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Print the Windows IP routing table

See every route Windows knows — gateway, interface, and metric — to figure out why traffic goes out the wrong adapter or VPN tunnel.

WindowsroutingnetworkvpnLow risk
Run `route print` (or `route print -4` for IPv4 only) to display the full routing table with gateways, interfaces, and metrics.

01Command

Command
$ route print

02What it does

Windows picks the next hop for every packet by longest-prefix match on this table, then by lowest metric. When a VPN or a second NIC changes the default route, `route print` shows you exactly which 0.0.0.0/0 route wins and which interface traffic leaves through. Sections cover IPv4, IPv6, and persistent routes that survive reboots. Adding routes (`route add <net> mask <mask> <gw>`) usually needs administrator rights, but printing does not.

03Risk

RiskLow risk

04Undo

✓No undo needed — this command does not change persistent state.

05Sources

  • ROUTE - Windows CMD
    SS64 · technical · 2026-09-17
    Evidence: SS64 documents 'route print' to display the routing table and route add/delete to modify persistent or transient routes.

Last verified: 2026-09-17 · Category: Network

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