Fix One or More Network Protocols Are Missing on this Computer

Encountering the “One or more network protocols are missing” error on your Windows PC can be frustrating, especially when you rely on a stable internet connection for work, communication, or entertainment. This error typically arises when there are issues with the network protocols responsible for enabling communication between your device and the internet. In this article, we’ll explore the common reason behind Network Protocols are Missing error and provide step-by-step solutions to help you restore your internet connection.

Fix One or More Network Protocols Are Missing

The main reason for this problem is inconsistency in the Windows Sockets API, which is also known as Winsock. Corrupted or Missing Network Protocols, Outdated or Corrupted Network Drivers or Improper Network Configurations are common.

• Network protocols like TCP/IP or Winsock may become corrupted or missing, disrupting the connection between your computer and the internet.
• Certain third-party applications or security software might interfere with the network protocols, leading to this error
• Outdated or incompatible network drivers can cause problems with network protocols.
• Incorrect network settings or misconfigured protocols can result in network connectivity issues.

Basic Troubleshooting

Make Sure the Internet connection is working properly. Try to Restart your Modem, Router, and computer / Laptop. Then check the Network and the internet connection started working.

Check for virus/malware infection by performing A full system scan. You Can do this with a good antivirus and anti-malware with the latest updates installed.

Optimize Windows performance, By cleaning junk, Cache, Cookies, etc using Third-party applications like Ccleaner. Fix Ccleaner has the option to fix Broken corrupted registry files.

Run the System file checker Tool, To make sure any corrupted, missing system file not causing the issue. Running this tool can Fix and repair corrupted system files.

 Reset TCP/IP and Winsock Settings

As discussed, Winsock’s corruption is the main reason for this error problem. And you can first try to reset Winsock, which helps to fix One or More Network Protocols Are Missing issues.

Resetting TCP/IP and Winsock can often resolve issues with missing network protocols.

• Step 1: Open Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by typing cmd in the Start menu search bar, right-clicking on “Command Prompt,” and selecting “Run as administrator.”
• Step 2: In the Command Prompt, type the following commands, pressing Enter after each one:

netsh int ip reset
netsh winsock reset

After that, Restart Windows and check the Network, the Internet connection started working.

Disable or Uninstall Third-Party Antivirus or Firewall

If a third-party antivirus or firewall is interfering with your network protocols, try temporarily disabling or uninstalling it.

• Step 1: Open the antivirus or firewall software installed on your PC.
• Step 2: Locate the option to disable it temporarily and turn it off.
• Step 3: Check if the network issue is resolved. If it is, consider adding exceptions for your network protocols or switching to a different security solution.

Run the Network Troubleshooter

Windows provides a built-in troubleshooter that can automatically detect and fix network issues.

• Step 1: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
• Step 2: Click on “Internet Connections” and select “Run the troubleshooter.”
• Step 3: Follow the on-screen instructions to diagnose and fix any network-related problems.

Manually Reinstall Network Protocols

If the above methods don’t work, you can manually reinstall the missing network protocols.

• Step 1: Press Win + R, type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter to open the Network Connections window.
• Step 2: Right-click on your network connection and select “Properties.”
• Step 3: Click on “Install” and choose “Protocol” from the list.
• Step 4: Select the required network protocol (e.g., TCP/IPv4 or TCP/IPv6) and install it.
• Step 5: Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Check for Windows Updates

Sometimes, a missing protocol error can be resolved by updating Windows, as updates may include fixes for network-related issues.

• Step 1: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
• Step 2: Click “Check for updates” and install any available updates.
• Step 3: Restart your computer to complete the update process.

Reconfigure Networking connection settings

If, after performing all the Above steps still have issues with the internet connection and the Troubleshooting tool results in One or More Network Protocols being missing on this computer, then Reset and reconfigure the network connection Settings by the following below.

Open the command prompt as administrator then type below commands and press Enter key.

netcfg -d
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdns
netsh winsock reset catalog
netsh int ipv4reset reset.log

After performing all these commands, restart your computer and check it should fix the issue.

Tweak Registry Editor to Fix Windows Sockets Entries

All the Above method fails to fix then we need to manually fix Windows Sockets entries by modifying the registry key. for this open Windows Registry Editor by press win + R, Then type Regedit and hit the enter key.

Note: We recommend to create a restore point before making any modification to the Windows registry. As registries are an essential part of Windows wrong modification can cause serious issues.

Fix Socket Entries

Now on the Windows registry, the Editor Left pane navigates to the following key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock

Right-click on Winsock select Export. Select a location, give any name and save the Winsock registry backup. Do the same with the winsock2 registry Key.

Now, Right-click on Winsock and delete. Again, right-click winsock 2, and delete. Then after close the registry editor restart windows. Now move to the location where you take a backup copy of Winsock and winsock2. When you find simply double-click on it to re-add them.

Update or Reinstall Network Drivers

Outdated or corrupted network drivers can cause network protocol issues. Updating or reinstalling these drivers can help fix the problem.

• Step 1: Press Win + X and select “Device Manager.”
• Step 2: Expand the “Network adapters” section.
• Step 3: Right-click on your network adapter and select “Update driver.”
• Step 4: Choose “Search automatically for updated driver software” and follow the on-screen instructions.

If updating doesn’t work:

• Uninstall the driver by selecting “Uninstall device” and restart your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall the network driver upon reboot.

Also, you can visit the device manufacturer’s website or use third-party driver update tool to install driver updates.