IPv6 and AT&T Internet services

IPv6 is the future of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Learn more about it—and if your equipment is compatible.

What is IPv6?

Learn what IPv6 is and what it means to you. See what AT&T is doing to prepare for the change.

What is IPv6?

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Learn more about IPv6

Every device on the internet has an IP (Internet Protocol) address. These unique addresses enable each device to engage with other devices on the internet.

IPv4 technology, the standard for many years, is limited to around 4 billion addresses. As such, it can’t sustain huge growth. So, IPv6 protocol was developed to replace IPv4 and provide nearly unlimited addresses. This will allow the internet to grow well into the future.

IPv4-based networks are expected to co-exist with IPv6-based networks for many years. In most cases, your devices and apps will use IPv6 without any extra action.

There are a few ways to manage the transition and extend the life of existing infrastructure:

Dual Stack allows IPv4 and IPv6 to co-exist in the same devices and networks.
Tunneling allows IPv6 packets to be sent over IPv4 infrastructure—and vice-versa.
Translation allows IPv6-only devices to communicate with IPv4-only devices.

You’ll be happy to know the slow rollout of IPv6 over a period of years won’t impact your AT&T internet service. You’ll still be able to access your email, favorite websites, and other content as you do today for quite some time. You’ll only need to be ready when you attempt to access content that is available by IPv6 only.

IPv6 and Internet equipment

AT&T has been supporting the change to IPv6 for years. We’re upgrading our network and enabling IPv6-capable gateways with firmware updates. These updates began in 2011 and will continue into the future.

AT&T internet equipment that is IPv6 capable

Humax/Nokia: BGW320
Arris: BGW210, NVG599, NVG595
Motorola^®: NVG510, NVG589, Motorola 3360
Pace: Pace 5031, Pace 5168, Pace 5268, 4111n
2Wire^®: 2Wire 3600, 2Wire 3800, 2Wire 3801, 2Wire i38HG, 2Wire i3812v
Netgear: Netgear 6200, Netgear 7550

If you’re using other networking equipment (a third-party router, repeater, switch, access point, etc.), you’ll need to contact the manufacturer to find out if it is IPv6-compatible. Most users with IPv6-compatible equipment won’t need any extra setup to use IPv6 on AT&T’s network.

Device Type

Most computers have IPv6 enabled by default. If you don’t, here’s how to enable IPv6 on your Windows^® 10 computer:

Open your Start menu and choose your Settings icon.
Select Network & Internet.
Scroll to Advanced network settings and choose Change adapter options.
Right-click your current network connection and select Properties.
Scroll to Internet Protocol Version 6.
Check the Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) box.
Select OK to save your changes for the selected network adapter.

Last updated: February 27, 2023

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