How To Enable IPv6 On Windows XP

Most ISPs are in the process of enabling the IPv6 protocol which is then available for usage in addition to the currently used IPv4 protocol. Windows Vista and Windows 7 users do not need to enable or configure their operating system for IPv6 usage as it is enabled by default. The situation is different for Windows XP users who need to install the IPv6 protocol to add support for it to the operating system.

It is probably a good idea to test if IPv6 is already available on the operating system. An easy option to find out is the ipconfig command which displays network information in a command line window. To run the command press Windows-R, type cmd and hit enter. This opens the Windows command prompt. Now use the command ipconfig to find out if IPv6 is available on the computer. Please note that the following screenshot is showing ipconfig on Windows 7.

If you do not see an entry IPv6 Address in the listing it is not enabled and needs to be installed. The easiest way to install the IPv6 protocol under Windows XP is from the command prompt. Enter the following commands separately and press return after each of them:

• netsh
• interface
• ipv6
• install

This installs IPv6 under Windows XP. It is also possible to install the protocol under the network settings options of the Control Panel. Right-click on the appropriate network adapter and select Preferences from the selection. Now select Install on the screen and then Protocol from the available options. Locate Microsoft TCP/IP Version 6, a click on OK installs the selected protocol.

1. Open Network Connections
2. Right-click any local area connection, and then click Properties.
3. Click Install.
4. In the Select Network Component Type dialog box, click Protocol, and then click Add.
5. In the Select Network Protocol dialog box, click Microsoft TCP/IP version 6, and then click OK.
6. Click Close to save changes to your network connection.

You can check again with the ipconfig command to make sure that the IPv6 protocol was installed successfully on the operating system.

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Author: Martin Brinkmann, Sunday February 6, 2011 -
Tags:ipconfig, ipv6, ipv6 protocol, netsh, windows-xp

Responses so far:

1. Transcontinental says:

   February 6, 2011 at 9:07 pm

   Thanks, Martin, aany side effects, issues to install IPv6 protocol before it be required ? I know nothing about this.

   Reply
   • Martin says:

     February 6, 2011 at 9:24 pm

     I’m not aware of any. It is just another protocol.

     Reply
     • Transcontinental says:

       February 6, 2011 at 9:37 pm

       OK — Presently I’m googling on this topic and it seems that the winds of IPv6 are really starting to blow on people’s interests …
2. Marco Rinaldi says:

   February 6, 2011 at 9:25 pm

   Or more simply:
   cmd -> ipv6 install

   ;-)

   As written at the bottom:
   http://www.marcoronline.net/pc-blog/9-internet/287-l8-giugno-si-passa-al-nuovo-protocollo-ipv6-scopri-cose-e-se-sei-pronto.html

   Reply
   • DanTe says:

     February 6, 2011 at 11:09 pm

     More like:

     cmd.exe, netsh interface ipv6 install

     That link yields a 404 error, Rinaldi.

     Reply
     • Marco Rinaldi says:

       February 6, 2011 at 11:13 pm

       It was to write less XD

       Anyway here is the link working:
       http://www.marcoronline.net/index.php/pc-blog/9-internet/287-l8-giugno-si-passa-al-nuovo-protocollo-ipv6-scopri-cose-e-se-sei-pronto.html

       Excuse me :)
3. Dougle says:

   February 7, 2011 at 5:36 am

   “Most ISPs are in the process of enabling the IPv6 protocol which is then available for usage in addition to the currently used IPv4 protocol. ”

   I think that’s a bit of a stretch, Martin. For the majority, especially in the US and Europe, some form of Carrier Grade NAT, is the mostly likely path, at least in the foreseeable future. The picture is somewhat different in ASIA.

   Unfortunately, most implementations of CGN will have an impact on performance, and if you want a routable IPv4 address, it’s going to cost.

   Reply
4. Martin says:

   February 7, 2011 at 9:21 am

   Stefano you do not need to do that. As I said, it is already enabled on Vista and 7.

   Reply
5. Dougle says:

   February 7, 2011 at 11:51 am

   I think it’s worth pointing out that unless your router and firewall support IPv6, you have little in the way control over some aspects of the IPv6 stack.

   For anyone interested in this a good read can be found at:

   www.symantec.com/avcenter/reference/Teredo_Security.pdf (PDF)

   If you want to test IPv6 but you find your ISP doen’t natively support the protocol, your best option would be to sign-up for a free tunnel, either 6in4 or 6to4, from a reputable tunnel broker, such as

   http://tunnelbroker.net/
   http://gogo6.com/
   http://www.sixxs.net/main/

   Reply
   • Martin says:

     February 7, 2011 at 2:01 pm

     Dougle great addition, thanks for posting.

     Reply
6. Henk Poley says:

   June 8, 2011 at 10:42 am

   I got an “extended error” while running the command. Run this fixed that:

   esentutl /p %windir%\security\Database\secedit.sdb

   Reply
7. qazzi says:

   June 15, 2011 at 10:26 pm

   well i have ipv6 installed only problem is my ISP doen’nt support it yet….i wonder when will they able to support it.

   Reply
8. witek says:

   November 2, 2011 at 7:42 pm

   Henk Poley, thanks for info how to solve Extended error (Błąd rozszerzeony). Your solution worked!

   Reply
   • Ramesh says:

     January 3, 2012 at 12:59 pm

     Thanks Henk Poley,

     Your solution worked fine for extended error, thanks a lot

     Reply