WiFi networks are more often than not the easiest way of getting our devices online. All you have to do is punch in a password, and you’re good to go. However, it doesn’t always work like that.

In this article, we’re looking at WiFi doesn’t have a valid IP configuration error, its causes and how you can fix the problem at hand.

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Why does this error occur?

The WiFi doesn’t have a valid IP configuration error mainly because of your router’s DHCP IP assignment issues. However, other common causes include:

• Network intrusive antivirus settings.
• Outdated or corrupt network drivers.
• Incorrect DHCP settings on your router.

Also read: Can your WiFi get hacked? Is sharing WiFi passwords a bad idea?

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How to fix this?

Here are a few solutions you can try out to see if they solve your problem.

Restart your router

As always, the first step of troubleshooting anything is to reboot the device that may be causing the issue.

It almost seems like a joke now, but rebooting your device does have some pretty surprising results, and you might be able to resolve many seemingly random issues.

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Security apps and Antiviruses

Although rare, antiviruses, antimalware or other security apps may disable your machine’s internet access to protect it from any malware that might be on your machine. 

Try disabling any such apps on your system and reconnect to the network to check it resolves your issue. 

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Disable your firewall

Now, this might not sound like a good idea. Still, overly protective firewalls can interfere with internet connectivity altogether and even with network adaptors such as WiFi cards, especially if you’ve got a third-party firewall guarding you.

The best way to test this is to disable the firewall and check if the WiFi is working again. If it is, the firewall is the culprit; if not, it could indicate a problem with the drivers or the hardware itself.

Also read: How to fix WiFi Authentication error?

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Updating the driver

If restarting the router didn’t help, try manually updating the WiFi driver.

Step 1: Press Windows key + R, type in devmgmt.msc and hit enter.

Step 2: Double click Network adaptors to expand it and right click your WiFi card. Click on Update driver.

Step 3: Select Search automatically for drivers, and Windows will find and install any available updates. 

Now try reconnecting to the network, and the error should’ve resolved itself.

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Change the SSID and Password of your network

Changing the SSID and password of your WiFi network will allow your PC to register it as a new network and create new saves and IP configuration settings instead of using the old ones, which might be corrupt or damaged.

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Reset your Windows Network settings

Resetting your network settings will take care of any corruptions or misconfigured settings that might be causing problems.

Step 1: Press Windows key + X and select Network Connections.

Step 2: Select Advanced Network Settings.

Step 3: Click Network reset to reset your network.

Now restart your PC, and you should be good to go.

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Run the Windows troubleshooter

Windows comes with many handy troubleshooters that are quite effective at rooting out problems from your PC. First, try running the Network Adaptor troubleshooter to see if it can resolve the issue. 

Step 1: Press Windows Key + I to open Windows Settings. Click on Update and Security. 

Step 2: Head over to the Troubleshoot tab and click on Additional troubleshooter.

Step 3: Find and run the Network Adaptor troubleshooter.

Once the troubleshooter has finished running, restart your PC and try again.

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Check your DNS settings

If you’re running custom DNS settings whether on purpose or by mistake, having them set incorrectly can cause internet connectivity issues. Flushing your DNS settings can set them back to the default values and can resolve such issues. Here’s how. 

Step 1: Press Windows key + R, type cmd and hit the Enter key.

Step 2: Type in ipconfig /flushdns and hit enter. This will reset your DNS settings to their defaults.

You can take this a step further and reset files that Windows uses to access the internet by using these commands back to back.

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset

If you suspect an issue with your router’s DHCP assignment, use these commands to release your old IP and request a new one. 

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

If that doesn’t work either, you can use the following commands in the order that they’re listed to reset your network stack.

ipconfig/flushdns
nbtstat -R
nbtstat -RR
netsh int ip reset C:\resetlog.txt
netsh winsock reset

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Check for IP Address conflicts

If you can connect to other WiFi networks just fine, it could indicate an IP conflict on your router. 

Another way to confirm this is to ping your router’s default address through the command prompt. Type in ping [router IP address] in the command prompt, and if you get a Request timed out error, you’re most probably having an IP conflict issue. Here’s how you can fix this.

Step 1: Press Windows key + I to open the Windows settings.

Step 2: Click on Network & Internet.

Step 3: Click on Change adaptor options.

Step 4: Right-click on your WiFi network and click Properties.

Step 5: Find Internet Protocol Version 4 in the list, click on it and then click Properties. 

Step 6: Make sure that all settings are set to automatic. 

Now reconnect to your network, and it should connect seamlessly.

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Reset your router

If nothing else has worked for you so far, resetting your router is pretty much the last option you’re left with. However, keep in mind that if your ISP has done some custom settings on your router, you will lose them and have to do everything again.

While you can reset routers using their settings page, we recommend using the physical reset switch on your router. Then, look up the instructions specific to your router accordingly and follow along. 

Also read: Chromebook keeps disconnecting from WiFi: 13 Fixes