You may need to look at the active network connections on your Windows computer. This can be done in several ways. You can open the Network and Sharing Center or use the "netstat" (network statistics) command-line utility that detects network problems and network traffic; this utility is pretty easy to use.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Network and Sharing Center (Windows 7 - 10)
Step 1. Click "Start"
Step 2. Click "Settings"
Step 3. Click Ethernet
Step 4. Click "Network and Sharing Center"
In the Network and Sharing Center, you can get information about the status of the network, the type of network connection, active connections, and the ability to connect to other computers.
Step 5. Click on the icon next to "Connections"
The icon depends on the type of your connection. For example, if you are connected to an Ethernet network, the icon looks like an Ethernet cable with a plug, and if you are connected to a wireless network, the icon looks like five vertical columns.
Step 6. Click "Details"
A window will open displaying detailed information about your network connection.
Method 2 of 4: Network Connections Window (Windows 7)
Step 1. Click "Start"
Step 2. Enter ncpa.cpl in the search bar
Step 3. In the search results, click on "ncpa.cpl"
The Network Connections window opens and displays the active network connections.
Step 4. Right-click on the network connection you are interested in
Step 5. In the drop-down menu, click Status
Step 6. The "Network Connection Status" window will open
In this window, you can view information about the network connection. Click Details for more information.
Method 3 of 4: netstat command (Windows Vista and later)
Step 1. Click "Start"
Step 2. Enter cmd in the search bar
In the search results, click on "cmd" to open a Command Prompt window (Windows Vista and later).
Step 3. A command prompt window will open (with a black background)
In this window, you will enter the netstat command. The command is entered with various options, the most popular of which are listed below.
Step 4. Enter netstat -a to display active connections
This command will display a list of active TCP connections (TCP, transmission control protocol), in which the physical computer name corresponds to the local addresses and the host name corresponds to the remote addresses. The status of the port (idle, connected, and so on) will also be displayed.
Step 5. Enter netstat -b to display programs using network connections
This command will display a list similar to that displayed by netstast -a, but it will also display programs using connections and ports.
Step 6. Enter netstat -n to display the IP addresses
This command will display a list of TCP connections, but the real IP addresses will be displayed instead of computer names or service providers.
Step 7. Enter netstat /?
to display command options. This command will display a list of all the options for the netstat command.
Step 8. View active network connections
Entering the netstat command will open a list of TCP / UCP connections with IP addresses.
Method 4 of 4: netstat Command (Windows XP)
Step 1. Click "Start"
Step 2. Click "Run"
A window with a text string will open.
Step 3. Enter cmd
Step 4. A command prompt window will open (with a black background)
In this window, you will enter the netstat command. The command is entered with various options, the most popular of which are listed below.
Step 5. Enter netstat -a to display active connections
This command will display a list of active TCP connections (TCP, transmission control protocol), in which the physical computer name corresponds to the local addresses and the host name corresponds to the remote addresses. The status of the port (idle, connected, and so on) will also be displayed.
Step 6. Enter netstat -b to display programs using network connections
This command will display a list similar to that displayed by netstast -a, but it will also display programs using connections and ports.
Step 7. Enter netstat -n to display the IP addresses
This command will display a list of TCP connections, but the real IP addresses will be displayed instead of computer names or service providers.
Step 8. Enter netstat /?
to display command options. This command will display a list of all the options for the netstat command.
Step 9. View active network connections
Entering the netstat command will open a list of TCP / UCP connections with IP addresses.
Advice
- Alternatively, download TCPView from the SysInternals website.
- Experiment with UNIX commands (the above netstat command is also a UNIX command). These commands can be found on the Internet using a search engine.
- Note that netstat is no longer supported on Linux, so use ip –s or ss or ip route instead.