How to Fix an IPv6 No Network Access Error

An IPv6 No Network Access error can occur on any Mac, PC, or mobile device, frustrating attempts to connect to a network. In this guide, we provide answers and instructions for getting an IPv6 connection working again.

Causes of IPv6 No Network Access Errors

When a device connects to the internet, it obtains one or more addresses on the network. Often, a device gets both an IPv4 address and an IPv6 address. IPv6 is a newer network standard, intended to enable a larger network of connected devices than the older, more widely-used IPv4 protocol.

When properly configured, most devices work well when a network connection is made with at least one of these two protocols. But sometimes, a device connects and receives an IPv4 address and not an IPv6 address. In Windows, for example, when you look at network connection details, your device might show a connection to an IPv4 network but indicate No Internet access next to IPv6 connectivity.

There are several reasons why this error occurs. Most of the time, the cause is revealed through the precise troubleshooting step that solves the problem.

How to Fix an IPv6 No Network Access Error

Try the following troubleshooting steps to fix an IPv6 connection issue.

1. Restart the device. When you restart a device, you also restart the device's network connections. Many difficult-to-troubleshoot networking problems can be fixed by turning a device off and then back on again. During the start-up process, most devices automatically rejoin previously connected wired or wireless networks.

2. Restart the router and modem. A problem with either your internet service provider or router might result in a lack of connection to an IPv6 address. If you have two network devices, restart the modem first, then wait a minute or two and restart the router.

   Increasingly, internet service providers give customers a single device that contains both a modem and a wireless router. If that's what you have, turn that device off, wait a minute, then turn it back on.

3. Update the device's operating system. See detailed instructions for how to update recent Windows, Android, iOS, or macOS devices. Operating system updates often include fixes for unusual network connectivity problems.

4. Check for network device driver updates (Windows). Computer manufacturers and network device makers often provide network device driver updates for equipment that works with Windows. Check the manufacturer's support website to learn of any available device driver updates. In some cases, you may need to install more than one device driver update.

5. Upgrade the router's firmware. Router makers tend to release periodic updates to improve the device's security and performance, including how devices handle IPv6 connections. Improvements often fix problems with connections between the router and your internet service provider, as well as connections between the router and local devices on your network. Some older routers, for example, added or improved IPv6 connection support in later firmware updates. However, some older routers lack IPv6 support entirely.

6. Run the Windows Troubleshooter (Windows 10). This app is used to fix internet connections. From the Start Menu, select Settings > Update & security > Troubleshoot. Next, select Internet Connections, then select Run the troubleshooter. Follow the prompts on the screen and allow the troubleshooter to attempt to fix any issues identified.

7. Disable and then enable each of the network connections (Windows). In some cases, this may help identify a particular problem with a device or connection.

8. Reset IPv6 settings from the command prompt (Windows). Here's how:

   1. Type cmd in the Windows system search box.
   2. Right-click the Command Prompt desktop app displayed, then choose Run as administrator.
   3. Type netsh winsock reset catalog and then press the Enter key.
   4. Type netsh int ipv6 reset reset.log and then press the Enter key.
   5. Restart your system.

9. Reset network settings on the iOS or Android device. This clears settings for Wi-Fi networks and resets cellular network settings to the system defaults. For Google Pixel devices and other Android 9.0 Pie systems, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth. This should resolve any issues that resulted from manual misconfiguration of an IPv6 network connection.

10. Disable any active virtual private network (VPN) connection. Many VPN programs and connections disable IPv6 connections to help secure a network connection. These programs manage and limit the exposure of a device's network information. An active VPN connection might also automatically disable any IPv6 network connectivity. After you disable your VPN, the device should connect to the internet normally.

    If you discover that this resolves the issue, check with your VPN provider to see if they offer alternative settings with IPv6 support. Many VPN services have devised methods to allow IPv6 connection, while also obscuring actual device IPv6 data. However, not all VPN services support IPv6 connections.

    See detailed instructions for managing VPN connections on Android, iOS, Windows 10, Windows 7 or 8, Windows XP, or macOS devices.

11. Disable the firewall on Windows or macOS devices. An incorrectly configured firewall may block some or all IPv6 network connections. If IPv6 network connections work when the firewall is disabled, review the firewall settings or restore the firewall defaults.

    Many third-party security applications include a firewall. Look in the settings to temporarily disable a firewall included with security software on your system.

12. Disable the IP Helper service (Windows). This features attempts to manage some aspects of IPv6 connectivity. To disable it:

    1. Press Windows key+R, then type services.msc in the displayed Run box, and select OK.
    2. This opens a list of Windows system services. Scroll through the list and locate the service named IP Helper, then right-click the service name and choose Properties.
    3. In the Startup type drop-down list, choose Disabled, then select OK.
    4. Restart your system, then check to see if the IPv6 connection now works as expected.

13. Access the router as an administrator. Explore the controls to make sure that IPv6 connections are enabled. Turn the setting to Auto Detect or Auto-Config, if either option is available. Otherwise, make sure the service is turned on.

    Once enabled, you may need to restart the router for an IPv6 connection to be established. It may take a bit for the IPv6 connection to be active and available, so wait a few minutes longer after you start the router to test the connection.

14. Adjust the IPv6 tunnel settings. The last step to take is to adjust how your home router and network handles IPv6 addresses. Attempt this while accessing the home router as an administrator. Since IPv6 is designed for every device to obtain a directly-addressable address, the default settings for modern, up-to-date routers that connect to modern, up-to-date internet service providers will work well.

    You might experiment with other IPv6 settings on the router if you experience problems. First, select 6to4 tunnel in the router's settings to allow IPv6 and IPv4 traffic and devices to work together. Another option is to disable shared IPv6 connections. For example, some people report that disabling Share IPv6 connection on an Apple Airport router resolves IPv6 connection issues for local devices.

15. Contact the device manufacturer for additional support. If your IPv6 network access issues are not resolved, your last resort is to seek help from a professional.