Genetically downregulated IL‐6 signaling (30% decrement in C‐reactive protein via 26 IL6R variants) was not associated with small vessel stroke (odds ratio [OR], 1.02 [95% CI, 0.95–1.10]), magnetic resonance imaging‐confirmed lacunar stroke (OR, 0.95, [95% CI, 0.81–1.11]), nonlobar intracerebral hemorrhage (OR, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.72–1.50]), or vascular dementia (OR, 1.09 [95% CI, 0.95–1.25]). Here, IL6R is linked to small vessel stroke.