Using ping6 on macOS | Generated by AI
Question: How do I use the ping6 command on macOS?
Answer:
ping6 is the IPv6 version of the classic ping tool on macOS (and some other Unix-like systems). Unlike the GNU/Linux version, macOS’s ping6 (provided by Apple) has a slightly different syntax and does not support --help or long options.
Basic Usage
ping6 ipv6-address
ping6 hostname
Common Options (macOS version)
| Option | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
-c count |
Send only count pings then exit |
ping6 -c 10 2606:4700:4700::1111 |
-i wait |
Wait wait seconds between pings (default 1) |
ping6 -i 0.2 2001:db8::1 |
-s packetsize |
Set packet size in bytes (default 56) | ping6 -s 1000 2606:4700:4700::1111 |
-I interface |
Source interface (useful on multi-homed Macs) | ping6 -I en0 2001:db8::1 |
-b boundif |
Bind socket to specific interface (Apple) | ping6 -b en0 2001:db8::1 |
-D |
Disable fragmentation (set DF bit) | ping6 -D 2606:4700:4700::1111 |
-n |
Numeric only (no hostname resolution) | ping6 -n 2001:db8::1 |
-a addrtype |
Audible ping (beep on reply) — aabr etc. |
ping6 -aa 2001:db8::1 |
-W timeout |
Wait timeout ms for reply |
ping6 -W 500 2001:db8::1 |
-t timeout |
Quit after timeout seconds regardless |
ping6 -t 30 2001:db8::1 |
Useful Everyday Examples
# Simple ping to Cloudflare DNS
ping6 2606:4700:4700::1111
# Ping Google DNS with 10 packets only
ping6 -c 10 2001:4860:4860::8888
# Fast ping (0.1 s interval)
ping6 -i 0.1 2606:4700:4700::1111
# Large packets (can help test MTU issues)
ping6 -D -s 1450 2606:4700:4700::1111
# Force using Wi-Fi interface (en0) instead of Ethernet
ping6 -b en0 2001:db8::1
Quick Test if Your Mac Has IPv6 Connectivity
ping6 -c 4 ipv6.google.com
If you get replies → IPv6 is working.
If you get “No route to host” or 100% packet loss → IPv6 is disabled or not provided by your ISP.
That’s essentially all you need for daily use of ping6 on macOS!