Windows: Release and Renew IP Addresses
Under normal conditions, a device can use the same IP address indefinitely. Networks usually reassign correct addresses to devices when they first join. However, technical glitches with DHCP and network hardware can lead to IP conflicts and other problems that prevent the networking system from working correctly.
When to Release and Renew the IP Address
Scenarios in which releasing the IP address and then renewing it might be beneficial include:
When connecting a computer to a modem.When physically moving a computer from one network to another, such as from an office network to home or home to a hotspot.When experiencing an unexpected network outage.
Release and Renew an IP Address With Command Prompt
Here’s how to release and renew the address of any computer running the Windows operating system.
More Information About IP Release and Renew
Windows may receive the same IP address after renewal as it had before. This phenomenon is normal. The desired effect of deleting the old connection and starting a new one occurs independently of which address numbers are involved. Attempts to renew the IP address may fail. One possible error message may read:
An error occurred while renewing interface [interface name]: unable to contact your DHCP server. Request has timed out.
This error indicates that the DHCP server may be malfunctioning or is unreachable. Reboot the client device or the server before proceeding. Windows also provide a troubleshooting section in Network and Sharing Center and Network Connections. These troubleshooting tools run diagnostics that include an equivalent IP renewal procedure if it detects that it’s needed.
