How to Disable IPv6

Disabling IPv6 is a common step for privacy-conscious users to ensure all traffic is forced through an IPv4 VPN tunnel, preventing potential “side-channel” data leaks.

Here is how to disable IPv6 across the three major operating systems.

How to disable IPv6 in Windows 11/10

In Windows, you can disable IPv6 via the Control Panel or PowerShell. The Control Panel method is easiest for individual adapters, while PowerShell is better for a system-wide change.

The GUI Method:

1. Open the Control Panel and go to Network and Sharing Center.
2. Click Change adapter settings on the left.
3. Right-click your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and select Properties.
4. Uncheck the box for Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).
5. Click OK and restart your connection.

The PowerShell Method (Fastest):

1. Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
2. Run the following command to disable it on all adapters:

Disable-NetAdapterBinding -Name "*" -ComponentID ms_tcpip6

Disable-NetAdapterBinding -Name "*" -ComponentID ms_tcpip6

How to disable IPv6 in macOS (Ventura & Sonoma)

Apple has moved most networking settings into the “System Settings” app. Note that some versions only allow you to set IPv6 to “Link-local only” rather than fully “Off.”

The System Settings Method:

1. Click the Apple Menu > System Settings > Network.
2. Click on your active service (e.g., Wi-Fi) and click Details….
3. Select TCP/IP in the sidebar.
4. Click the Configure IPv6 pop-up menu and choose Link-local only (or Off if available).
5. Click OK.

The Terminal Method:

1. Open Terminal.
2. Run this command to see your network services:

networksetup -listallnetworkservices

networksetup -listallnetworkservices

• Use the service name (e.g., “Wi-Fi”) in this command:

sudo networksetup -setv6off Wi-Fi

sudo networksetup -setv6off Wi-Fi

How to disable IPv6 in Linux

On Linux, the most robust method is using sysctl, which works across Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and most other distributions.

Temporary (Until Reboot): Open your terminal and run:

sudo sysctl -w net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6=1 
sudo sysctl -w net.ipv6.conf.default.disable_ipv6=1

sudo sysctl -w net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6=1 
sudo sysctl -w net.ipv6.conf.default.disable_ipv6=1

Permanent Method:

• Edit the sysctl configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/sysctl.conf

sudo nano /etc/sysctl.conf

• Add the following lines to the bottom of the file:

net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6 = 1 
net.ipv6.conf.default.disable_ipv6 = 1 
net.ipv6.conf.lo.disable_ipv6 = 1

net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6 = 1 
net.ipv6.conf.default.disable_ipv6 = 1 
net.ipv6.conf.lo.disable_ipv6 = 1

• Save and exit (Ctrl+O, Enter, Ctrl+X), then apply the changes:

sudo sysctl -p

sudo sysctl -p