How to Fix a Wi-Fi Doesn’t Have a Valid IP Configuration Error in Window 10

How to Fix a â€œWi-Fi Doesnâ€™t Have a Valid IP Configurationâ€ Error in Window 10.

Do you keep getting the “Wi-Fi does not have a valid IP configuration” error when diagnosing an inactive Internet connection in Windows 10? This happens when your computer is unable to protect a valid IP address (Internet Protocol) over Wi-Fi. You may also encounter a similar IP-related error with Ethernet.

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If restarting your computer didn’t fix the problem (try this if you haven’t already), then the troubleshooting tips below should help you figure things out.

Restart Your Router

In most cases, the error “Wi-Fi does not have a valid IP configuration” appears due to random failures on the side of the router. Solution – restart your router.

Start by turning off your router. Then wait at least 10 seconds before turning it back on. Once your computer regains its Wi-Fi connection, check if you can access the Internet without problems.

Reset Wireless Network Adapter

Disabling and then re-enabling the wireless adapter on your PC is another effective solution to connection problems in Windows 10.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run window.

2. Enter ncpa.cpl and click OK.

3. When the Network and Sharing Center appears on the screen, right-click the wireless adapter and select Disable.

4. Wait 10 seconds.

5. Right-click the Wi-Fi adapter again and select Enable.

Renew Your PCâ€™s IP Lease

If restarting your router or disabling / re-enabling your wireless adapter does not resolve the issue, you should force the IP lease on your computer to renew. You can do this by running several commands through Windows PowerShell.

1. Press Windows + X and select Windows PowerShell.

2. Run the following commands one after the other, pressing Enter:

ipconfig / release
ipconfig / flushdns (optional)
ipconfig / update

3. Close Windows PowerShell.

Reset the TCP/IP Stack

If renewing your IP lease does not help, you should reset your PC’s TCP / IP stack. To do this, you will again need to run a couple of commands, but this time through an elevated Windows PowerShell console.

1. Press Windows + X and select Windows PowerShell (administrator).

2. Run the following commands one after the other while holding down the Enter key:

netsh winsock reset catalog
netsh int ip reset

3. Close the command line console and restart your computer. If the error was caused by a corrupted TCP / IP stack, you should be able to connect to the network without any problems.

Reinstall the Wireless Network Adapter

If you still get the error “Wi-Fi does not have a valid IP configuration”, you need to uninstall and reinstall the wireless adapter on your computer. This should take the corrupted driver out of the equation.

1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.

2. Expand Network Adapters.

3. Right-click the wireless adapter and select Disable device.

4. Select “Yes”.

5. Right-click the wireless adapter again and select Remove Device.

6. Restart your computer and it should automatically reinstall the wireless adapter.

Note. If your computer is unable to detect and install the wireless adapter after restarting, open Device Manager again, right-click your PC name at the top and select Scan for hardware changes.

Update the Wireless Network Adapter

If disabling and reinstalling the wireless adapter does not work, you need to update its driver. Windows 10 installs a generic driver by default, but it is recommended that you obtain the latest copy from the device manufacturer’s website. Obviously, you must use a device with an active Internet connection for this.

After downloading and uploading the driver installation file, simply launch it and follow all on-screen instructions to update your wireless adapter.

Obtain the IP Address Automatically

Have you configured your PC’s wireless adapter with a custom IP address and DNS settings? In this case, you should return to receiving them automatically.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run window. Then enter ncpa.cpl and click OK.

2. Right-click the Wi-Fi adapter and select Properties.

3. On the Networking tab, double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP / IPv4) Properties.

4. Select the radio buttons next to Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP / IPv6) properties.

Change the Routerâ€™s SSID and Password

Another way to fix the “Wi-Fi does not have a valid IP configuration” error is to change the SSID and password of your router. To do this, you need to visit the router settings.

Note. To access its settings, you need the gateway IP address, username and password. You can usually find the details on a label somewhere on the router itself.

1. Enter the gateway IP address in a new browser tab â€” in Chrome, Firefox, or Edge â€” and press Enter.

2. Log in to the router using your username and password.

3. Review the router settings and change the SSID and password. Then save your changes.

Once you have done this, you need to update your PC’s connection to the router with the new SSID and password. Do not forget to update the network on other devices that connect to it.

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Run the Network Adapter Troubleshooter

Now that you’ve fixed a significant number of fixes, it’s time to diagnose your Wi-Fi connection again with the Windows 10 Network Troubleshooter.

1. Press Windows + X and select Network Connections.

2. Select a network troubleshooter.

3. Select Wi-Fi. Then click Next and follow the onscreen instructions to resolve any issues.

If you encounter the error “Wi-Fi does not have a valid IP configuration” again, continue with the next fix.

Reset Your PCâ€™s Network Settings

It’s time to reset the network settings on your computer. This should reset all network settings to their defaults and probably fix incorrect or corrupted configurations permanently.

1. Press Windows + X and select Network Connections.

2. Select “Network Reset”.

3. Select “Reset Now”.

After resetting the network settings, reconnect to Wi-Fi and you will probably no longer encounter the “Wi-Fi does not have a valid IP configuration” error.

The Wi-Fi IP Configuration Is Valid

Typically, the “Wi-Fi does not have a valid IP configuration” error can be resolved by restarting the router, resetting the wireless adapter, or renewing the IP lease. But if the problem persists after a while, we recommend that you work on some of the advanced fixes described above until it goes away forever.

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How to Fix a â€œWi-Fi Doesnâ€™t Have a Valid IP Configurationâ€ Error in Window 10