IPv6, short for Internet Protocol Version 6, is a network layer protocol that enables communication over a network. It’s essentially a longer way of listing IP addresses, making more IP addresses available as more people around the globe access the internet. It’s known for greater reliability, efficiency, faster speeds and greater security.
So why would you want to disable it? The original IPv4 is still widely used. Unfortunately, IPv4 and IPv6 machines cannot directly communicate. IPv6 can also cause connectivity issues, especially under certain ISPs. Read on to learn how to turn off IPv6 on a Mac.
How to Disable IPv6 on the Mac through System Preferences
Click the Apple icon on the top left of the screen.
Select System Preferences.
Click the Network icon.
Make sure you have the network selected that you are using. It’s usually labeled as your Wi-Fi.
Click advanced.
Select the TCP/IP tab at the top.
You’ll see a line that says Configure IPv6. By default, it’s set to Automatically. Set it to Link-local only, which sets the computer to only use IPv6 within your home, not on the internet. Some MacOS versions may even simply allow you to select Off as an option. See below to use Terminal to set IPv6 off if the option is not on the drop-down menu.
Click Ok.
You should then restart your Mac.
Disabling IPv6 Using Terminal
You can also use commands via the Terminal. If your Mac version does not have an Off selection in the System Preferences screen, you can also use the commands below to turn IPv6 off entirely.
Simply go to Finder > Go > Applications > Utilities Folder > Terminal. Then run the following command by typing or copying/pasting it in and hitting enter:
sudo networksetup -listallnetworkservices
You may be asked to put in your administrator password in the Terminal. Once completed, this will tell you if you are running Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Run the appropriate command based on your connectivity:
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