The Properties button in usually grayed out in such scenarios
• IPv4 is not working at all. We consider this particular case to be the extreme strain of the lot.

The various forms of the problems involving IPv4 can occur in almost any version of Windows, especially the most recent and common ones like Windows 10, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7. Therefore, all the fixes we will work to provide will revolve around the operations you can carry out on the stated platforms.

If you are trying to set up a network, then problems with IPv4 on your system would cost you a lot since you would be unable to use it. A similar situation is possible if you are trying to connect to the internet, but you are struggling to do so due to issues with the stated IP type. You better get to resolving them as soon as possible.

How to fix cannot access IPv4 Properties on Windows 10 and older versions of Windows?

The fixes outlined below vary in terms of their complexity to execute and effectiveness in resolving the problem you are struggling with on your system. We advise that you avoid skipping through one of them since it is unlikely that you would know which one of them is the best fit for you. As usual, you must start with the first one and work your way down until you arrive at what works for you.

1. Carry out a comprehensive scan for viruses, malware, and other items that might be causing trouble for you:

Viruses and malware make up the vast majority of threats that we get exposed to every day and have a sweet spot in the class of dangerous programs we fear. Well, we would like you to know of the existence of other stuff that could harm your system, but you hardly care about them. In most cases, you do not get to know anything about them until the need arises.

Having said that, if your IPv4 settings are not working as they should, then there is a good chance that a malicious program is active and your problem is a result of its activities. In most scenarios we know, the dangerous items hardly ever act alone. Usually, multiple forms of them run on their host PCs to spread their tentacles and wreak havoc as they move on.

To be specific, things like browser extensions or toolbars could pass as examples of the threat we are talking about here. Sure, they might seem harmless enough, but we all know too well that appearances sometimes can be deceiving.

• Get rid of any item you suspect to be of destructive nature now. Recall all the programs and apps you installed recently. Try to remember the files you downloaded and ran on Windows. If any idea about something being malicious springs up, you have to find the suspected item. Get rid of it.
• Nevertheless, your work alone is never enough in the search for viruses, malware, and similar items. We expect that you have an antivirus running on your system to protect your PC against harm. Launch the program and perform a full scan with it. Ensure that the app searches through every folder or directory on your PC.
• If your security program finds anything that it considers a threat, scrutinize it, then get rid of it. You can always keep the item using the quarantine setup, or you can get rid of it at once. After you have finished solving the security problem, you must restart your PC and see if things are now okay with IPv4 and its settings or properties.

If your antivirus or security program found nothing but you believe that something is not right, then you must try out another security program and see what results you can obtain. You could always download and run Auslogics Anti-malware, which is an excellent app capable of running extensive scans to detect malicious items that your antivirus or main security program could have missed.

The recommended app can work in tandem with your antivirus (if you have got one running) without causing the software conflicts we know to come up when two programs equipped for the same or similar job are running. With its addition, you will gain a significant improvement on your security setup because of that extra line of protection it brings. This change can only be a good thing.

2. Alter the Rasphone.pbk files:

Windows often stores the configuration or settings for IP (Internet Protocol) in files with the .pbk extension or format. By default, one file per user is usually available. If your IPv4 Properties are not accessible for you to work on them because something or someone disabled it, you can manually edit the pbk file to solve the problem.

Follow these instructions:

• Open the File Explorer program. Its icon is usually present on the taskbar on your desktop screen. Click on it to launch it. If the icon is missing from the stated location, then you can use this other method to open the required app: Press and hold the Windows button on your keyboard, then tap the letter E key
• After the program window appears, click on This PC or My PC. Now you must navigate through the following items to get to the needed destination: C: \ Users \ [YOURUSER] \ AppData \ Roaming \ Microsoft \ Network \ Connections \ Pbk \Rasphone.pbk
• You should have located the Rasphone.pbk file by now. We recommend that you place a copy of it in a safe place to serve as a backup in case things go wrong. Right-click on the file and select Copy from the list of options that appear

You must save the copied file in a different location or directory whose paths differ entirely from the one you took to arrive at the item’s resting place. In fact, the best place you could use is probably somewhere on an external disk or flash drive. Right-click on any space or point void of items and select Paste from the list of options that come up

• Once you have finished creating the backup, it is time you returned to continue with the primary procedure. Now you must right-click on the original Rasphon.pbk file in its default location and select Open in or Open with from the menu or options list you see
• From the list of applications that Windows suggest you use, you must select Notepad. After the file opens in a Notepad window, you must locate IpPrioritizeRemote and change its value from 1 to 0

We expect some individual users to encounter problems while carrying out this operation. Some of them might not even locate the needed entry or might find it impossible to alter its value. If you are one of them, we advise that you check for IPInterfaceMetric instead and change its value from 0 to 1

• Save the changes you just carried out. Exit all the program windows you have running. Reboot your PC. By the time your computer comes on and Windows settles down, we believe that IPv4 should be working fine.

3. Enable Split Tunneling through PowerShell:

Split tunneling is an advanced feature provided by excellent VPN services to improve the security of connections made over the network. You can enable Split Tunneling to fix problems involving IPv4 by running the necessary commands in an elevated PowerShell window.

Here are the instructions you need to follow to carry out the stated operation:

• Press the Windows button on your keyboard or click on the Windows Start icon always present on your desktop screen. Input the following keyword into the text box present (start typing even if you do not see any text field) to perform a quick search:powershell

You should see Windows Powershell (Desktop app) as an item on the results list. Right-click on it and select Run as administrator from the short options list that pops up

• After the Administrator: Windows Powershell program menu comes on, you must type in the following code and hit the Enter key on your keyboard at once to execute it:Get-VpnConnection

Windows should now run the command. After its execution, you will see a list of settings for each VPN available with their full details. Take note of the items in the name section because you will need to identify your connection by its name and use this information in the next step. Write the name down somewhere if necessary.

• Now it is time you inputted another command into the Windows Powershell app to enable Split Tunneling. Before you run the command, ensure that you replace the “myVPN” part in the code with the name of your VPN that you took note of not long ago

Here is the code:

Set-VpnConnection -Name “myVPN” -SplitTunneling $True

• As usual, you must hit the Enter key on your keyboard to run the code. Windows should now enable Split Tunneling for the stated VPN app. Check and see if your connection issues that have something to do with IPv4 are no more.

4. Use Powershell to set IPv4 properties manually:

If you cannot access the Properties menu for IPv4 or the window simply refuses to open for you, then you can stop worrying about it. Here, you are going to do what you struggled to carry out through a different method. We are going to employ the services of an elevated Powershell program window once again.

Go through these steps:

• First, you must open an elevated Powershell program window (one with administrative rights or privileges). We provided instructions on how to do this earlier in the first step of the previous fix. So, if you have forgotten already, you have to scroll up a bit to see the necessary information
• After Windows loads the needed program, you will have to enter a command. Before you go on to use the code, remember to change “My connection” part in it to the actual name of your connection. You have to do the same for the IP addresses there too. The ones in the code are not for you. They are there for illustration purposes

Here is the code:

set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceAlias “My Connection” -ServerAddresses 145.56.453.532,6.8.8.8,208.67.55.20,7.7.1.1

• Tap the Enter button your keyboard to force Windows to execute the code. Your system should now configure your IPv4 based on the details or information in the command you ran.

5. Install outstanding Windows updates:

If by now you are still struggling to fix problems involving IPv4, then there is a high probability that your issues only exist because your system lacks critical Windows updates. We are sure you have heard the security recommendation or performance advice usually repeated by experts asking users to keep their system updated always. Well, there is a reason for that.

In case you are yet to figure out the reason, then it is our job to tell you that Windows updates are important because they contain bug fixes or new features (sometimes). Through them, Microsoft upgrades the security of its operating system against vulnerabilities, improves its stability, and so on.

Therefore, if bugs on Windows are the cause the problems affecting IPv4, there is a good chance that Microsoft has already resolved them through Windows updates, and this means an update of the Windows OS on your device might be the fix you need.

If you are running the latest version of Windows (Windows 10), we will find it surprising to see that your system has not been updated in a while because Microsoft specifically designed that iteration of Windows to update itself automatically in the background without needing any input from its user. Well, unless you did something to block such an operation.

Nevertheless, for various reasons, Windows might fail to fetch an update from Microsoft servers, and your system might miss it entirely. Well, there is a way of checking for updates manually. Follow these instructions to do so if you are running Windows 10:

• Open the Settings app. Press the Windows button on your keyboard or click on the Windows Start icon always visible on your desktop screen. Select Settings from the list of programs or options that appear

You could also open the Settings app quickly this way: Press (and hold) the Windows button on your keyboard, then tap the letter I key

• Click on Update and Security (or the icon for them). On the next screen, you should see the Check for updates button on the right pane. Click on it. Windows should now contact Microsoft servers to see if there is any update missing on your PC

If you are running Windows 8.1, Windows 8, or Windows 7, then you will always have more flexibility regards Windows updates. Probably, it was you who stopped your system from updating itself. In that case, you have paid a hefty price already with the occurrence of your current problem.

You should go with these steps instead to update Windows manually:

• You can upgrade Windows on the stated versions of the OS through the Control Panel program. You just have to launch it. These steps should do the trick on any version of Windows: press (and hold) the Windows button on your keyboard, then tap the letter R key. The Run app should appear as you would have come to expect.

Finally, you must input the following keyword into the text box present and hit the Enter key to force its execution at once: Control

• The Control Panel program window should be up by now. You must click on the Windows update option if you are using the Small icons view. On the other hand, if you are using the Category view option, then you must click on the System and Security option, then click on the Windows update option
• Regardless of the option you had to use, ensure that Windows checks for updates. Click on the Check for updates button or click on the Check now button. You should see a message indicating that Windows is checking for updates if you did everything right.

If there are no updates that your computer lacks, you will see a message stating that your system has all the available updates. You have to move to other fixes.

On the other hand, if Windows finds something that is not available on your PC, it will inform you about it. Windows will start downloading the necessary files. It can continue with its work in the background.

After the download is complete, you must let Windows install the new updates. When it finishes with the installation, you must restart your system to allow the changes that have occurred to become active. Check and confirm that this update procedure is the solution to your headache involving IPv4.

6. Fix problem with drivers:

Drivers form the most important links between the operations involving your hardware components and the software running on your system. Therefore, if you tried a good number of fixes already but they failed to have a positive effect on your problem, we cannot help but think that your struggles with IPv4 have something to do with your drivers.

The vast majority of problems involving drivers tend to appear when the driver software is missing or when users are running corrupted or outdated drivers. Fortunately for you, a general solution is available to fix most issues at once. All you have to do most times is update the drivers, and you are good to go.

We recommend that you download and run Auslogics Driver Updater at once. With this excellent application, you can employ the automatic method of updating drivers. The stated way is the fastest, most efficient and risk-free means of getting the job done.

After you launch the recommended program, you can ask it to perform a scan on your computer to help you identify the missing, corrupted or outdated drivers that we talked about earlier. The app will show you a report on the issues it detected.

Finally, you will get to upgrade all the drivers to their latest manufacturer-recommended versions (using a button you have to click on to work).

We know of another method you could employ to update your drivers, but it consists of several procedures you have to carry out manually. Therefore, it requires a lot of time and demands far too much effort than it is worth. We already suggested that you go with the automatic method, which is better in every way, but if you prefer to do things on your own, then we cannot deny you the necessary info.

First, you have to identify the drivers that are not working correctly. We already established that in most cases the problems are due to lack of drivers, the drivers growing old or their software falling victim to corruption. Follow these instructions:

• Open Device Manager (to see the list of drivers available on your device). If you are running Windows 10 or Windows 8.1, do this: Press and hold the Windows button on your keyboard, then tap the letter X key to bring up the list of programs and options on the Power User menu from which you must select Device Manager

If you are running Windows 7, you have to open the Run app (press and hold the Windows button on your keyboard, then tap the letter R key), then input the following code present in the text box present on the small program window and hit the Enter key to run it at once: devmgmt.msc

• After the needed program window appears, you will see a list consisting of all the drivers you have on your computer. Go through them if you like. Locate Network Adapters and click on it to expand its menu
• Now you should see the list of drivers that make internet connectivity possible. We recommend that you update all the items there. This operation is no easy task though.

These are the procedures involved in the update of a single driver:

• You might have to go into its properties window to identify the driver, its version and any other information that will assist you in the next step. It is imperative for you to perform this step correctly
• After you have gathered the necessary details, you must search for the driver (updated version). You can start your search by visiting your PC manufacturer homepage to check if new iterations of the driver for your PC are available.

If you had no success with the operation above, then you would have to check out other places for the driver. Whatever you do, ensure that you download the only the correct or appropriate software for your device. You must also make sure that your downloads are from trusted sources or the highest quality websites.

If you download the wrong driver that is incompatible with your PC, then the problem you are dealing with will not go away, and you will probably end up with more headaches. If you get the required file from dubious sources, you might infect your system with a virus or malicious program, and we do not need to tell what comes next.

• After your download is complete, click on the stored file to run and open it. Follow the instructions that appear because they will guide you through the installation process

We just finished outlining the procedures involved in the upgrade of a single driver. You will have to follow those instructions to update multiple drivers, so you finally understand the difficulty and uncertainty involved, how much work you have to do, the effort and time needed, and so on. Due to these reasons, it is always better to use the Automatic method we provided earlier.

Regardless of the method you used to update your drivers, after the process is complete, you must restart your computer to let the changes become effective. The new drivers should start working after your PC comes on and Windows settles down. Finally, it is time you checked if your struggles with IPv4 have disappeared.

7. Disable Datamngr Coordinator Service:

Services and processes often run and do their work in the background without disturbing most users, but sometimes some inconsistencies (in their activities leading to problems) occur. Such an occurrence is one we must consider in the case of users who found out that their IPv4 Properties window was refusing to open because of the Datamngr Coordinator service.

We are still not sure of how precisely the stated service works to prevent users from accessing the properties of their IP, but we are confident that you can resolve the issue by disabling the problematic service. If you choose to go on, you must go through these steps:

• Open the Services app. Here is how to do this: Press (and hold) the Windows button on your keyboard, then tap the letter R key to open the Run application. Type in the following code into the text box present and hit the Enter key once you are done to open the Services window immediately:services.msc
• After Windows launches the required program window, you will see the full list of services available on your PC. Go through them and locate the Datamngr Coordinator service. Once you have found it, you must double-click on it to open its Properties window
• Alter the value for Startup type to Disabled. Now you must click on the Stop button to force Windows to terminate the service instantly. Click on the Apply button
• Click on the OK button to save the changes you carried out. Exit the windows you opened that are currently running. Check if all is now well with your IPv4 settings or properties. If nothing has changed, you must reboot your PC, wait for your computer to come on and let Windows settle down, then verify again.

If the problem persists in the end, then you should consider performing the same operation on another service like the Safety Nut service because a good number of users have suggested that this one too was responsible for their problems. We can only hope that what worked for them proves useful to you also.

8. Get rid of the problematic applications:

We have seen a considerable number of reports to state that problems involving IPv4 sometimes appear due to no fault of Windows or its user, but they are a result of the activities of other programs. Many third-party applications are involved in terrible software conflicts, or they often interfere with things they have no business disturbing like the configuration of your IP.

The obvious and logical solution here would be for you to remove the problem-causing programs, and that is precisely what you are going to do. But first, you will have to identify which apps are involved, and this task has never been an easy or straightforward one.

Try to recall the applications you installed recently (in the build-up to the problem). Do you have any ideas on about what program might be to blame for your headache? Go through the list of apps currently installed on your Device. There is a good chance you might find an application you never installed or something you have no memory of adding. You could also see an item not meant to be there.

Remove every suspicious object you find. You could also get rid of the stuff you rarely use. There are numerous ways of performing the uninstallation procedure. Most developers bundle their products with an uninstaller that users can employ to remove unwanted apps. There is also a general way of uninstalling any app available on Windows.

Be careful when selecting the method you will go with to remove an app because the operations involved in the uninstallation of a program are sometimes not straightforward enough to ensure its success.

Some applications were poorly written, so even their uninstallers struggle to do a good job when users decide to get rid of them. You might also find it incredibly challenging to remove specific programs for unknown reasons.

At the end, when you try to get rid of an app, but you fail to remove it correctly, the primary damage done typically involves the leftover of its components, files, or registry entries that are now scattered on your PC. Some of these items can interfere with your system and cause even more problems that you would hate to know about in general.

For the most part, the standard method of uninstalling apps should be okay for the vast majority of regular apps. Here are the instructions on removing an app in Windows 10:

• Press the Windows button on your keyboard or click on the Windows Start icon always visible on your desktop. Click on the Settings program from the list of programs and options available to open it
• After Windows launches the expected program window, click on System (or its icon). On the next screen, you must select Apps and Features from the list of items on the left pane there
• Windows should now present the list of programs currently installed on your system. Go through them and locate the app you intend to get rid of now. Click on it to highlight it
• Click on the Uninstall button that appears. If the button is greyed out (which means you cannot use it), then the app you selected for removal is a system application (You cannot get rid of built-in programs like that through an ordinary uninstallation procedure).
• A small dialog box requesting confirmation for the action you initiated should appear. Click on the Uninstall button there to continue. Windows should now remove the app as you have requested

If you are running a version of Windows older than Windows 10, then you would have to uninstall your apps through the Control Panel program instead. Here are the instructions you need:

• Press the Windows button on your keyboard or click on the Windows start icon always available on your desktop screen. Select Control Panel from the list of programs or options you see

If you did not see Control Panel among the items that appear, then you would have to perform a search for it. Type in the following keyword into the text box present: Control Panel

This time, you should see Control Panel on the result list. Click on it to launch it

• After the Control Panel program window appears, you should see a list or menu comprising of their descriptions and links. Click on the Uninstall a program link under Programs. If this option is missing, you must perform a search for the following keywords in the text present and click on the result to continue:uninstall a program
• Windows should now show you the Programs and Features menu where you will see all the programs currently installed on your computer. Go through the list and identify the application you want to get rid of
• Click on the app to highlight it. Click on the Uninstall button that is now available for use. A small window or dialog box should come up to seek confirmation for your request. Click on the Yes button there to confirm and continue
• Windows should now remove the application. Some instructions might appear on your screen to guide you through the removal process. Follow them carefully to ensure the success of the operation

At the end of it all, you should download and run Auslogics Registry Cleaner.

It is a FREE app. This tool will help you clear the invalid or redundant entries on your system registry. You can also use it to repair and optimize the contents of your registry, and the effect of such operations fastens the elimination of system-wide crashes or error messages that disturb you.

Regardless of the app you removed or how you went above the removal process, we advise that you restart your system to let some necessary changes take place. After the reboot, allow Windows to settle down, then you must check if the problem involving IPv4 persists or find out if it is gone for good.

9. Flush your DNS:

The procedure involved here is usually one we advise users to try out when they are struggling with internet connection problems in general. Regardless, it could be effective here since the IPv4 issues you are facing affect your computer’s ability to reach the web.

To be fair, we do not know which exact component of your internet connectivity is in a poor state or which one is causing the problems with your IP. This knowledge is not that necessary anyway because a reset of your internet connection is all you need to fix the vast majority of the issues involving your Internet Protocol. Here are the instructions you need to do the job:

• Open an elevated Command Prompt window. If you are running Windows 10 or Windows 8.1, do this: Open the Power User menu. You can do this by pressing (and holding) the Windows button on your keyboard, then tapping the letter X key. You would also get the same result by right-clicking on the Windows Start icon always visible on your desktop screen.
• Select Command Prompt (Admin) from the list of programs and options that appear.

This method is for Windows 7 users, but it should work for almost any version of Windows: Click on the Windows button on your keyboard or click on its Start icon on your desktop screen. Perform a quick search by typing the following keyword into the text box present:

cmd

• Right-click on the result (usually the first or the only item on the list) and select Run as administrator from the short menu list that appears.
• After Windows opens the Administrator: Command Prompt window, you must type the following commands (one at a time) and hit the Enter key (after inputting each one) to force Windows to execute them:

1. netsh winsock reset
2. netsh interface ipv4 reset
3. netsh interface ipv6 reset
4. ipconfig /flushdns

• After you finish running all the codes as we requested, you are free to exit the Command Prompt window. Close other program windows that are also running and restart your PC.

When your computer comes on and after Windows becomes stable, check if the issues affecting IPv4 on your system have disappeared.

10. Work on your registry:

Here, you are going to carry out some operations on your registry to fix the stubborn problem affecting IPv4. We would like to remind of the fact that you have to take some precautions and exercise great care while you work on the registry.

After all, it is a critical component of your system, and significant problems tend to arise when things go wrong with its contents. The consequences that could result from one invalid edit or unintentional removal of a single file can be very severe. Your system might refuse to start up, for example, if you do the wrong thing.

Since we have stated the risks and given you fair warning, it is time we moved to the primary operation. Once you are good to go, follow these instructions:

• Press (and hold) the Windows button on your keyboard, then hit the letter R key to launch the Run app. Type the following code into the text box present and tap the Enter key to run it:regedit

Windows should launch the Registry Editor app almost immediately

• After the required program window opens, you must start from the items on the right pane and navigate through the following entries:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Network
• When you arrive at your final destination, you must right-click on the Network key and select Export from the short menu list that appears. Type in your preferred name under the required fieldGo with a name that you can recall or remember easily. You will also have to state the location where Windows should store the file. Choose a directory on your disk with a clean path. Save it on any external storage space (flash drive, for example, if you have such a device)
• Click on the Save button once you have finished choosing the parameters or inputting the necessary details. If anything goes wrong after the completion of the operation, you can quickly restore your system to normality by using the backup you created (you will have to click on the file to run it, or you can navigate directly into your system registry and place it where Windows needs it).
• Since you have completed your work on creating the backup, you must move on to the real action. Right-click on the Network entry you worked on earlier. This time, you must select Delete from the short list of options that appear
• After Windows removes the marked key, check and see if IPv4 is functioning well. Verify that you can access its Properties window. Ensure that you can alter its configuration or settings.

If you find out that nothing changed, reboot your PC, then check again when your computer comes on.

11. Try out a different VPN brand:

Before you go move on to dump your current VPN service provider, we advise that you try to see if they can help you resolve your problem. Contact their customer care service. Give them the full details about the issue you are experiencing. Follow the guidelines or instructions they provide to fix the problem involving IPv4.

If you could not get help from them or their solutions proved useless in fixing the issue disturbing you, then it is time you tried out another VPN firm. After all, there are so many of them that more or less offer the same service. You probably would not face the same problem with another Virtual Private Network setup.

We understand that the option of choosing a new Virtual Private Network service provider might be unavailable for you to use—not every person is spoilt for choice, and this is the reason we strived to provide a reasonable number of fixes before including this one (as the last).

We sincerely believe that with these solutions, you surely would have gotten rid of the problems affecting IPV4, access to it, its properties, settings, or configuration on Windows 10, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.