No valid IP configuration: how to fix it
Fix Windows' 'Wi-Fi doesn't have a valid IP configuration' and Ethernet errors: renew your IP, reset networking, and reinstall drivers.
In short: Windows couldn't get a working address from your router. Run our troubleshooter to test your connection.
What it means
Every device on your network needs an address from the router. This Windows message means the router didn't provide one, or Windows couldn't use it. The same message can appear for Ethernet.
Common causes
- The router's address service (DHCP) is stuck.
- A network driver problem.
- Corrupted Windows network settings.
- A manually set IP address that no longer fits your network.
How to fix it
- Restart your router and modem. Unplug both for 30 seconds, plug in the modem first, then the router.
- Renew your address: in Command Prompt run
ipconfig /releasethenipconfig /renew. - Reset networking: open Command Prompt as administrator, run
netsh winsock resetandnetsh int ip reset, then restart. - Set the address to automatic: in Settings > Network & internet, open your connection's properties and make sure IP assignment is Automatic (DHCP).
- Reinstall the network driver: in Device Manager, under Network adapters, uninstall your Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter and restart; Windows reinstalls it.
Still stuck? Our "Fix my internet" troubleshooter measures your connection and suggests the next step.
Last updated October 2026.