One of the most annoying moment is when your device doesn’t connect to Wi-Fi. A common error code is “Wi-Fi doesn’t have valid IP configuration”, which means that the computer did not get an address to be online. That is similar to having someone want to send you a package,and you have no home address or PO box. Let’s see how we can fix that. We provide a wide range of ideas, from the two-liners to more elaborate.
1. Reset TCP/IP
The inability to get a network address can sometimes be fixed by resetting the protocol which handles the communication with the network. This solutionis best used if you use dynamic IP, for static IPs you need to set it again since by the reset it’s lost.
To reset the IP go to Command Prompt in admin mode and enter the following then restart.
- netshwinsock reset(to reset the Windows protocol)
- netsh int ip reset(to reset the IP)
2. Flush DNS
If your IP is allocated dynamically, you might want to clear the cache sometimes to prevent conflicts, for example when you have an old IP which has been given to another device in the meantime. A simple way to do that is again through Command Prompt:
- Ipconfig/release(to let go of the old address)
- Ipconfig/flushdns(to clear the domain name system cache)
- Ipconfig/renew (to generate a new address)
If you need more info on how to perform these steps, Techloris.com can help with an illustrated guide.
3. Check DHCP is enabled
Usually, you don’t need to make the changes yourself to get an IP address. Thisis done through the dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP). To make sure it is up and running open Network Connections from Control Panel. Select the diagnose option and allow it to run the scan and fix any errors automatically. Restart the computer to make sure the changes are final. This should be a quick and easy fix.
4. Change DHCP Users number
Some routers have pre-set limitations regarding the number of users they can accommodate. Even if you don’t have 10 or 50 devices connected simultaneously to the network, increasing the theoretical limit can solve this problem. The steps are usually explained in the technical guide of the router and should be followedexactly.
This is useful for public networks such as those from coffee shops and hotels where users change often.
5. Set the IP address manually
Most modern computers allocate an IP address dynamically via DHCP, but you have the option to do it old-school. Just go to Control Panel-> Network Connections -> Properties. In the dialog box select the “Internet Protocol Version 4” and go to Properties where you’ll enter the IP you want to use, together with the subnet mask (default 255. 255. 255.0) and default gateway.
This option is recommendedonly if you know exactly what you are doing. Otherwise, a simple alternative is just to reset the router and hope it solves the problem.
6. Change SSID and Password
The SSID (service set identifier) is the technical name for the name of the wireless network. By changing these, you reset the connection and get a new IP address. However, to do this, you need to use an ethernet cable and connect the router to the computer directly. It’s best to look into the router’s manual to do this, because different models can require different steps.
7. Disable anti-virus and firewalls
This option should only be used as a temporary testing solution. If you have already tried the previous ideas in this list and you still get the same error, try disabling or even uninstalling the antivirus and firewalls, including Windows’ own setting. Reset the computer and see if the problem is fixed. Once you are back online, tryreinstalling the latest version or patches and restart your antivirus and firewalls.
8. Clean boot
This is not recommended, but sometimes it could fix the problem. It should only be used if you know what you are doing, since it involves disabling some services then selectively re-enabling them. In the “Run” (Windows key+R) you type msconfig. Go to Selective Start-up, and check the “Load …” box from the General tab. In the Services tab select Disable all. Also disable all applications in the Task Manager and restart the computer. If this doesn’t help, re-enable them.
These are the most common ways to fix the “No Valid IP Configuration” problem, arranged from the harmless and straightforward to the more complicated and requires some know-how. Of course, if everything else fails, you could think about the health status of the entire network or replace the router entirely. Although most problems can be fixed through software commands, some are caused by hardware failures which require a new device.