Wi-Fi Doesn’t Have a Valid IP Configuration (Windows 10) – FIXED

Any device that connects to the internet has an IP address. The device doesn’t necessarily need to have a control panel of any sort as long as it’s able to connect to a WiFi or Ethernet network. Connecting to a WiFi network on a computer is easy; you generally only need the password to the network but the process of establishing the connection isn’t as simple. A lot goes on in the background.

IP configuration failure?

An IP configuration on a normal desktop OS like Windows 10 involves an IP address, a DNS server setting, a channel that the signal will be sent/received over, and more. Most of these settings are set automatically when a system is first set up and a network is configured on a router.

Users can modify them if they need to and certain apps as well as router updates may also change the settings that are needed to connect to a network. When these settings are not correct, users are unable to connect to the internet. If you’re getting the Wi-Fi doesn’t have valid IP configuration error on a Windows 10 system, there are a few things you can try to fix it.

Wi-Fi doesn’t have a valid IP configuration

IP configuration is an all-encompassing term that refers to several different settings. We’re going to troubleshoot all of them in order to fix the Wi-Fi doesn’t have valid IP configuration error.

1. Power cycle system and router

Wi-Fi networks are fairly easy to configure. If there’s been a change in the network settings, a simple router and system restart will allow Windows 10 to detect and apply them.

1. Shut down your Windows 10 system.
2. Locate the physical power button on the router (do not attempt to unplug the router).
3. Press and hold the power button for 10-15 seconds, and then release it.
4. Wait for 30 seconds.
5. Press the power button to turn the router back on.
6. Allow the lights on the router to stabilize.
7. Boot up your Windows 10 system, and connect to the network and check for internet access.

2. Run the network repair tool

It’s possible that your network settings have changed but Windows 10 is unable to detect/update them after a restart. In that case, the network troubleshooter will be able to do the job.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to the Update and Security group of settings.
3. Select the Troubleshoot tab.
4. Scroll down, and click Additional Troubleshooters.
5. Run the Internet Connection troubleshooter, and then the Network Adapter troubleshooter.
6. Apply any fixes that it recommends, and restart the system.

3. Renew IP address

Most IP configurations problems stem from and can be resolved by fixing problems or conflicts with the IP address that is assigned to your computer. In this case, renewing it will often do the job.

1. Open Command Prompt with admin rights.
2. Run the following command.

ipconfig /release

3. Next, run the following command.

ipconfig /renew

4. Restart the system.

4. Reset TCP/IP Stack

1. Open Command Prompt with admin rights.
2. Run the following command.

netsh winsock reset catalog

3. Next, run this second command.

netsh int ipv4 reset reset.log

4. Next command to run;

netsh int ipv6 reset reset.log

5. Restart your system.

5. Change bandwidth channel

A router transmits a signal over different channels. Likewise, your system can receive the signal over different channels. If a channel is too busy, or the system and router’s channels do not match up, it can cause the Wi-Fi doesn’t have valid IP configuration error. The simple solution is to set your system to automatically select the right channel.

1. Open File Explorer.
2. In the location bar, enter the following, and tap the Enter key.

Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center

3. Click your WiFi network.
4. In the window that opens, click ‘Properties’ under the ‘Activity’ section.
5. On the next window, click the Configure button.
6. On the next window, go to the Advanced tab.
7. Look for ‘Channel Width for 2.4GHz’
8. Open the Value dropdown, and select Auto.
9. Restart the system.

6. Manually configure IP

While your system automatically sets up everything you need to connect to the internet, you do have the option to manually configure the IP. The configurations can vary but we’re going to give you a set of configurations that should resolve the Wi-Fi doesn’t have valid IP configuration error.

1. Open Command Prompt.
2. Run the following command;

ipconfig

3. Note down the values under Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi.
4. Open Control Panel.
5. Go to Network and Internet>Network and Sharing Center.
6. Click your WiFi network.
7. Click ‘Properties’ under the ‘Activity’ section.
8. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 and click ‘Properties’.
9. Select the ‘Use the following IP address’ option.
10. Enter the credentials you copied from the Command Prompt command. Change the final value for IP address to something else. This will be hit & miss. You cannot set an address that’s used by another device on the network.
11. Next, select the ‘Use the following DNS server addresses’ option.
12. Enter the following in the Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server respectively.

8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4

13. Click Ok.
14. Restart the system.

Conclusion

You cannot connect to the internet unless your system is correctly configured but Windows 10 doesn’t tell you much if there’s something wrong with these settings.

The above solutions will work if the problem is on your system however, if you think your router settings have changed, call your ISP or check them yourself if you know how to.

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Fatima Wahab

Fatima has been writing for AddictiveTips for six years. She began as a junior writer and has been working as the Editor in Chief since 2014. Fatima gets an adrenaline rush from figuring out how technology works, and how to manipulate it. A well-designed app, something that solves a common everyday problem and looks

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