Net command

Updated: 11/12/2023 by Computer Hope
net command

The net command is used to update or fix a network or view its settings.

Availability

Net is an external command that is available for the following Microsoft operating systems as net.exe.

Net syntax

Windows Vista and later syntax

net [ accounts | computer | config | continue | file | group | help | helpmsg |
    localgroup | pause | session | share | start | statistics | stop | time |
    use | user | view ]
NET ACCOUNTS Adjust account settings.

[/FORCELOGOFF:{minutes | NO}] [/MINPWLEN:length]
[/MAXPWAGE:{days | UNLIMITED}] [/MINPWAGE:days]
[/UNIQUEPW:number] [/DOMAIN]
NET COMPUTER Add other networked computers with Windows Domain Controller.

\\computername {/ADD | /DEL}
NET CONFIG Displays your current server or workgroup settings.

[SERVER | WORKSTATION]
NET CONTINUE Continues the use of service.

[service]
NET FILE Display opened shared files on the server.

[id [/CLOSE]]
NET GROUP Add, delete, view, and otherwise manage network workgroups.

[groupname [/COMMENT:"text"]] [/DOMAIN]
groupname {/ADD [/COMMENT:"text"] | /DELETE} [/DOMAIN]
groupname username [...] {/ADD | /DELETE} [/DOMAIN]
NET LOCALGROUP Add, delete, view, and otherwise manage network groups.

[groupname [/COMMENT:"text"]] [/DOMAIN]
groupname {/ADD [/COMMENT:"text"] | /DELETE} [/DOMAIN]
groupname name [...] {/ADD | /DELETE} [/DOMAIN]
NET NAME Create or delete name used for messaging.

[name [/ADD | /DELETE]]
NET PAUSE Pause the specified network service.

[service]
NET SESSION Display all sessions connected to the computer and deletes them if specified.

[\\computername] [/DELETE]
NET SHARE Create and manage a local network share.

sharename
sharename=drive:path [/USERS:number | /UNLIMITED]
[/REMARK:"text"]
[/CACHE:Manual | Documents| Programs | None ]
sharename [/USERS:number | /UNLIMITED]
[/REMARK:"text"]
[/CACHE:Manual | Documents | Programs | None]
{sharename | devicename | drive:path} /DELETE
NET START Start the specified network service.

[service]
NET STATISTICS Display network statistics of the workstation or server.

[WORKSTATION | SERVER]
NET STOP Stop the specified network service.

service
NET TIME Display the time and date of another network computer.

[\\computername | /DOMAIN[:domainname] | /RTSDOMAIN[:domainname]] [/SET]
[\\computername] /QUERYSNTP
[\\computername] /SETSNTP[:ntp server list]
NET USE Connects or disconnects your computer from a shared resource or displays information about your connections.

[devicename | *] [\\computername\sharename[\volume] [password | *]]
[/USER:[domainname\]username]
[/USER:[dotted domain name\]username]
[/USER:[username@dotted domain name]
[/SMARTCARD]
[/SAVECRED]
[[/DELETE] | [/PERSISTENT:{YES | NO}]]

NET USE {devicename | *} [password | *] /HOME

NET USE [/PERSISTENT:{YES | NO}]
NET USER Displays users on the computer or domain.

[username [password | *] [options]] [/DOMAIN]
username {password | *} /ADD [options] [/DOMAIN]
username [/DELETE] [/DOMAIN]
NET VIEW Displays a list of computers in a specified workgroup or the shared resources available on a specified computer.

[\\computername [/CACHE] | /DOMAIN[:domainname]]
NET VIEW /NETWORK:NW [\\computername]

Windows XP syntax

NET [ ACCOUNTS | COMPUTER | CONFIG | CONTINUE | FILE | GROUP | HELP | HELPMSG | LOCALGROUP | NAME | PAUSE | PRINT | SEND | SESSION | SHARE | START | STATISTICS | STOP | TIME | USE | USER | VIEW ]

NET ACCOUNTS Adjust account settings.

[/FORCELOGOFF:{minutes | NO}] [/MINPWLEN:length]
[/MAXPWAGE:{days | UNLIMITED}] [/MINPWAGE:days]
[/UNIQUEPW:number] [/DOMAIN]
NET COMPUTER Add other networked computers with Windows Domain Controller.

\\computername {/ADD | /DEL}
NET CONFIG Displays your current server or workgroup settings.

[SERVER | WORKSTATION]
NET CONTINUE Continues the use of service.

[service]
NET FILE Display opened shared files on the server.

[id [/CLOSE]]
NET GROUP Add, delete, view, and otherwise manage network workgroups.

[groupname [/COMMENT:"text"]] [/DOMAIN]
groupname {/ADD [/COMMENT:"text"] | /DELETE} [/DOMAIN]
groupname username [...] {/ADD | /DELETE} [/DOMAIN]
NET LOCALGROUP Add, delete, view, and otherwise manage network groups.

[groupname [/COMMENT:"text"]] [/DOMAIN]
groupname {/ADD [/COMMENT:"text"] | /DELETE} [/DOMAIN]
groupname name [...] {/ADD | /DELETE} [/DOMAIN]
NET NAME Create or delete name used for messaging.

[name [/ADD | /DELETE]]
NET PAUSE Pause the specified network service.

[service]
NET PRINT Manage network print jobs.

\\computername\sharename
[\\computername] job# [/HOLD | /RELEASE | /DELETE]
NET SEND Sends messages to other users, computers, or messaging names on the network. The messenger service must be running to receive messages.

Send a message only to a name that is active on the network. If the message is sent to a username, that user must be logged on and running the Messenger service to receive the message.

{name | * | /DOMAIN[:name] | /USERS} message
NET SESSION Display all sessions connected to the computer and deletes them if specified.

[\\computername] [/DELETE]
NET SHARE Create and manage a local network share.

sharename
sharename=drive:path [/USERS:number | /UNLIMITED]
[/REMARK:"text"]
[/CACHE:Manual | Documents| Programs | None ]
sharename [/USERS:number | /UNLIMITED]
[/REMARK:"text"]
[/CACHE:Manual | Documents | Programs | None]
{sharename | devicename | drive:path} /DELETE
NET START Start the specified network service.

[service]
NET STATISTICS Display network statistics of the workstation or server.

[WORKSTATION | SERVER]
NET STOP Stop the specified network service.

service
NET TIME Display the time and date of another network computer.

[\\computername | /DOMAIN[:domainname] | /RTSDOMAIN[:domainname]] [/SET]
[\\computername] /QUERYSNTP
[\\computername] /SETSNTP[:ntp server list]
NET USE Connects or disconnects your computer from a shared resource or displays information about your connections.

[devicename | *] [\\computername\sharename[\volume] [password | *]]
[/USER:[domainname\]username]
[/USER:[dotted domain name\]username]
[/USER:[username@dotted domain name]
[/SMARTCARD]
[/SAVECRED]
[[/DELETE] | [/PERSISTENT:{YES | NO}]]

NET USE {devicename | *} [password | *] /HOME

NET USE [/PERSISTENT:{YES | NO}]
NET USER Displays the users on the computer or domain.

[username [password | *] [options]] [/DOMAIN]
username {password | *} /ADD [options] [/DOMAIN]
username [/DELETE] [/DOMAIN]
NET VIEW Displays a list of computers in a specified workgroup or the shared resources available on a specified computer.

[\\computername [/CACHE] | /DOMAIN[:domainname]]
NET VIEW /NETWORK:NW [\\computername]

Windows 2000 syntax

NET [ CONFIG | DIAG | HELP | INIT | LOGOFF | LOGON | PASSWORD | PRINT | SEND | SHARE | START | STOP | TIME | USE | VER | VIEW ]

NET CONFIG Displays your current workgroup settings.

NET CONFIG [/YES]

/YES Carries out the NET CONFIG command without first prompting you to provide information or confirm actions.
NET DIAG Runs the Microsoft Network Diagnostics program to test the hardware connection between two computers and to display information about a single computer.

NET DIAGNOSTICS [/NAMES | /STATUS]

/NAMES Specifies a diagnostic server name to avoid conflicts when NET DIAG is used simultaneously by multiple users. This option works only when the network uses a NetBIOS protocol.
/STATUS Enables you to specify a computer that you want network diagnostics information.
NET HELP Displays information about NET commands and error messages.

command /?
NET HELP [suffix]
NET HELP errornum

command /? Specifies the Microsoft NET command that you want information about.
suffix Specifies the second word of the command you want information about. For example, the suffix of NET VIEW is VIEW.
errornum Specifies the number of the error message that you want information about.
NET INIT Loads protocol and network adapter drivers without binding them to Protocol Manager. This command may be required if you are using a third-party network adapter driver. Then bind the drivers to Protocol Manager by typing NET START NETBIND.

NET INITIALIZE [/DYNAMIC]

/DYNAMIC Loads the Protocol Manager dynamically that is useful with some third-party networks, such as Banyan VINES, to resolve memory problems.
NET LOGOFF Breaks the connection between your computer and the shared resources to which it connects.

NET LOGOFF [/YES]

/YES Carries out the NET LOGOFF command without first prompting you to provide information or confirm actions.
NET LOGON Identifies you as a member of a workgroup.

NET LOGON [user [password | ?]] [/DOMAIN:name] [/YES] [/SAVEPW:NO]

user Specifies the name that identifies you in your workgroup. The name you specify can contain up to 20 characters.
password The unique string of characters that authorizes access to your password-list file. The password can contain up to 14 characters.
? Specifies that you want to be prompted for your password.
/DOMAIN Specifies that you want to log on to a Microsoft Windows NT or LAN Manager domain. The name specifies the Windows NT or LAN Manager domain you want to log on to.
/YES Carries out the NET LOGON command without first prompting you to provide information or confirm actions.
/SAVEPW:NO Carries out the NET LOGON command without prompting you to create a password-list file.
If you would rather be prompted to type your username and password instead of specifying them in the NET LOGON command line, type NET LOGON without options.
NET PASSWORD Changes your logon password.

NET PASSWORD [oldpassword [newpassword]]
NET PASSWORD \\computer | /DOMAIN:name [user [oldpassword [newpassword]]]

oldpassword Specifies your current password.
newpassword Specifies a new password. It can have as many as 14 characters.
computer Specifies the Windows NT or LAN Manager server on which you want to change your password.
/DOMAIN Specifies that you want to change your
password on a Windows NT or LAN Manager domain.
Name specifies the Windows NT or LAN Manager domain on which you want to change your password.
user Specifies your Windows NT or LAN Manager username.
The first syntax line above is for changing the password for your password-list file. The second syntax line above is for changing your password on a Windows NT or LAN Manager server or domain.
NET PRINT Displays information about print queues and controls print jobs.

NET PRINT \\computer[\printer] | port [/YES]
NET PRINT \\computer | port [job# [/PAUSE | /RESUME | /DELETE]] [/YES]

computer Specifies the name of the computer whose print queue you want information about.
printer Specifies the name of the printer you want information about.
port Specifies the name of the parallel port (LPT) on your computer connected to the printer you want information about.
job# Specifies the number assigned to a queued print job. Specify the options below, as desired.
/PAUSE Pauses a print job.
/RESUME Restarts a print job that was paused.
/DELETE Cancels a print job.
/YES Carries out the NET PRINT command without first prompting you to provide information or confirm actions.
When specifying the computer name using NET PRINT, you receive information about the print queues on each of the shared printers that are connected to the computer.
NET SEND NET SEND {name | * | /DOMAIN[:name] | /USERS} message

Sends messages to other users, computers, or messaging names on the network. The Messenger service must be running to receive messages.

Send a message only to a name that is active on the network. If the message is sent to a username, that user must be logged on and running the Messenger service to receive the message.

name The username, computer name, or messaging name to send the message. If the name is a computer name containing blank characters, enclose the alias in quotation marks (" ").
* Sends the message to all names in your group.
/DOMAIN[:name] Sends the message to all names in the workstation domain. If name is specified, the message is sent to all names in the specified domain or workgroup.
/USERS Sends the message to all users connected to the server.
message The text to be sent as a message.
NET SHARE NET SHARE sharename

sharename=drive:path [/USERS:number | /UNLIMITED]
[/REMARK:"text"]
[/CACHE:Manual | Automatic | No ]
sharename [/USERS:number | /UNLIMITED]
[/REMARK:"text"]
[/CACHE:Manual | Automatic | No ]
{sharename | devicename | drive:path}  /DELETE
NET START Starts services. NOTE: Services cannot be started from a command prompt within Windows.

NET START [BASIC | NWREDIR | WORKSTATION | NETBIND | NETBEUI | NWLINK] [/LIST] [/YES] [/VERBOSE]

BASIC Starts the basic redirector.
NWREDIR Starts the Microsoft Novell compatible redirector.
WORKSTATION Starts the default redirector.
NETBIND Binds protocols and network adapter drivers.
NETBEUI Starts the NetBIOS interface.
NWLINK Starts the IPX/SPX-compatible interface.
/LIST Displays a list of the services that are running.
/YES Carries out the NET START command without first prompting you to provide information or confirm actions.
/VERBOSE Displays information about device drivers and services as they are loaded.

To start the workgroup redirector you selected during setup, type NET START without options. In general, you don't need to use any of the options.
NET STOP Stops services. NOTE: Services cannot be stopped from a command prompt within Windows.

NET STOP [BASIC | NWREDIR | WORKSTATION | NETBEUI | NWLINK] [/YES]

NET STOP Stops the basic redirector.
BASIC Stops the basic redirector.
NWREDIR Stops the Microsoft Novell compatible redirector.
WORKSTATION Stops the default redirector.
NETBEUI Stops the NetBIOS interface.
NWLINK Stops the IPX/SPX compatible interface.
/YES Carries out the NET STOP command without first prompting you to provide information or confirm actions.

To stop the workgroup redirector, type NET STOP without options. This command breaks all your connections to shared resources and removes the NET commands from your computer's memory.
NET TIME Displays the time on or synchronizes your computer's clock with the shared clock on a Microsoft Windows for Workgroups, Windows NT, Windows 95, or NetWare time server.

NET TIME [\\computer | /WORKGROUP:wgname] [/SET] [/YES]

computer Specifies the name of the computer (time server) whose time you want to check or use to synchronize your computer's clock.
/WORKGROUP Specifies that you want to use the clock on a computer (time server) in another workgroup.
wgname Specifies the name of the workgroup containing a computer whose clock you want to check or use to synchronize your computer's clock. If there are multiple time servers in that workgroup, NET TIME uses the first one it finds.
/SET Synchronizes your computer's clock with the clock on the computer or workgroup you specify.
/YES Carries out the NET TIME command without first prompting you to provide information or confirm actions.
NET USE Connects or disconnects your computer from a shared resource or displays information about your connections.

NET USE [drive: | *] [\\computer\directory [password | ?]]
[/SAVEPW:NO] [/YES] [/NO]
NET USE [port:] [\\computer\printer [password | ?]]
[/SAVEPW:NO] [/YES] [/NO]

NET USE drive: | \\computer\directory /DELETE [/YES]
NET USE port: | \\computer\printer /DELETE [/YES]
NET USE * /DELETE [/YES]

NET USE drive: | * /HOME

drive Specifies the drive letter you assign to a shared directory.
* Specifies the next available drive letter. If used with /DELETE, specifies to disconnect all your connections.
port Specifies the parallel (LPT) port name you assign to a shared printer.
computer Specifies the name of the computer sharing the resource.
directory Specifies the name of the shared directory.
printer Specifies the name of the shared printer.
password Specifies the password for the shared resource, if any.
? Specifies that you want to be prompted for the password of the shared resource. You don't need to use this option unless the password is optional.
/SAVEPW:NO Specifies that the password you type should not be saved in your password-list file. You must re-type the password the next time you connect to this resource.
/YES Carries out the NET USE command without first prompting you to provide information or confirm actions.
/DELETE Breaks the specified connection to a shared
resource.
/NO Carries out the NET USE command, responding with NO automatically when you are prompted to confirm actions.
/HOME Makes a connection to your HOME directory if one is specified in your LAN Manager or Windows NT user account.
To list all your connections, type NET USE without options.
NET VER Displays the type and version number of the workgroup redirector you are using.

NET VER
NET VIEW Displays a list of computers in a specified workgroup or the shared resources available on a specified computer.

NET VIEW [\\computer] [/YES]
NET VIEW [/WORKGROUP:wgname] [/YES]

computer Specifies the name of the computer whose shared resources you want to see listed.
/WORKGROUP Specifies that you want to view the names of the computers in another workgroup that share resources.
wgname Specifies the name of the workgroup whose computer names you want to view.
/YES Carries out the NET VIEW command without first prompting you to provide information or confirm actions.
To display a list of computers in your workgroup that share resources, type NET VIEW without options.

Net examples

net use z: \\computer\folder

Map the Z: drive to the network path //computer/folder.

net send mrhope "There is hope!"

Send a text message to the computer with a hostname of mrhope the message There is hope!.

Note

This command only works in Windows versions that support it.

Tip

Today's computers disable the messenger service. If this service is disabled, you cannot send or receive net send messages. If you need to use this service, follow the instructions on this page and choose to enable the service instead of disabling it.

Note

New versions of Windows no longer support the net send command. Instead, use the msg command.

net send * "Hello everyone!"

The command above would send "Hello everyone!" to all users in your current domain.

Note

Used this command with caution. On a school or corporate network, any computer with the Messenger service enabled could receive the message.

net config workstation

Display additional information about the network such as the computer's name, workgroup, logon domain, DNS, and other useful information.

net view \\hope

To view the available computers and their shared resources, you may use either of the commands below. The first example displays available computers. The last command would display the shared resources on the hope computer.

net localgroup

Display all groups currently setup on the computer.

net share

Display all network shares on your computer.

net share hope=c:\hope\files

Create a share called "hope" for the "c:\hope\files" directory.