IPv6 is the newer internet addressing system, and most modern networks run it alongside IPv4 without trouble. Disabling it is best treated as a targeted troubleshooting step, not a general speed tweak.
Does this affect you?
Use this when a VPN leaks IPv6 traffic, a router has buggy IPv6 support, or a specific game or app has a known IPv6 problem. If everything works, there is usually no benefit to turning it off.
Disable IPv6 on your router
This affects devices on the whole home network.
- Log into the router admin page at 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1, or through the router app.
- Look for IPv6 under Advanced Settings, WAN Settings, or Internet Settings.
- Set IPv6 to Disabled, or set the IPv6 connection type to Disable if that is the wording your router uses.
- Save the change.
- Restart the router if prompted, then test the original problem.
Disable IPv6 on Windows 10 or 11
This changes one network adapter at a time.
- Open Settings > Network & internet.
- Open Advanced network settings, then More network adapter options. On Windows 10, you can also use Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings.
- Right-click the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection and choose Properties.
- Uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).
- Click OK and reconnect to the network.
Disable IPv6 on a Mac
macOS normally uses a per-network setting.
- Open System Settings > Wi-Fi, or Network on older macOS versions.
- Open Details for your active network.
- Go to TCP/IP.
- Set Configure IPv6 to Link-local Only. This stops regular IPv6 internet traffic while preserving local behavior.
- Click OK or Apply.
More control
Disable the narrowest place possible
If only one laptop has a VPN issue, disable IPv6 on that laptop instead of the router. Router-level changes affect everyone.
IPv6 is increasingly normal
Many mobile carriers and newer ISP networks rely on IPv6 for good performance. Leave it enabled unless you are fixing a specific, identified problem.
Turn it back on if it does not help
Re-enable the Windows checkbox, return Mac Configure IPv6 to Automatically, or restore the router IPv6 setting if the change does not solve the issue.
Sources
- Microsoft Support – Disable IPv6 in Windows (2025)
- Apple Support – Network preferences on Mac (2025)
- Netgear Support – Enable or disable IPv6 (2025)