How to Set a Static IP Address in Easy Steps
A static IP keeps a device on the same address. Here is the safest way with DHCP reservation, plus manual steps for each device.
A static IP keeps a device on the same address every time, which helps with printers, cameras, NAS drives, game consoles and port forwarding.
A static IP keeps a device on the same address every time, which helps with printers, cameras, NAS drives, game consoles and port forwarding. The best method is a DHCP reservation on the router, though you can also set the address manually on the device.
The best method is a DHCP reservation on the router. You can also set the address manually on the device. Here are both.
Best method: reserve an IP on the router
- Log in to your router admin page. Find the address with our Router IP Finder, or try 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.
- Open LAN, DHCP or Address Reservation.
- Pick the device from the client list, or enter its MAC address.
- Choose an address and save. The device keeps it from now on.
The reservation route is the one I use on my own network, because it survives a reset.
Choosing a static address
| Setting | Example |
|---|---|
| Router (gateway) | 192.168.1.1 |
| DHCP range | 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.199 |
| Good static range | 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.99 |
| Subnet mask | 255.255.255.0 |
| DNS | Router IP or 1.1.1.1 |
Pick an address outside the DHCP range so the router never hands it to another device. The range below the DHCP pool is the spot I aim for every time.
Manual static IP on Windows
- Settings, Network and internet, your connection, Hardware properties.
- Next to IP assignment, click Edit and choose Manual.
- Turn on IPv4 and enter IP, mask (or prefix length 24), gateway and DNS.
- Save.
The prefix length is the field I see people get wrong most.
Manual static IP on Mac and phones
- Mac: System Settings, Network, your connection, Details, TCP/IP, Configure IPv4 Manually.
- Android: WiFi network, Edit, Advanced, IP settings Static.
- iPhone: Settings, Wi-Fi, (i), Configure IP, Manual.
On a phone, the static IP is the setting I only use for one network at a time.
Problems after setting a static IP
- No internet: gateway or DNS is wrong.
- IP conflict: the address is in the DHCP range or used by another device.
- Works at home only: manual IPs stay on that network. Laptops are better with reservations.
A wrong gateway is the mistake I check first when a static IP kills the internet.
When a static IP actually helps
- Port forwarding for a console, camera or server.
- Printers that keep disappearing from computers.
- NAS boxes and home servers you access by IP.
- Smart-home hubs that other devices talk to locally.
For phones, laptops and TVs, there’s usually no reason to set a static IP. Let the router manage them. Printers are the devices I give a static address to first.
Static IP on Android and iPhone
- Android: Settings, WiFi, tap the gear next to your network, Edit (or Advanced), change IP settings from DHCP to Static, then enter the IP, gateway, prefix length (24) and DNS.
- iPhone: Settings, WiFi, tap (i), Configure IP, Manual. Enter the IP, subnet mask (255.255.255.0) and router address. Set DNS in Configure DNS.
Choose an address outside your router’s DHCP range, such as 192.168.1.200, so it never clashes with another device.
The 192.168.1.200 pick is the one I suggest when the DHCP pool starts at 100.
Static IP vs static public IP
Setting a static IP on your device only fixes its address inside your home. Your public IP, the one the internet sees, still comes from your ISP and may change. If you need a fixed public address for hosting, ask your ISP about a static IP plan or use dynamic DNS.
The public IP is the part I explain first, because it confuses people most.
Static IP and DNS settings
When you set a static IP by hand, the device stops getting DNS from the router too. If you leave DNS blank, websites won’t load even though the network looks connected. Enter your router’s IP as DNS (it will pass requests on), or a public DNS like 1.1.1.1 and 8.8.8.8.
Blank DNS is the trap I warn about whenever someone sets an IP by hand.
Undo a static IP
- Windows: Settings, Network & internet, your connection, IP assignment, Edit, Automatic (DHCP).
- Mac: Network, Details, TCP/IP, Configure IPv4: Using DHCP.
- iPhone: WiFi (i), Configure IP, Automatic.
- Android: Network settings, IP settings: DHCP.
Do this before moving a device to a different network, or it may fail to connect there. I switch back to DHCP before a laptop travels, so it connects anywhere.
Static IPs for gaming consoles
Consoles benefit from a fixed address when you set up port forwarding or a DMZ for better NAT types. Use a DHCP reservation in the router for the console’s MAC address. That way the console keeps automatic settings, and the router always gives it the same IP for your forwarding rules.
A reservation beats a manual IP for consoles, in my experience.
