The “Wi-Fi doesn’t have a valid IP configuration” error mostly happens due to driver issues, misalignment of routers and PC IP addresses, or DNS problems. This error is inconvenient, as it prevents you from connecting to the wireless network. Fortunately, it’s quite easy to fix the Wi-Fi connection issue without formatting your PC. Let’s take a look at the potential solutions.
1. Restart PC and Router
Begin the troubleshooting journey by rebooting your computer and router. To reboot the router, unplug it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in again. Sometimes such a simple solution can resolve the error.
2. Run Windows Troubleshooter
Next, try running the Windows Troubleshooter to detect and fix the issue.
Use the Win + X keyboard shortcut to open “Settings” on your Windows PC.
Go to “Network & Internet.”
Choose “Status” from the left sidebar and click on “Network troubleshooter” in the right panel.
Wait for the troubleshooter to identify the issue and offer a solution.
3. Temporarily Disable Your Antivirus
Many Windows 10 folks recommend turning off Antivirus services, as it may prompt Windows to assign a valid IP. Whether you are using Windows Defender or a third-party antivirus program, consider turning it off followed by restarting your computer to resolve the issue.
4. Reset TCP/IP Stack
One of the most recommended solutions for the “Wi-Fi doesn’t have a valid IP configuration” error is to reset the TCP/IP stack on your PC. Here are the steps to reset it:
Press Win + X and type “CMD” or “Command Prompt” in the search bar.
Click on “Run as administrator” in Command Prompt to open it.
In the Command Prompt window, type
and hit Enter. Wait for the command to run.
Next, run the command:
Close the Command Prompt window and restart your PC.
5. Renew IP Lease and Flush DNS Cache
If the commands above don’t work to provide you with a valid IP, try flushing the DNS cache with the commands listed here.
Open Command Prompt.
Type the following commands, one line at a time:
Restart your computer after closing Command Prompt
6. Check IP Address Settings
Did you recently change your computer’s IP address or DNS settings? If so, you should switch from manual to automatic settings or vice versa to solve the problem.
Open Settings and go to “Network & Internet.”
Click on the “Change adapter options” under the “Advanced network settings” section. The Network connections screen will appear. You can also reach this screen by typing “ncpa.cpl” in the Windows search.
Right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter and select “Properties.”
From the pop-up window that opens, click on “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and hit the “Properties” button.
Click on the buttons next to “Obtain an IP address automatically” and “Obtain DNS server address automatically” to enable automatic settings. If those are already selected, enable the radio buttons next to “Use the following IP address” and “Use the following DNS server addresses.” Enter the addresses as shown in the screenshot below. For the DNS server, we used Google DNS, but you are free to use something else.Note: you may need to cross-check the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway values with your router.
Click “OK” to save the changes.
If this fix doesn’t solve the issue, switch back to the original settings.
7. Disable Wireless Network Adapter
Many times, disabling and enabling the wireless network adapter might jumpstart the IP configuration process and assign you a valid IP. Follow these steps:
Right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter and select “Disable.”
Wait for 10 to 15 seconds. Right-click on the same adapter again and choose “Enable” from the menu.
8. Update Wireless Network Adapter
Try updating the wireless network adapter, as described below.
Open “Device Manager” using Windows search.
Expand the Network adapters section. Right-click on your wireless adapter and select “Update driver.” Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
9. Reinstall Wireless Network Adapter
The Wi-Fi IP configuration issue can also be resolved by uninstalling and reinstalling the wireless network adaptor. Use the following steps to achieve this.
Open “Device Manager’ on your computer.
Right-click on your wireless adapter present under the “Network adapters” section. Select “Uninstall device” from the menu.
Once uninstalled, restart your computer. This will reinstall the wireless network adapter automatically. If the network adapter is not installed for some reason, click on the “Action” menu item followed by “Scan for hardware changes” in Device Manager.
10. Reset Network Settings
If nothing seems to fix the “Wi-Fi doesn’t have a valid IP configuration” error, you should reset your PC’s network settings. Be careful, as it will revert all the network-related settings to their original configurations, and you will need to set up the networks again.
Open Settings and go to ‘Network connections.”
From the left sidebar, select the “Status” tab. Scroll down and click on the “Network reset” option.
Restart your PC. Hopefully, the Wi-Fi will start working.
11. Change Router Properties
Apart from modifying various network settings on your PC, you should try the router properties as well. Changing the router’s SSID and password would be the first step, followed by changing the Wi-Fi router security from WAP2/WAP3 to WAP/WAP2. It may trigger Windows to set this up as a new network, bypassing the error.
Finally, reset the router. But first, make sure you know how to reconfigure the router. Do read our post on how to troubleshoot a router for more help.
Take Control of the Network
After the Internet is working again on your PC, find out how to increase network speed and monitor Internet usage. You can also install Wi-Fi analyzer apps for Windows.
Mehvish is a tech lover from Kashmir. With a degree in computer engineering, she’s always been happy to help anyone who finds technology challenging. She’s been writing about technology for over six years, and her favorite topics include how-to guides, explainers, tips and tricks for Android, iOS/iPadOS, Windows, social media, and web apps.
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