How to Fix a “Wi-Fi Doesn’t Have a Valid IP Configuration” Error

If a restart doesn’t work, try these fixes

A “Wi-Fi doesn’t have a valid IP configuration” error message in Windows 10 or 11 happens when your PC fails to secure a functioning IP (Internet Protocol) address over Wi-Fi. You may also come across asimilar IP-related error with Ethernet.

If restarting your computer didn’t fix the problem (try that if you haven’t already), then the following troubleshooting tips should help you sort things out.

Restart Your Router

In most cases, the “Wi-Fi doesn’t have a valid IP configuration” error shows up due to random faults on the router side. The solution—restart your router.

Turn the router off, wait at least ten seconds, and then turn it back on. When your computer re-establishes its Wi-Fi connection, see if you can access the internet.

Reset Your Wireless Network Adapter

Disabling and re-enabling your PC’s wireless network adapter is another potential fix for connectivity-related issues in Windows.

  1. PressWindows+Rto open the Run box.

  2. Typencpa.cpland selectOK.

  3. In the Network and Sharing Center, right-click the wireless network adapter and selectDisable.

  4. Wait at least ten seconds.

  5. Right-click the Wi-Fi adapter again and selectEnable.

Renew Your PC’s IP Lease

If restarting the router or disabling/re-enabling the wireless network adapter doesn’t resolve the issue, you can force your computer intorenewing its IP leaseby running a few commands via Windows PowerShell. The same commands also work in Command Prompt or the new Windows Terminal if you prefer to use that.

  1. PressWindows+Xand selectWindows PowerShell.

  2. Type each of the commands below, pressing theEnterkey after each and waiting for the process to finish:

  3. Exit Windows PowerShell.

Reset the TCP/IP Stack

If renewing the IP lease didn’t help, you shouldreset your PC’s TCP/IP stack. That requires running another couple of commands, but this time you’ll need to run them in an elevated Windows PowerShell console (one you run with admin privileges). As before, you can also use these commands in Command Prompt or Terminal, as long as you run them as administrator.

  1. PressWindows+Xand selectWindows PowerShell (Admin).

  2. Run each of the commands below, pressingEnterafter each line and waiting for the process to finish:

  3. Exit the PowerShell window and restart the computer. If a corrupted TCP/IP stack was at the source of the error, you should be able to connect online without problems.

Reinstall the Wireless Network Adapter

If you still receive the “Wi-Fi doesn’t have a valid IP configuration” error message, try uninstalling and reinstalling the wireless network adapter on your computer. That should rule out a corrupted driver.

  1. PressWindows+Xand selectDevice Manager.

  2. ExpandNetwork adapters.

  3. Right-click your wireless network adapter and selectDisable device.

  4. SelectYes.

  5. Right-click the wireless network adapter again and selectUninstall device.

  6. Reboot your computer, and it should re-install the wireless network adapter automatically.

Note:If your computer fails to detect and install the wireless network adapter after the restart, open the Device Manager again, right-click your PC’s name to the top, and selectScan for hardware changes.

Update the Wireless Network Adapter

If disabling and reinstalling the wireless network adapter didn’t help, try updating its driver. Windows installs a generic driver by default, but it’s a good idea to grab an up-to-date copy from the device manufacturer’s website. You must—obviously—use a device with an active internet connection for that.

Once you’ve downloaded and transferred the driver setup file, just run it and follow all on-screen instructions to update the wireless network adapter.

Obtain the IP Address Automatically

Have you configured your PC’s wireless network adapter with a custom IP address and DNS settings? If so, you should switch back to obtaining them automatically.

  1. PressWindows+Rto open theRunbox. Then, typencpa.cpland selectOK.

  2. Right-click the Wi-Fi adapter and selectProperties.

  3. Under theNetworkingtab, double-clickInternet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Properties.

  4. Select the radio buttons next toObtain an IP address automaticallyandObtain DNS server address automatically.

  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 forInternet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) Properties.

Change the Router’s SSID and Password

Another way to fix the “Wi-Fi doesn’t have a valid IP configuration” error is tochange the SSID and passwordof your router. To do that, you must visit the router’s settings.

Note:You need the router’s gateway IP, username, and password to access its settings. You can typically find the details on a label somewhere on the router itself.

  1. Enter the gateway IP into a new browser tab—in Chrome, Firefox, or Edge—and pressEnter.

  2. Log in to the router using the username and password.

  3. Sift through the router settings and change the SSID and password. Then, save your changes.

Once you’ve done that, you must update your PC’s connection to the router with the new SSID and password. Don’t forget to update the network on other devices that connect to it as well.

Run the Network Adapter Troubleshooter

Now that you’ve worked through several fixes, it’s time to diagnose your Wi-Fi connection once more using the network troubleshooter.

If you run into the “Wi-Fi doesn’t have a valid IP configuration” again, move on to the next fix.

Reset Your PC’s Network Settings

It’s time toreset your PC’s network settings. That should revert every network-related setting to its default and likely patch out incorrect or corrupt configurations for good.

After resetting the network settings, reconnect to Wi-Fi, and you probably won’t run into the “Wi-Fi doesn’t have a valid IP configuration” error anymore.

The Wi-Fi IP Configuration Is Valid

You can usually resolve the “Wi-Fi doesn’t have a valid IP configuration” error by restarting the router, resetting the wireless network adapter, or renewing the IP lease. But if the issue recurs after some time, we recommend you work through some of the advanced fixes above until it goes away permanently.

Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer and blogger with three years of experience writing for online technology publications. He specializes in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Google web apps. When he isn’t hammering away at his Magic Keyboard, you can catch him binge-watching productivity hacks on YouTube.Read Dilum’s Full Bio

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