> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.freakhosting.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # How to Enable and Configure IPv6 on Windows Server > IPv6 on Windows Server: check IPv6 is bound to the adapter, add a static IPv6 address and gateway with New-NetIPAddress, set DNS and test the connection. To use IPv6 on Windows Server, check it is enabled on the adapter with `Get-NetAdapterBinding -ComponentID ms_tcpip6`, then add your address and gateway in PowerShell as Administrator: `New-NetIPAddress -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet" -AddressFamily IPv6 -IPAddress 2001:db8::10 -PrefixLength 64 -DefaultGateway 2001:db8::1`. Test it with `ping -6` from another IPv6 host. Works on Windows Server 2019, 2022 and 2025. | Difficulty | Time | Works on | Needs | | - | - | - | - | | Intermediate | 10 minutes | Windows Server 2019 / 2022 / 2025 | Administrator access, your IPv6 address, prefix and gateway | ## Before you start * Find your IPv6 details. On a VPS whose plan includes IPv6, the **Network** tab of the VPS Panel shows the IPv6 range, each **Address** and the **Gateway** ([view network settings](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/vps-panel/how-to-view-and-manage-network-settings.md)). On a dedicated server, [open a ticket](https://freakhosting.com/clientarea/submitticket.php) if you don't have them. * IPv6 is the newer internet address format, written in hexadecimal groups such as `2001:db8::10`. The `/64` after a range is its prefix length. * Work in the [VNC console](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/vps-panel/how-to-enable-and-use-vnc-console-access.md) if you change binding settings, because the adapter restarts. ## How to check that IPv6 is enabled IPv6 is enabled by default in Windows Server. Check that it is still bound to your adapter: ```powershell theme={null} Get-NetAdapterBinding -ComponentID ms_tcpip6 ``` ```text theme={null} Name DisplayName ComponentID Enabled ---- ----------- ----------- ------- Ethernet Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) ms_tcpip6 True ``` If `Enabled` is `False`, turn it on (the adapter restarts, so Remote Desktop drops briefly): ```powershell theme={null} Enable-NetAdapterBinding -Name "Ethernet" -ComponentID ms_tcpip6 ``` Also check that IPv6 wasn't switched off in the registry: ```powershell theme={null} Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip6\Parameters" -Name DisabledComponents -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue ``` No result or a value of `0` means IPv6 is fully on. `255` (`0xFF`) means it was disabled. Set it back to `0` (or delete the value) and restart: ```powershell theme={null} reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip6\Parameters" /v DisabledComponents /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f Restart-Computer ``` Microsoft doesn't recommend disabling IPv6. If you need IPv4 to be preferred, it recommends the value `0x20` (**Prefer IPv4 over IPv6**) instead. ## How to add a static IPv6 address **1. Add the address and gateway** ```powershell theme={null} New-NetIPAddress -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet" -AddressFamily IPv6 -IPAddress 2001:db8::10 -PrefixLength 64 -DefaultGateway 2001:db8::1 ``` Use the exact prefix length and gateway from your network details. **2. Add more IPv6 addresses (optional)** Add extra addresses without a gateway: ```powershell theme={null} New-NetIPAddress -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet" -AddressFamily IPv6 -IPAddress 2001:db8::11 -PrefixLength 64 -SkipAsSource $true ``` **3. Add IPv6 DNS servers (optional)** ```powershell theme={null} netsh interface ipv6 add dnsservers name="Ethernet" address=2001:db8::53 index=1 ``` Your existing IPv4 DNS servers keep working for IPv6 lookups, so this step is optional. ### Same task with netsh ```powershell theme={null} netsh interface ipv6 add address interface="Ethernet" address=2001:db8::10/64 netsh interface ipv6 add route prefix=::/0 interface="Ethernet" nexthop=2001:db8::1 ``` ## How to allow IPv6 ping The server only answers IPv6 ping when an inbound ICMPv6 Echo Request rule is enabled. Enable the built-in rule if you want it to answer: ```powershell theme={null} Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "File and Printer Sharing (Echo Request - ICMPv6-In)" ``` Details are in [allow ping through Windows Firewall](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-enable-icmp-on-windows.md). Leave the other ICMPv6 rules alone: IPv6 needs them to work. ## How to check it worked ```powershell theme={null} Get-NetIPAddress -AddressFamily IPv6 -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet" | Format-Table IPAddress, PrefixLength, PrefixOrigin Get-NetRoute -AddressFamily IPv6 -DestinationPrefix "::/0" Resolve-DnsName example.com -Type AAAA Test-NetConnection 2001:db8::20 -Port 443 ``` Your address should show with `PrefixOrigin` `Manual` and the `::/0` route should point to your gateway. Replace `2001:db8::20` with the IPv6 address of another server you know is reachable: `TcpTestSucceeded : True` proves outgoing IPv6 works. Then, from another IPv6-enabled computer: ```powershell theme={null} ping -6 2001:db8::10 ``` To let people reach a website over IPv6, add an **AAAA** record for your domain. See [point a domain to your server](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-point-a-domain-to-your-server.md). ## Frequently asked questions ### Should I disable IPv6 if I don't use it? Microsoft recommends against it, because some Windows components might not work. If something misbehaves over IPv6, set **Prefer IPv4 over IPv6** (`DisabledComponents` = `0x20`) instead. ### Why does my server have a `fe80::` address? Every IPv6 interface has a link-local address starting with `fe80::`. It only works on the local network segment and is normal. Your public address is the one you add. ### Do my firewall rules cover IPv6? Yes. Windows Firewall rules apply to IPv4 and IPv6 unless you limit their addresses to one family. Check rules with `-RemoteAddress` limits: an IPv4-only list blocks IPv6 clients. ### Why can I reach the internet over IPv6 but nobody can reach me? Check the inbound firewall rule for the service, and that the program listens on IPv6 (`Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 443 -State Listen` should show `::` as a local address). ## Related guides > [card] [VPS and dedicated server guides](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/vps-and-dedicated-server-guides.md) > > Every guide in this section. > [card] [Set a static IP and DNS](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-set-a-static-ip-and-dns-on-windows-server.md) > > Configure IPv4. > [card] [Allow ping (ICMP)](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-enable-icmp-on-windows.md) > > ICMPv4 and ICMPv6 Echo Request. > [card] [Add additional IP addresses](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-add-additional-ip-addresses-on-windows-server.md) > > Secondary addresses. > [card] [Configure IPv6 on Linux](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-configure-ipv6-on-linux.md) > > The same task on Linux. *** > [!NOTE] > > **Checked against Microsoft Learn: [Configure IPv6 in Windows](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-server/networking/configure-ipv6-in-windows), [New-NetIPAddress](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/nettcpip/new-netipaddress), [Enable-NetAdapterBinding](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/netadapter/enable-netadapterbinding) and [netsh interface](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/netsh-interface)** on 4 November 2026. Commands were not tested on a live Windows server for this page; sample output is illustrative. > [!NOTE] > > ### Need Extra Help? > > If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist: > > * **Live Chat:** Quick assistance via our website. > * **Support Ticket:** [Open a Ticket](https://freakhosting.com/clientarea/submitticket.php) > * **Discord:** [Join our Community](https://discord.gg/freakhosting) > * **Email:** [support@freakhosting.com](mailto:support@freakhosting.com) > [!TIP] > > ### Save on Your Hosting > > Ready to upgrade your hosting? Use code **KB20** at checkout for **20% off** your first order! *** **Last Updated:** November 2026 This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.