How To Configure Windows To Automatically Switch Between Static And DHCP Network

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It is annoying to keep on changing the network TCP/IP properties for a mobile computer user who needs to work in DHCP and static IP network environment from time to time, especially when you are in the hurry to solve an urgent issue or need to get the task completed as sooner as possible. The problem can be solved by Alternate Configuration functionality, which will auto detect the network change and switches for you automatically without the hassle to manually configure it.

By applying this solution, your laptop will be auto switched from dynamic to static IP setting automatically if no DHCP server is detected. To enable Alternate Configuration:

Go to Start menu > Control Panel.

control panel

For Windows XP : Click Network Connections

For Windows Vista : Click Network and Sharing Center > Manage Network Connections

manage


Right click Local Area Connection and select Properties.

prop

Under General tab, scroll down until you see Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), select it and click Properties.

general

Go to Alternate Configuration tab, select User configured. Enter the static IP of your alternate location. This setting is to allow TCP/IP to use static IP once DHCP server is not found.

general

If you work in office with DHCP server enabled, your laptop will use primary configuration to obtain dynamic IP automatically, once your laptop switches to static IP environment such as at home, your laptop will be auto switched to alternate configuration with the static IP you have configured.

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  • http://www.redmondpie.com Imran

    Great tip. Was looking for such a thing. Except for that the Alternate Configuration tab doesn’t show up for me!

  • http://www.redmondpie.com Imran

    ok I got it to work. If you already have some static ip settings in the general tab, the alternate config tab wont show, so you’ll have to clear those settings first.
    But even after that, my WiFi doesn’t automatically detect the settings. Means I still have to manually change them.

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  • Milujciesie

    Same problem! I entered Alternate Configurations IP addresses, but Vista doesn’t know when to use it.

  • Anna

    awsome!!! thanks a million. simple but powerful help!!!

  • Need Real Answers

    Doesn’t work.  You need to expand this article to include more situations such as mixed wireless and wired connections.  At work I connect wireless to a DHCP network, but wired to a device which needs a static IP address.  At home I want the wired connection to connect to DHCP.  You give the simple answer but waste the time of everyone else.

    • soder

      obviously the writer of this article never tested his suggestion in real life, as it does not seem to work at all. Additionally, he doesnt give a shit about comments below the article, as no replies has been sent. Why the hell even allow comments if you dont give a shit?