How to Use Ping Command Parameters in CMD on Windows 10 / 11

Quick Insight

You use ping in CMD to test any network path with extra flags that shape the output. Add -t to send a non-stop stream until you press Ctrl-C to halt it. Use -n followed by a number to limit the probes to a set count. The -l switch lets you increase the packet bytes and check how larger loads behave. Type -a to resolve the target IP back to its host name in the reply. So you spot drops, measure delay, and map device names all from one simple command.

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This helpful article will look at ping parameters in different Microsoft operating systems. We will explain what they do and show you how to test your network using real-life examples.

Ping Command Parameters

How to Use Ping Parameters in CMD (Command Prompt)

Ping Parameters primarily uses the ping command and more advanced usage parameters. Ping tool is the most common program used to troubleshoot network connectivity problems.

With these settings, you can quickly figure out and fix problems with the network. You can quickly test the network connection by pinging your ADSL or Router’s LAN interfaces. Also, you can ping your Router’s WAN interfaces. It sends packets of 32 bytes by default.

You can ping an IP source or an Internet website. On Windows operating systems, open the Command Prompt. Using it, you can ping the target host continuously. Alternatively, specify the number of times through a host. When you ping an address, the default Ping number is 4.

You can use Ping parameters to address and gain testing experiences.

In network testing, ping alone may not be enough. A different tool is needed for file transfer problems. To get to the heart of the matter, this is where TFTP server setup comes into play. It is especially useful for testing connections behind firewalls. I have always found using these two together helpful.

Command-line tools form the foundation of Windows. To outline briefly, learning MS-DOS commands strengthens your CMD usage. Since this knowledge is very useful on older systems, knowing the basics always gives you an edge.

Understanding Ping Options and Learning to Use It More Effectively

To open the Command Prompt on the Windows operating system, press the Windows Key + R and open the Run window. Type CMD in the Run window and click the Open button.

After opening the CMD prompt, type the ping /command and press Enter. As you can see in the output below, there are quite a few parameters.

You do not open the Command Prompt just for ping. As you may have noticed, finding the Windows installation date with CMD is quite easy. You can access this information with a single command.

Options include Usage and Options.

Usage: Explain the use of parameters.

Options: Explain the existing parameters.

C:\>ping /?

Usage: ping [-t] [-a] [-n count] [-l size] [-f] [-i TTL] [-v TOS]
            [-r count] [-s count] [[-j host-list] | [-k host-list]]
            [-w timeout] [-R] [-S srcaddr] [-c compartment] [-p]
            [-4] [-6] target_name

Options:
    -t             Ping the specified host until stopped.
                   To see statistics and continue - type Control-Break;
                   To stop - type Control-C.
    -a             Resolve addresses to hostnames.
    -n count       Number of echo requests to send.
    -l size        Send buffer size.
    -f             Set Don't Fragment flag in packet (IPv4-only).
    -i TTL         Time To Live.
    -v TOS         Type Of Service (IPv4-only. This setting has been deprecated
                   and has no effect on the type of service field in the IP
                   Header).
    -r count       Record route for count hops (IPv4-only).
    -s count       Timestamp for count hops (IPv4-only).
    -j host-list   Loose source route along host-list (IPv4-only).
    -k host-list   Strict source route along host-list (IPv4-only).
    -w timeout     Timeout in milliseconds to wait for each reply.
    -R             Use routing header to test reverse route also (IPv6-only).
                   Per RFC 5095 the use of this routing header has been
                   deprecated. Some systems may drop echo requests if
                   this header is used.
    -S srcaddr     Source address to use.
    -c compartment Routing compartment identifier.
    -p             Ping a Hyper-V Network Virtualization provider address.
    -4             Force using IPv4.
    -6             Force using IPv6.

C:\>

1) Ping -t Command

It continuously pings a specific IP address or website. This process continues until it stops. Press Ctrl + C to prevent/end the continuous ping command.

C:\>ping -t 8.8.8.8

Pinging 8.8.8.8 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=36ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=33ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=33ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=33ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=33ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=33ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=32ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=32ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=32ms TTL=57

Ping statistics for 8.8.8.8:
    Packets: Sent = 10, Received = 10, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 32ms, Maximum = 36ms, Average = 33ms
Control-C
^C
C:\>

2) Ping -a Command

This command displays the computer name of the computer with the IP address you are pinging. Ping the Google DNS server as in the following output and observe that the computer/server name is google-public-dns-a.google.com.

C:\>ping -a 8.8.8.8

Pinging google-public-dns-a.google.com [8.8.8.8] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=33ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=32ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=34ms TTL=57

Ping statistics for 8.8.8.8:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 32ms, Maximum = 35ms, Average = 33ms

C:\>

3) Ping -n Command

This command assigns a specified number of pings to an IP address and website. Its value is 4 by default. You can ping the number of times you specify by adding -n to the command.

Linux and macOS systems do not have ping counts. If you want to ping the specified number of times to an IP address or website on macOS and Linux, you must use the ping -n + number command.

If you’re wondering how to ping on Linux and macOS, watch our Linux Ping and macOS Ping Usage videos.

I tested the link to the Google DNS server 3 times using the ping -n command.

C:\>ping -n 3 8.8.8.8

Pinging 8.8.8.8 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=33ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=33ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=34ms TTL=57

Ping statistics for 8.8.8.8:
    Packets: Sent = 3, Received = 3, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 33ms, Maximum = 34ms, Average = 33ms

C:\>

4) Ping -l Command

When you usually ping a destination, the packet size sent is 32 Bytes. You can increase this value with the ping -l command. The ping packet size limit is 65,500 bytes.

C:\>ping -l 2345 8.8.8.8

Pinging 8.8.8.8 with 2345 bytes of data:
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=2345 time=68ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=2345 time=65ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=2345 time=62ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=2345 time=62ms TTL=57

Ping statistics for 8.8.8.8:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 62ms, Maximum = 68ms, Average = 64ms

C:\>

5) Ping -l flood Command

This command sends the packet size you specify without destroying the destination. In short, the Echo Request packet adds the Don’t Fragment Flag 1 bit to the IP header, which enables sending packets without fragmentation.

You can use this parameter to resolve problems with the Path Maximum Transmission Unit (PMTU). When the echo-request packet tries to pass through the routers, the packet does not fragment.

C:\>ping -l 1500 -f 8.8.8.8

Pinging 8.8.8.8 with 1500 bytes of data:
Packet needs to be fragmented but DF set.
Packet needs to be fragmented but DF set.
Packet needs to be fragmented but DF set.
Packet needs to be fragmented but DF set.

Ping statistics for 8.8.8.8:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\>ping -l 1234 -f 8.8.8.8

Pinging 8.8.8.8 with 1234 bytes of data:
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=1234 time=48ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=1234 time=53ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=1234 time=49ms TTL=57
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=1234 time=48ms TTL=57

Ping statistics for 8.8.8.8:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 48ms, Maximum = 53ms, Average = 49ms

C:\>

6) Ping -i TTL Command

This command adds the TTL value to the packet sent to the destination. The default TTL value is 255 and may vary between devices. When you set the TTL value to lower than the previously received value, the packet will never reach the destination address. It will display the message TTL Expired in Transit.

C:\>ping www.google.com

Pinging www.google.com [172.217.17.196] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 172.217.17.196: bytes=32 time=44ms TTL=54
Reply from 172.217.17.196: bytes=32 time=38ms TTL=54
Reply from 172.217.17.196: bytes=32 time=40ms TTL=54
Reply from 172.217.17.196: bytes=32 time=44ms TTL=54

Ping statistics for 172.217.17.196:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 38ms, Maximum = 44ms, Average = 41ms

C:\>ping -i 9 www.google.com

Pinging www.google.com [172.217.17.196] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 209.85.143.115: TTL expired in transit.
Reply from 209.85.143.115: TTL expired in transit.
Reply from 209.85.143.115: TTL expired in transit.
Reply from 209.85.143.115: TTL expired in transit.

Ping statistics for 172.217.17.196:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),

C:\>

7) Ping -v TOS Command

This command sets the Type of Service in the IP header of the Echo-Request packet to be sent to the destination. The Type of Service value is 0 by default and can change from 0 to 255.

8) Ping -r Command

This command records the paths for the “Echo Reply” package received for the “Echo Request” package. The minimum value is 1, and the maximum value is 9.

C:\>ping -r 2 vmware.com

Pinging vmware.com [45.60.11.183] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 45.60.11.183: bytes=32 time=165ms TTL=53
    Route: 85.101.110.75 ->
           85.101.104.1
Reply from 45.60.11.183: bytes=32 time=167ms TTL=53
    Route: 85.101.110.75 ->
           85.101.104.1
Reply from 45.60.11.183: bytes=32 time=168ms TTL=53
    Route: 85.101.110.75 ->
           85.101.104.1
Reply from 45.60.11.183: bytes=32 time=166ms TTL=53
    Route: 85.101.110.75 ->
           85.101.104.1

Ping statistics for 45.60.11.183:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 165ms, Maximum = 168ms, Average = 166ms

C:\>

9) Ping -s Command

Changes the Timestamp value in the IP address header and specifies the Hop Count time value. Records time information for outgoing and incoming Echo packets. The default value for this parameter is 1, and the maximum value is 9.

C:\>ping -s 3 192.168.1.1

Pinging 192.168.1.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
    Timestamp: 192.168.1.1 : 14619372 ->
               192.168.1.1 : 14619372 ->
               192.168.1.250 : 14621765
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
    Timestamp: 192.168.1.1 : 14620404 ->
               192.168.1.1 : 14620404 ->
               192.168.1.250 : 14622796
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
    Timestamp: 192.168.1.1 : 14621449 ->
               192.168.1.1 : 14621449 ->
               192.168.1.250 : 14623841
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
    Timestamp: 192.168.1.1 : 14622469 ->
               192.168.1.1 : 14622469 ->
               192.168.1.250 : 14624860

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.1:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 1ms, Maximum = 2ms, Average = 1ms

C:\>

10) Ping -j Host-List Command

It uses Loose Source Routing to set the Routers that a package should visit. The sending packet configures the following Router address for its first destination.

The Host List configures the ping packet’s path, and the maximum number of IP addresses in the Host List is 9.

11) Ping -k Host-List Command

This command uses the Strict Source Route option in the IP header. The next Router or Interface for the Strict Source Route must be active. The maximum number of Host-List IP addresses is 9. That is, IP numbers are listed consecutively in a host list.

12) Ping -w Timeout Command

It specifies the wait time for Echo Reply for sending Echo Request packets. We evaluate the time zone in milliseconds, and the default value is 4,000ms (4 seconds).

When you ping -w 8000 192.168.2.1 on a computer outside your IP block, the Request Timed Out message will be displayed every 8 seconds.

C:\>ping -w 8000 192.168.2.1

Pinging 192.168.2.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 192.168.2.1:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\>

13) Ping -r Command

This command is only used in the IPv6 structure and follows the outgoing/incoming paths.

14) Ping -S srcaddr Command

You use this command to specify the source address.

C:\>ping -S 192.168.1.250 vmware.com

Pinging vmware.com [45.60.11.183] from 192.168.1.250 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 45.60.11.183: bytes=32 time=146ms TTL=54
Reply from 45.60.11.183: bytes=32 time=146ms TTL=54
Reply from 45.60.11.183: bytes=32 time=145ms TTL=54
Reply from 45.60.11.183: bytes=32 time=148ms TTL=54

Ping statistics for 45.60.11.183:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 145ms, Maximum = 148ms, Average = 146ms

C:\>

15) Ping -4 Command

This command forces IPv4 to ping.

16) Ping -6 Command

This command forces IPv6 to ping.

Ping Commands > Video

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Ping Tool FAQ for Network Testing

What are ping options, and what do they do?

First of all, ping options are extra flags you add to the ping command. These flags make a basic ping test stronger. By default, ping sends only four echo requests.
With these extras, you change request count, packet size, TTL, and wait time. In fact, -n lets you choose how many times to ping. What’s more, -l raises the byte size of the packet you send.
These settings help you spot network link problems faster. On a local network, ping 192.168.1.1 with -n 10 to get clearer stats. Meanwhile, use -t with 8.8.8.8 online to watch for drops. In short, these options turn ping into a real test tool.

Which flag should I use to ping nonstop?

For nonstop ping, use the -t flag. Next, this flag sends echo requests until you stop it. Right away, on the CMD screen, you spot a nonstop flow.
Say you test if your router stays up. Next, run the ping -t 192.168.1.1 command. If the link drops, timeout alerts appear on screen. Luckily, these alerts help you catch the exact moment of the problem.
To end the test, press Ctrl + C. Then you get the ping stats. Actually, packet loss rate gives you a clear idea. Surprisingly, this method works well on flaky Wi-Fi links.

How do I set packet size in the ping command?

For packet size, use the -l flag. The default size is 32 bytes. Plus, you raise this value to fit your needs.
Furthermore, ping -l 2345 8.8.8.8 sends a 2345-byte packet. The output shows bytes=2345. Response times may shift as the packet grows. Similarly, that shift helps you gauge the network’s bandwidth.
The upper limit is 65,500 bytes. If you pass this limit, the command returns an error. Large packets bring MTU problems to light. So, I suggest raising packet size in steps. Best of all, small steps give safer results.

How do -n and -t differ?

-n sends a set number of pings. For example, ping -n 3 8.8.8.8 delivers exactly three requests. Finally, it stops on its own.
-t keeps going until you stop it. The screen scrolls until you press Ctrl + C. Therefore, -t is ideal for long-term watching.
-n is handy for a quick check. If you suspect constant drops, pick -t. Besides, you can use both together. Also, ping -t -n 10 stops after ten requests. Still, -n or -t alone is often enough.

How do I change the timeout in the ping command?

For timeout, use the -w flag. This value is in ms. Of course, the default wait time is 4000 ms, or four seconds.
If you test a slow link, you raise the time. The ping -w 8000 192.168.2.1 command waits eight seconds per reply. When no reply comes, you get Request timed out.
For quick tests, you can lower the time. That way, you spot drops sooner. However, a very short time can cause false alarms. So, you should first measure normal network delay. A healthy threshold makes your results clear.

What does the -a flag do?

The -a flag turns an IP address into a host name. As a result, you see the name of the target you ping. This feature makes testing much easier.
For instance, you run ping -a 8.8.8.8. The output shows google-public-dns-a.google.com. Consequently, that shows which server you connect to.
Sometimes no DNS record exists, so only the IP remains. This case shows the target offers no name lookup. On a local network, -a helps you see device names. Plus, it saves you time when pairing printers and NAS devices.

What does TTL mean in ping output?

TTL shows the life span of a packet. Each router lowers the packet’s TTL by one. If the value hits zero, the packet cannot reach the target.
In the output, you see a number like TTL=57. This number helps you guess hops left to the target. Meanwhile, the starting value changes by operating system. Windows often begins at 128, while Linux starts at 64.
If you run ping -i 9 www.google.com, you set TTL to nine. A router along the path returns TTL expired in transit. Moreover, this test helps you map the path. Also, you roughly learn the distance to the target.

How do I force IPv4 or IPv6 in the ping command?

For IPv4, use the -4 flag. Similarly, for IPv6, add the -6 flag. These extras force ping to use your chosen protocol.
For example, ping -4 8.8.8.8 runs over IPv4. If you type ping -6 google.com, it resolves the IPv6 address. In the output, you see the address type clearly.
This split matters a lot on dual-stack networks. Sometimes IPv4 works, but IPv6 quietly drops. To catch this case, you try both commands one by one. Then you know which protocol has the problem. Finally, you finish a quick check on the user side.

What is flood ping, and why does it need care?

Flood ping means you turn off packet fragmentation with -f. In other words, you set the Don’t Fragment flag. Large packets try to move without splitting on the path.
For instance, ping -l 1500 -f 8.8.8.8 sometimes fails. You get Packet needs to be fragmented but DF set. This message shows you passed the MTU limit. Even so, ping -l 1234 -f 8.8.8.8 may succeed.
This test helps you find PMTU problems on the network path. However, sending large packets back to back is risky. CPU load rises on weak devices. On top of that, firewalls may see this as an attack. As a result, you should keep flood tests short.

How should I read packet loss in ping output?

Packet loss is the rate of requests with no reply. In the output, you read the Lost line. For example, Lost = 0 (0% loss) shows a perfect link.
If Lost = 4 (100% loss), you cannot reach the target. In this case, a cable, firewall, or route issue may exist. When loss is partial, the network is shaky.
Even 1% to 5% loss causes problems in games and video calls. High loss often comes from weak Wi-Fi or heavy traffic. Jitter is also a sign of ping time swings. If you read both figures together, you find the source faster.

Conclusion

In conclusion, now you know how to use ping commands. Thus, it is incredibly effective in troubleshooting network connectivity issues faster.

For example, pinging an IP address or website is simple. However, pinging a certain number of times or changing the packet size requires experience. In short, you can easily find the problems by adjusting the TTL and other things.

Additionally, the ping commands are the same whether you are using Windows or another OS. There may be a slight difference in some systems. But I recommend that you take the time to learn.

Other network tools besides Ping will also come in handy. You can use Telnet to connect to remote devices. Legacy protocols still save the day on some systems. The steps to enable Telnet on Windows are quite simple. Getting to know these tools is essential when learning network management.

In some cases, you may need to connect to and step in on a far-away server. Based on my experience, setting up secure shell access is a real lifesaver in this situation. Trusting a far-away connection without a coded tunnel is a huge risk.

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Hi, I'm Tolga, a computer expert with 20 years of experience. I help fix computer issues with things like hardware, systems, networks, virtualization, servers, and operating systems. Check out my website for helpful info, and feel free to ask me anything. Keep yourself in the loop about the newest technologies!

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5 People Shared Their Experience

  1. Is there interval that user can control / change
    I mean interval time between previous and the next ping messages?
    I mean I wish that every ping packet will be sent with interval of 3Sec from the previous ping packet
    In Linux there option – i that is an interval time
    In Win – does such exist ?

    1. Hello there.

      You want to ping every 3 seconds, right? I’ve never done this before, but I did some research and found the most appropriate program to do it.

      You can do this with the Ping Tester program. I’ve even downloaded this program and it works smoothly and nicely.

    2. Also, download the “PsPing” software from Microsoft and run the CMD in the PsPing folder. Then, use the “psping -i 3 destination” command.

      Example: psping -i 3 google.com

  2. Could you explain the usage of the -c parameter?

    1. ping -c, please 🙂

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