When multiple devices on your network try to use the same IP address, your internet connection can break down. This happens because each device needs its own unique address to communicate properly on the network, much like every house needs its own mailing address for correct mail delivery.
IP conflicts typically occur when your router assigns the same address to multiple devices, or when manually configured addresses overlap. These issues can stem from DHCP glitches, static IP misconfigurations, or devices returning from sleep mode with outdated address assignments.
Method 1: Release and renew IP address
This quick command-line solution is the most effective way to resolve most IP conflicts by forcing your computer to get a fresh IP address from the router.
- Press the Start button, type “Command Prompt”, right-click it and select “Run as administrator”
- Click “Yes” when prompted by User Account Control
- Type
ipconfig /releaseand press Enter to clear your current IP address
- Type
ipconfig /renewand press Enter to get a new IP address
Method 2: Reset network adapter
This method works well when the IP conflict persists after trying the first method.
- Open Control Panel through the Start menu search
- Switch View by to “Large icons”
- Select “Network and Sharing Center”
- Click “Change adapter settings” on the left side
- Right-click your network connection (WiFi or Ethernet) and choose “Disable”
- Wait 30 seconds, then right-click again and select “Enable”
Method 3: Restart router
If multiple devices have IP conflicts, rebooting the router often helps by clearing its address assignments.
- Access your router’s web interface by typing 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 in your browser
- Log in using your router credentials
- Navigate to System Tools or System settings
- Click the Reboot option
Method 4: Switch to automatic IP settings
Manual IP configurations can cause conflicts. Switching to automatic addressing often resolves these issues.
- Open Control Panel
- Change view to “Large icons”
- Click “Network and Sharing Center”
- Select “Change adapter settings”
- Right-click your network adapter and select “Properties”
- Double-click “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)”
- Choose “Obtain an IP address automatically” and “Obtain DNS server address automatically”
Method 5: Disable IPv6
As a last resort, turning off IPv6 might help if your network mainly uses IPv4.
- Navigate to Network and Sharing Center
- Click “Change adapter settings”
- Right-click your network adapter and select “Properties”
- Uncheck “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)” and click OK
