set static ip address on mac

How to Set a Static IP Address on a Mac

  Matt Cone        February 19, 2021      Tutorials Mac Network

When your Mac is connected to a private network in a home or office, it’s probably assigned what’s known as a dynamic IP address . (To check, see How to Find Your Mac’s IP Address .) That’s not a problem for the majority of users - most people don’t care whether their IP addresses changes or not. But dynamic IP addresses won’t work for certain tasks like port forwarding, dynamic DNS, or client-to-client file sharing on the local network. For those unique situations and others, only a static IP address will work.

By setting a static IP address in macOS, you’ll create a permanent, private IP address for your Mac that won’t change from one day to the next. Other devices connected to the local network will be able to access your Mac, and if you set up port forwarding, certain services running on your Mac will be accessible to the outside world.

Here’s how to set a static IP address in macOS:

If you own a MacBook, you may want to create a new network location. This will allow you to use the static IP address for certain networks and not others. See How to Configure Network Locations in OS X for instructions.

From the Apple menu, select System Preferences .

Select Network . The window shown below appears.

From the sidebar, select an active network interface. In this example, I’m connected to a wireless network, so I’ll select Wi-Fi .

Make a note of the current IP address assigned to your Mac. You’ll need to select a new IP address from within the private IP address range listed. More on that in a minute.

Click Advanced .

Select TCP/IP . The window shown below appears.

From the Configure IPv4 menu, select Manually .

Enter a static IP address in the IPv4 Address field. What number should you enter? One method is to take your current IP address and change the last part of the number. In this example, I could have picked any address between 192.168.7.0 and 192.168.7.255 , as long as the address was not already assigned to another device.

Click Apply .

Congratulations! You have successfully set a static IP address for your Mac. Now the other devices on the private network can access your Mac by using the static IP address you assigned it. Just remember to switch network locations if you start using a different network - others may not take kindly to you using a static IP address on their network.

Related Articles

• How to Find Your Mac’s IP Address
• How to Configure Network Locations in OS X

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How to Change the IP Address on a Mac

Fix local network conflicts or get around regional content locks

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What to Know

• Select the Apple icon and select System Preferences > Network .
• Choose your network. Select Advanced , go to the TCP/IP tab, and then write down your current IP address.
• Choose Manually in the drop-down menu next to Configure IPv6 (or IPv4 ). Enter a compatible IP address. Choose OK > Apply .

This article explains how to change the local IP address on a Mac using System Preferences. It also includes information on changing the IP on a Mac using a proxy and on changing the IP address with a VPN.

How to Change the Local IP Address on a Mac

Your Internet Protocol (IP) address is like a street address but for the internet. On your home network, each device has its own IP address that is used to route data within the network. There are a few different ways to change the IP address on a Mac , so you need to know why you're changing it to make sure you use the right method.

If you want to change the local IP address on a Mac, you can do so in the network settings.

Click the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of the screen, and select System Preferences .

Click Network .

Click your current network on the left and then click Advanced in the lower-right corner of the window.

Click the TCP/IP tab.

Make note of the IP address displayed in this window. Your new IP address needs to be identical, with only the third number changed. For example, you can change 192.168.7.10 to 192.168.7.100.

Click the drop-down box next to Configure IPv6 (or IPv4) and select Manually .

Enter the IP address you want to use, and click OK .

Verify that your new local IP address is displayed and click Apply .

Verify that you are able to connect to the internet. If you chose a new IP that's already in use, you may encounter a conflict. Restart the router to clear the conflict.

How to Change the IP on a Mac Using a Proxy

A proxy server is a server that you place between yourself and the internet. You connect to the proxy server, it passes on requests for data, and then it returns data back to you. One consequence of using a proxy is that doing so causes traffic that comes from your computer to appear as if it has come from the public IP address of the proxy server.

If you want to use a proxy server, you need to either find a free proxy server or pay for a proxy server. You can also set one up yourself, although that is a lot more complicated. To make things easier, here's a list of the best free proxy servers and also useful information on how to find free proxy servers.

Here's how to change your IP using a proxy server on a Mac:

Click the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of the screen and select System Preferences .

Click the Proxies tab.

Select SOCKS Proxy unless your proxy provider specified a different option.

Enter the information provided by your proxy provider and click OK .

Click Apply .

Verify that your internet works and check your public IP to make sure it has changed. If there is a problem, repeat these steps with a different proxy.

How to Change Your IP Address on a Mac With a VPN

When you use a VPN, all of your internet traffic is routed through the VPN's servers. Most VPNs provide a choice of servers from around the world, so you can appear to have an IP address from a variety of different countries. The best VPN providers also provide data security guarantees, making it relatively safe to transmit sensitive data without worrying about anyone intercepting it.

You can set up a VPN on your Mac using network settings or just download an app from the App Store.

Here are the basic steps to get up and running with a VPN on your Mac:

Download a reputable VPN from the App Store and install it.

While there are free VPNs out there, the best ones require you to sign up for an account and pay a subscription fee.

Launch the VPN, connect to a server, and click Allow if prompted.

As long as the VPN is running, your public IP is the IP of the server that you are connected to. If you want to return to your original IP, disconnect from the VPN server.

How to Get a New IP From Your Internet Service Provider

Some internet service providers stick you with the same public IP for years at a time, while others change your IP on a fairly regular basis. Others provide a new IP each time your router is restarted. If your ISP works like that, then all you have to do is restart your network hardware, and you'll have a new public IP after your router reconnects.

If your ISP doesn't work like that, and you really need a new IP due to denial of service (DoS) attacks, hacking, harassment, or any other reasons, you can always contact your provider and ask for a new IP. This process may be time consuming, as you will probably have to go through several layers of customer service and explain your problem several times, but it's worth a shot if you have no other options.

Ways to Change an IP Address on a Mac

These are the different ways to change the IP address on your Mac, and each one has its own unique purpose. Here are your main options and the primary reason to use that method:

• Changing your local IP : This is fast and easy, but it only changes your Mac's local IP on your home network. Your external IP address, which allows your computer to be located on the internet, remains unchanged.
• Using a proxy : This method requires you to obtain access to a proxy server. When you change your IP using this method, it changes your public IP to that of the proxy server, effectively hiding your real IP from the world.
• Using a VPN : This method requires you to sign up for a virtual private network (VPN). It's more secure than the proxy method, and it also replaces your public IP with a new IP.
• Get a new IP from your ISP : Your internet service provider (ISP) typically changes your IP from time to time, and you may be able to request a new IP on a faster timetable.

Not Sure Which Mac IP Changing Method to Use?

Now that you know the different methods, you can think about why you want to change your IP and then choose the method that fits the best.

Here are some examples of why you might want to change the IP on your Mac and which method to use:

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Change TCP/IP settings on Mac

On your Mac, use TCP/IP network settings to configure IPv4 or IPv6 connections, or to renew a DHCP lease.

Note: The available settings vary depending on the type of network service selected.

Open Network settings for me

Static IP for Mac OS X

Instructions

• Go to the Apple menu and select System Preferences .
• Under Internet and Network , select Network . Change the Show pop-up option to Built-in Ethernet .
• For Location , choose Automatic (or give this connection a name).
• For Show , Select Built-in Ethernet .
• Select the TCP/IP tab .
• Set Configure to Manually .
• Enter assigned static IP address.
• Enter Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0
• Enter Router 131.215.xxx.254 (replace xxx with your subnet).
• Enter all 3 DNS Servers addresses:
• 131.215.9.49
• 131.215.139.100
• 131.215.254.10

11. Click the Apply Now button, then quit the System Preferences application.

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How do I set a static IP address for a particular MAC address on a Cisco DPC3825 router

How do I set a static IP address for this router:

http://www.cisco.com/web/consumer/support/modem_DPC3825.html

so that a specific MAC address always gets the same IP address.

• home-networking

• hmm. dead link. don't know that I even have this device anymore.. –  Thufir Mar 22, 2018 at 16:34

How do I set a static IP address for a particular MAC address?

"Setup" > "Lan Setup" > "Network Address Server Settings (DHCP)" > "Pre-assigned DHCP IP Addresses"

Here you can assign static (fixed) IP adresses to specified MAC addresses.

You also need to enable the DHCP server to use static (fixed) fixed IP addresses.

Setup > Lan Setup

The Setup Lan Setup page allows you to configure the settings for the Local Area Network (LAN) in your home. These settings include the range of IP addresses that define the LAN itself as well as how the addresses are assigned (automatically by DHCP or manually) as new devices are added to the network.

Network Address Server Settings (DHCP)

DHCP Server Allows you to enable or disable the DHCP server in the residential gateway. The DHCP server is used to automatically allocate IP addresses to devices Pre-assigned DHCP IP Addresses page ... Click Pre-assigned DHCP IP Addresses in the Lan Setup page. The Pre-assigned DHCP IP Addresses page opens. This page allows you to assign a specific IP address to a PC or other device when they request an IP address using DHCP. Only addresses within the range of the gateway's DHCP address pool can be reserved with this feature.

Source Cisco Model DPC 3825 and EPC 3825 8x4 DOCSIS 3.0 Wireless Residential Gateway User Guide , p32

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Tips & Tricks

Troubleshooting, how to set a static ip address on a mac.

If you want to set your Mac to always have the same IP address (also known as a static IP address), you can easily configure this to be set in the Network settings of OS X. This can be valid for both wi-fi networks and wired ethernet networks, and it can also be set under a specific network location if desired.

We’ll walk through how to set a manual IP address in Mac OS X , this is the same in all versions of OS X system software so it will not matter what version is on your Mac.

Setting a Manual Static IP Address in OS X

• Launch System Preferences from the  Apple menu
• Click on “Network”
• Click on the protocol you are using, let’s say we’re using Wi-Fi with a wireless connection so click on “Wi-Fi” so that the network interface is selected, and then click on the “Advanced” button in the lower right corner
• Click on the “TCP/IP” tab
• You now have multiple options for manual IP address assignment. For the sake of this exercise, let’s assume you want to maintain DHCP but set a manual static IP address, so click on the drop-down menu next to “Configure IPv4” and select “Using DHCP with manual address”, but you can also use full manual mode by choosing “Manually”
• Select a static IP that will not conflict with anything else on the network. It’s best to pick a number far out of the normal range of assigned IP’s, in the example below we chose 192.168.0.245 because most of the machines on this network stop at 192.168.0.150

This is what a complete manual IP address assignment would look like in OS X Network settings:

This is what the DHCP with manual address setting would look like:

• After you have selected your static IP address, click on “OK” in the corner
• Click on the “Apply” button in the lower right corner
• Your IP will now manually set to the static address you provided, you will briefly disconnect from the network while this occurs
• Close Network settings and System Preferences

Now your Mac has a static IP address that will not change if the router resets or the Mac rejoins the network. As long as the IP does not collide with another network devices IP address, it will work just fine, this is why you pick an assigned IP far out of range of other potential devices.

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Related articles:

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• How to Create an @iCloud.com Email Address
• Personal Hotspot Dropping Connections? Try This DHCP Client Fix
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» Comments RSS Feed

It didn’t work at first, and I have a linksys router so I went to Network->Advanced->DNS->and added in the left box 192.168.1.1 and it worked.

you are my savior, ive been swatted every day, and now they dont know my ip :)

I bought my MB pro about 2 weeks ago (first MAC) and once I realized I had a problem I began searching for a solution. Amazing how there are literally 100’s if not more posts on numerous websites-including the APPLE SUPPORT forums-yet NOTHING from the braintrust in Cupertino. …..;(

I tried many things-last of which was turning off IPv6-with no success. Earlier today I finally assigned a static IP to my MB pro on my D-Link router via web browser and viola!!! Problem appears to be solved. I’ve been online for several hours without any interruption.

It is an easy solution for an experienced user-but I’m certain this is no comfort to those that bought the Mac because “It’s so simple-ANYONE can use it,regardless of computer experience”……..

FWIW, if you have a router most will let you permanently assign an IP to a DHCP client based on the MAC address of the hosts ethernet NIC. And yes. x.x.x.255 for a 0xffffff00 netmask is the broadcast. Your text is right, just the screengrab shows the wrong addr.

Good catch Sebastian & Max, thanks for pointing that out

In a /24 network, the .255 address is the broadcast address. It cannot be used by an equipment. Same with .0 which is the network address.

Valid addresses are from 1 to 254

If you have a subnet which is larger than /24 (eg. /23 or /22), then .255 can be used in some cases.

please can you send me the details on how to set up a new ip address on my iphone 6.send it to my mail please

The IP address you have used in the screenshot are not valid in this network configuration. 192.168.0.255 is for broadcasting.

Address: 192.168.0.1 11000000.10101000.00000000 .00000001 Netmask: 255.255.255.0 = 24 11111111.11111111.11111111 .00000000 Wildcard: 0.0.0.255 00000000.00000000.00000000 .11111111 => Network: 192.168.0.0/24 11000000.10101000.00000000 .00000000 (Class C) Broadcast: 192.168.0.255 11000000.10101000.00000000 .11111111 HostMin: 192.168.0.1 11000000.10101000.00000000 .00000001 HostMax: 192.168.0.254 11000000.10101000.00000000 .11111110 Hosts/Net: 254 (Private Internet)

See: http://jodies.de/ipcalc?host=192.168.0.1&mask1=24&mask2=

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DEV Community

Posted on Sep 25, 2021

How To Set a Static IP Address in macOS Using Command Line

Imagine you have an Apple device like a Macmini, MacBook, or an iMac in a remote location. You only have access to it via SSH and no Desktop GUI interaction is allowed.

What if you wanted to change the IP address of the device? For example, how do you assign a static IP address instead of DHCP?

Command line is your option in that case.

Let's see how to get it done...

Make sure you are in the sudoers list

To make changes like network interface configurations, you need to be a user with super user privileges.

Follow the below commands

First, get a list of all your network services.

That command will result in an output like below.

Then use the desired service name in the following command:

For example, to change the IP address of my Wi-Fi interface, I would use a command like this:

In the above example, 192.168.1.2 is my new IP address. 192.168.1.1 is the address of the default gateway, which is the router most of the time.

Setting it back to DHCP

To set it back to DHCP, use the following command:

Keep DHCP with a manual IP

To keep DHCP services but only use a manually designated IP address, then use the following command:

Confirm settings are permanent

Restart the device sudo shutdown -r now and see if the new address persists.

If everything goes well, it should persist.

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How to Change the IP Address on a Mac: 4 Simple Methods

Last Updated: October 27, 2023 Fact Checked

Using a VPN

Using a proxy server, changing the ip address in network settings, unplugging your router/modem.

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Megaera Lorenz, PhD . Megaera Lorenz is an Egyptologist and Writer with over 20 years of experience in public education. In 2017, she graduated with her PhD in Egyptology from The University of Chicago, where she served for several years as a content advisor and program facilitator for the Oriental Institute Museum’s Public Education office. She has also developed and taught Egyptology courses at The University of Chicago and Loyola University Chicago. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 343,659 times. Learn more...

Changing your IP address can be useful if you want to avoid being attacked by other users who are targeting your IP address, or if you simply want a new online identity from an IP standpoint. You can change your IP address on a Mac at any time through System Settings (or System Preferences, if you’re using a version of macOS older than Ventura).

Things You Should Know

• The easiest way to change your IP address is with a VPN or Proxy.
• If you have a static IP address from your ISP, you can change your IP in System Settings.
• You may be able to get a new IP by restarting your router or modem.

• Some of the most popular VPNs for Mac include Surfshark, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN. Most of these services are available for a low monthly subscription fee.
• There are also free VPNs available, but they may not be as fast or secure.

• You can check your public IP address before and after activating the VPN to make sure it’s working right.

• A proxy server works similarly to a VPN, but it’s less secure.

• In pre-Ventura versions of macOS, you will find these options in a drop-down menu under Select a protocol to configure .
• Select “SOCKS Proxy” if you are unsure about which protocol to choose. The “SOCKS Proxy” protocol is often used to route network packets between clients and servers through a proxy and is effective at boosting general security and hiding the client address of applications.
• Web Proxy (HTTP) and Secure Web Proxy (HTTPS) are also commonly used but are less protected than a SOCKS Proxy.

• Some lists of proxy servers may show the IP address and port separately, while others will display the IP address followed by a : , then the port number.
• There’s a list of SOCKS proxies here: https://spys.one/en/socks-proxy-list/ .
• You can find many lists of public proxy servers with a simple web search. Use terms like “Free proxy server list.”

• This method will only work if you have a static IP address to use. You’ll likely need to request one from your ISP (internet service provider), and you may need to pay extra for this service.

• In earlier versions of macOS (before Ventura), this is called System Preferences .

• In Ventura and later, you’ll see your networks at the top of the main Network window. In pre-Ventura versions of macOS, they’re on the left side of the window.

• Alternately, you can click on “Renew DHCP Lease” to have your computer automatically generate a new IP address for you. [2] X Research source

• Wait a couple of seconds or minutes. Most residential connections have what is called a Dynamic IP Address. This means that your Internet Service Provider gives you a new IP address each time your router or modem connects to their network. [3] X Research source
• This method isn’t guaranteed to work. In some cases, you may need to wait a few hours or even days for the IP address to change, and sometimes it won’t work at all.

• If that didn't work, unplug your modem again and wait a few hours before plugging it back in. [4] X Research source

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Video . By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube.

• If you want to block or mask your existing IP address, consider using a VPN or proxy server instead of changing your IP address. Keep in mind that using a proxy server may slow down your Internet speed, but will help keep your online identity anonymous without requiring you to change your IP address. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/enter-proxy-server-settings-on-mac-mchlp2591/mac
• ↑ http://osxdaily.com/2013/02/11/renew-dhcp-lease-mac-os-x/
• ↑ https://www.techbout.com/change-ip-address-4067/
• ↑ https://whatismyipaddress.com/change-ip

About This Article

1. Click the Apple logo and click System Preferences. 2. Click Network . 3. Click your current network and click Advanced . 4. Click the TCP/IP tab. 5. Choose Manually from IPv4 . 6. Type a new IP Address. 7. Click OK and Apply . Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Setting a static IP address on your network adapter in Mac OS for direct access to an access point

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Accessing your WAC104 for the first time requires connecting your Mac to your access point and setting a static IP address on your Ethernet or wireless adapter. This article outlines the steps required to set a static IP address on your Ethernet adapter if using a direct connection between your Mac and the access point or wireless adapter if connecting wirelessly to the access point.

Connecting directly to the access point via Ethernet cable:

1. Click the Apple icon, then System Preferences .

Record the IP address and subnet mask of your computer so that you can reinstate these IP address settings later.

3. In the network settings select Ethernet , set Configure IPv4: Manually . Enter IP address 192.168.0.210 in the IP address field.  Enter 255.255.255.0 in the subnet mask field. Click Apply .

Your Ethernet adapter is now configured with static IP 192.168.0.210 and the access point web interface is accessible at http://192.168.0.100

Connecting wirelessly to the access point:

When the access point is in factory default settings it will broadcast 2 wireless networks with open security. The wireless networks are NETGEAR_11N on the 2.4GHz band and NETGEAR_11AC on the 5GHz band. Connecting to either of these SSID's is required to access the web interface and configure the access point.

2. Open Network .

3. Select Wi-Fi . Click on the up/down arrow next to Network Name to see the list of available wireless networks. Select the wireless network broadcasting from your access point to connect to it, either NETGEAR_11N or NETGEAR_11AC A password is not required. Click Advanced .

4. In the Advanced settings click on TCP/IP . Set Configure IPv4 to Manually .  Enter IP address 192.168.0.210 in the IP address field.  Enter 255.255.255.0 in the subnet mask field. Click OK .

The access point web interface is now accessible at http://192.168.0.100

Last Updated:08/05/2020 | Article ID: 000037250

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How to Manual Setup IP Address in Mac

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An IP (Internet Protocol) address is how the Internet knows who your computer is. For things like troubleshooting, networking, and file-sharing, you may need to know what your IP address is and how to Manual Setup IP Address in Mac. When your Mac is connected to a private network in your home or office, it probably gets what’s called a dynamic IP address. See How to Find Your Mac’s IP Address to find out.

Most people don’t care if their IP address changes or not, so that’s not a problem for them. But dynamic IP addresses won’t work for things like port forwarding, dynamic DNS, or sharing files on a local network from one client to another. Only a static IP address will work in these and other unique situations.

By giving your Mac a static IP address in macOS, you’ll give it a private IP address that won’t change from day to day. Other devices on the same local network will be able to access your Mac, and if you set up port forwarding, the outside world will be able to use some of the services running on your Mac.

• Launch ‘ System Preferences ’ from the Apple menu (or Spotlight)
• Click on the “ Network ” icon
• In the lower right, click on the ‘ Advanced ’ button
• In the pulldown menu next to “Configure IPv4” select “Manually” (or DHCP with manual address, if that’s what you need)
• Fill in the IP address, subnet mask, and router, as appropriate to the network you are accessing
• Click ‘ OK ’
• Click ‘ Apply ’ to set the change

How do IP addresses work?

An IP address is a unique string of numbers that is given to each computer or local network. These numbers are often chosen at random. Most of the time, it is used as a way to collect, send, and share information from one place to another. There are several numbers in an IP address, which are separated by periods. This is an example of an IP address: IP addresses usually range from 0 to 255. This means that any number between 0 and 255 can be used in an IP address.

IANA, or the Internet of Assigned Numbers Authority, uses an integrated algorithm to create IP addresses automatically. IANA is a part of ICANN, which stands for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. This is a well-known organization for anyone who has ever bought a domain name or put money into building their own website.

The network ID is a part of an IP address that is used to identify a particular network or host. Usually, this part of an IP address is near the beginning of the address. The host ID is another part of an IP address that is used to identify a particular IP/TCP network. After a network ID comes a host ID, which can be used with class identifiers and default subnet masks as needed.

Many devices support entering the IP address manually. This information is provided to help guide you through the manual steps used for most devices. If it’s not necessary to enter your IP address manually, it’s recommended to use the easy setup.

However, if you want to share files in a computer to other devices, then you might need a manual assign IP function to set a static IP for the computer so you don’t need to search and confirm the IP address of the computer every time when you want to access it.

To change these settings, choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Network in the sidebar, click a network service on the right, click Details, then click TCP/IP. (You may need to scroll down.) Choose your ISP’s recommended IPv4 configuration method.

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Jim Lopez is responsible for managing the daily Compsmag newsletter and testing and reviewing hundreds of mobile devices. Jim's pathological infatuation with Lego continues to eat away at his life savings. Outside of work, he enjoys discussing the distinctions between macarons and macaroons while continuing to spend his life savings on the toy.

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How-To Geek

How to assign a static ip address in windows 10 or windows 11.

When organizing your home network it's easier to assign each computer it's own IP address than using DHCP. Here we will take a look at doing it in XP,

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What is a static ip address, assign static ip addresses via your router, how to set a static ip address in windows 11, how to set a static ip address in windows 10, how to set a static ip address in windows 7 or 8 using "network connections", set a static ip address in windows vista, set a static ip address in windows xp, key takeaways.

• To set a static IP address in Windows 10 or 11, open Settings -> Network & Internet and click Properties for your active network.
• Choose the "Edit" button next to IP assignment and change the type to Manual.
• Flip the IPv4 switch to "On", fill out your static IP details, and click Save.

Sometimes, it's better to assign a PC its own IP address rather than letting your router assign one automatically. Join us as we take a look at assigning a static IP address in Windows.

A static IP address is manually set to a permanent, fixed address rather than being assigned automatically by your router using a procotol known as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). DHCP is a handy way for devices to connect to your network more easily, because you don't have to configure IP addressing for each new device yourself. The downside to automatic addressing is that it's possible for a device's IP address to change from time to time, which is why people choose static IPs for certain types of devices. For example:

• You have a device like a home media server that you want to be able to find using the same IP address or host name each time.
• You have certain apps that can only connect to network devices using their IP address. In particular, many older networking apps suffer this limitation.
• You forward ports through your router to devices on your network. Some routers play nice with port forwarding and dynamic IP addresses; others do not.

Whatever your reason, assigning static IP addresses to devices is not difficult, but you do have a choice to make---whether to do it from the router or on the device itself.

Related: How to Set a Static IP Address in Ubuntu

While this article covers assigning static IP addresses to PCs within Windows itself, there is another way to go about it. Many routers allow you to assign a pool of IP addresses that are handed out to specific devices (based on the device's physical, or MAC address). This method offers a couple of significant advantages:

• IP addresses are still managed by the router, meaning that you won't have to make (and keep up with) changes on each individual device.
• It's easier to assign addresses within the same IP address pool your router uses.

This article is about assigning static IP addresses directly to PCs running Windows. We've already got a great guide on How to Set Static IP Addresses On Your Router , so if that's the way you want to go, be sure to give it a read.

With all that in mind, though, let's take a look at how to assign static IP addresses within any version of Windows.

Related: How to Find Your Router's IP Address on Any Computer, Smartphone, or Tablet

To set a static IP address in Windows 11, you'll want to open Settings, go to Network & Internet, and then find the Properties for your network. Inside there you'll be able to click the Edit button for IP Assignment and then fill out the manual network details.

First, open up the Settings app and then find Network & Internet on the left-hand side. You'll be presented with a panel that shows your current network connection. You can click where it says "Properties" right underneath the network, or if you have multiple network connections you can drill down into the specific network to see the IP address details for each one . In this case it's called "Ethernet", but you will most likely see "Wi-Fi" as the option to choose.

Once you've drilled down into the network connection that you want to set a manual IP for, scroll down until you see "IP Assignment" and then click the Edit button to the right.

Once there, you'll flip the drop-down to "Manual" and switch the IPv4 switch to "On". At this point you can fill out your network details and click Save to finish.

You can also use the old-school Network Connections panel in Windows 11, so if you prefer to use that method, keep reading.

If you're interested in more advanced networking, you might need to set up a static TCP/IP route , reset the entire TCP/IP stack on Windows , check open TCP/IP ports , find your MAC address on Windows , or find your IP address from the Command Prompt . We've got you covered there too.

To set a static IP address in Windows 10, you'll need to open the Settings app and drill down to Network & Internet. From there you'll select Properties for your network, and then the Edit button next to IP Assignment where you can input a manual IP address.

First, open the Settings app and locate the Network & Internet button.

On the next screen you'll see your network status, which should show you your active network. Here you'll want to click the Properties button. If you have multiple different networks, you could select them from the left-hand menu---in our case you'll notice we have both Wi-Fi and Ethernet networks, so you'll want to pick the one that you are trying to set a manual IP address for. You'll notice this is the same method we use when we're trying to find an IP address on Windows 10 .

On the network properties screen, scroll down until you see "IP settings" and click the Edit button under "IP assignment".

In the resulting popup window, change the Edit IP settings dropdown to Manual and then flip the IPv4 switch to "On". Fill out the details, click Save, and you should be good to go.

You might need to reboot to get all of your applications to work properly, just because it's Windows.

It's worth noting that you can use the old Network Connections method to set an IP address in any version of Windows, so if you prefer that method, keep reading.

To change the computer's IP address in Windows 7, you'll need to open the "Network Connections" window. Hit Windows+R, type "ncpa.cpl" into the Run box, and then hit Enter.

In the "Network Connections" window, right-click the adapter for which you want to set a static IP address, and then select the "Properties" command.

In the properties window for the adapter, select "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and then click the "Properties" button.

Select the "Use the following IP address" option, and then type in the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway that corresponds with your network setup. Next, type in your preferred and alternate DNS server addresses. Finally, select the "Validate settings upon exit" option so that Windows immediately checks your new IP address and corresponding information to ensure that it works. When you're ready, click the "OK" button.

And then close out of the network adapter's properties window.

Windows automatically runs network diagnostics to verify that the connection is good. If there are problems, Windows will give you the option of running the Network troubleshooting wizard. However, if you do run into trouble, the wizard likely won't do you too much good. It's better to check that your settings are valid and try again.

Changing your IP from DHCP to a Static address in Vista is similar to other versions of Windows, but getting to the correct location is a bit different. Open the Start Menu, right-click on Network, and select Properties.

The Network and Sharing Center opens...click on Manage network connections.

Right-click on the network adapter you want to assign an IP address and click Properties.

Highlight Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) then click the Properties button.

Now change the IP, Subnet mask, Default Gateway, and DNS Server Addresses. When you're finished click OK.

You'll need to close out of Local Area Connection Properties for the settings to go into effect.

Open the Command Prompt and use the

command to verify that the changes were successful.

To set a Static IP in Windows XP, right-click the "My Network Places" icon, and then select "Properties."

Right-click the adapter for which you want to set the IP, and then select "Properties" from the context menu.

Select the "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" entry, and then click the "Properties" button.

Select the "Use the following IP address" option. Type in the IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server addresses you want to use. When you're finished, click the "OK" button.

You will need to close out of the adapter's properties window before the changes go into effect.

And you can verify your new settings by using the

 command at the command prompt.

By and large, it's better to let most of your devices have their IP addresses assigned automatically by your router. Occasionally, though, you might want to set a static IP address for a particular device. While you can set static IP addresses directly on your devices (and this article has shown you how to do just that on Windows PCs), we still recommending setting up static IP addressing on your router if possible. It will just make life easier.

Related: How to Find Any Device's IP Address, MAC Address, and Other Network Connection Details