How-To Geek

How to Assign a Static IP Address in XP, Vista, or Windows 7

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, Vista, and Windows 7.

If you have a home network with several computes and devices, it’s a good idea to assign each of them a specific address. If you use DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), each computer will request and be assigned an address every time it’s booted up. When you have to do troubleshooting on your network, it’s annoying going to each machine to figure out what IP they have.

Using Static IPs prevents address conflicts between devices and allows you to manage them more easily. Assigning IPs to Windows is essentially the same process, but getting to where you need to be varies between each version.

Windows 7

To change the computer’s IP address in Windows 7, type network and sharing into the Search box in the Start Menu and select Network and Sharing Center when it comes up.

1start menu 

Then when the Network and Sharing Center opens, click on Change adapter settings.

2adapter

Right-click on your local adapter and select Properties.

3local area connection

In the Local Area Connection Properties window highlight Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) then click the Properties button.

4properties

Now select the radio button Use the following IP address and enter in the correct IP, Subnet mask, and Default gateway that corresponds with your network setup. Then enter your Preferred and Alternate DNS server addresses. Here we’re on a home network and using a simple Class C network configuration and Google DNS.

Check Validate settings upon exit so Windows can find any problems with the addresses you entered. When you’re finished click OK.

5entersettings

Now close out of the Local Area Connections Properties window.

6closeoutof

Windows 7 will run network diagnostics and verify the connection is good. Here we had no problems with it, but if you did, you could run the network troubleshooting wizard.

7verify

Now you can open the command prompt and do an ipconfig  to see the network adapter settings have been successfully changed.

8verify 

Windows Vista

Changing your IP from DHCP to a Static address in Vista is similar to Windows 7, but getting to the correct location is a bit different. Open the Start Menu, right-click on Network, and select Properties.

sshot-2010-06-06-[02-26-14]

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

sshot-2010-06-06-[02-28-30]

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

sshot-2010-06-06-[02-48-53]

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

sshot-2010-06-06-[02-49-46]

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

sshot-2010-06-06-[02-51-04]

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

sshot-2010-06-06-[02-51-16]

Open the Command Prompt and do an ipconfig to verify the changes were successful.

sshot-2010-06-06-[02-52-29] 

Windows XP

In this example we’re using XP SP3 Media Center Edition and changing the IP address of the Wireless adapter.

To set a Static IP in XP right-click on My Network Places and select Properties.

sshot-2010-06-05-[22-24-49]

Right-click on the adapter you want to set the IP for and select Properties.

sshot-2010-06-05-[22-27-03]

Highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click the Properties button.

sshot-2010-06-05-[22-27-58]

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

sshot-2010-06-05-[22-28-15]

You will need to close out of the Network Connection Properties screen before the changes go into effect.

 sshot-2010-06-05-[22-29-15]

Again you can verify the settings by doing an ipconfig in the command prompt. In case you’re not sure how to do this, click on Start then Run.

sshot-2010-06-05-[22-36-10] 

In the Run box type in cmd and click OK.

sshot-2010-06-05-[22-36-34]

Then at the prompt type in ipconfig and hit Enter. This will show the IP address for the network adapter you changed.

sshot-2010-06-05-[22-37-10] 

If you have a small office or home network, assigning each computer a specific IP address makes it a lot easier to manage and troubleshoot network connection problems.

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Comments (36)

  1. June 10, 2010 9:15 am
    Ryan

    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, Vista, and Windows 7

    Easier? Huh?

  2. June 10, 2010 9:24 am
    yea

    Before you tell the user to put in the default gateway and subnet, the average user wouldnt know where to find that, so you should mention to enter into command prompt and type in “ipconfig/all,” so the user can get the settings then change them in the network adapter

  3. June 10, 2010 10:13 am
    ironic

    Faster ways to change your connection settings should not be forgotten. You can use cmd commands or make a batch file to change ip, gateway or dns quickly, like in win xp:
    netsh interface ip set address name=”LAN Connection” source=static addr=WW.XX.YY.ZZ mask=255.255.255.0
    netsh interface ip set address name=”LAN Connection” gateway=WW.XX.YY.ZZ gwmetric=0
    netsh interface ip set dns name=”LAN Connection” source=static addr=WW.XX.YY.ZZ

    There are also possibilities to easily dump your settings into a file for loading them later, just google if you need it.

  4. June 10, 2010 11:35 am
    ScottW

    Another simpler possibility for those with DLink DIR-655 routers is to set the static IP in the router itself by logging in to the admin interface and going to Setup > Network Settings > Check the tic box beside Enable DHCP Server and Enable Add DHCP Reservation.

    For each machine that’s running, click the drop-down box to the right to select the machine by it’s name. Then enter the IP address of your choosing (keeping in mind the range allowed).

    Then click Save for each change and you’re done.

  5. June 10, 2010 11:53 am
    Matthew Lucas

    Alternatively if you do not have “My Network Places” on your desktop on Windows XP.
    Click Start
    Click Control Panel
    Double Click Network Connections

  6. June 10, 2010 12:02 pm
    Scott

    @ironic
    This is good information, thanks.

    @everyone
    Is there a way to create IP profiles (like NetWork Manager in linux) in Windows 7? I believe this is not a native thing but can either be achieved from the command line or by additional software programs.

  7. June 10, 2010 3:28 pm
    Matthew Lucas

    FYI for those scared of this check out Dynamic DHCP that’s what i use at home and just setup DHCP reservations for specific MAC addresses in my router (dlink DIR-655)

  8. June 11, 2010 8:25 am
    sick

    In all of these operating system, type ncpa.cpl y Run box (Windows+R).

  9. June 11, 2010 7:16 pm
    Jon

    The only thing that needs a static IP address are certain hand held devices (like scanners) or printers…that is if you don’t use DHCP reservations for them. Servers are mandatory for static IP address settings.

    You will never need to use a static IP on a desktop and I highly discourage ever doing so. Let DHCP handle everything for a desktop.

  10. July 23, 2010 7:14 am
    AungNaingThu

    how to enable to access USB port.

  11. August 7, 2010 8:21 pm
    Noel Almirante || hanging signs

    Hi I have 4 computers in the network. We have a modem/router device where all PC’s are connected. Node 1 has an IP phone connected to it. (That’s the only device that is different from the basic connection) My problem is that our internet is keep on disconnecting but it will restore once I reset the modem/router. I observed that there is a message regarding IP conflict that will pop up on the lower right hand side of the screen. What do you think is the proble… Is it my IP config with 4 computers? Please help

  12. August 31, 2010 6:22 am
    Owen

    Am I right in thinking that if you assigned a static IP for your home network, that you’d need to switch back to DHCP if you were going to use another network (i.e. at a coffee shop)? Although I imagine that this would be a problem if you’d configured static IP through your router?

  13. September 7, 2010 4:41 am
    Owen

    Sorry – that should have said “I imagine this wouldn’t be a problem if you’d configured static IP through your router?”

  14. September 8, 2010 2:29 am
    Crox

    I have been struggling with this one for a while. I am using Windows 7. I have set the correct values in the IP4 properties tab for my server and they take effect and the system works correctly however the ‘gateway’ value is reset to null when I reboot and as a consequence I can only connect to my intranet following a restart.

    I can go back in and enter the gateway address manually but this is tiresome on each reboot.

    Any one experienced this issue?

    Any one have any guidance

  15. September 14, 2010 2:02 am
    zlaya

    Hello guys!
    Can i create static IP adress on the computer which is not in local network? For example i need to administrate my grandfather`s PC overseas and i need to have static IP adress on his PC to use remote desktop program.
    please answer guys here or on my mail,please!

    stakicwoosh@ yahoo

  16. September 14, 2010 8:52 pm
    zlaya

    anybody? :(

  17. November 14, 2010 2:33 am
    john

    zlaya,

    to my best knowledge you can’t do that out of your home network with out knowing his default gateway my reconmmendation to get a software package called logmein and logmein.com in your situation i think that would be the best. the only thing is if you log me in free the free virsion won’t let you move files and that stuff but you can do everything else. hope this helps..

    john

  18. January 12, 2011 12:59 am
    john3347

    I have no issues with IP addresses on my network computers, but every time my wireless printer (HP Photosmart C7280) is powered down or loses power (powerline failure, etc) My printer gets assigned a different IP address requiring me to delete the printer and reinstall and re-configure preferences on every computer before each computer can request a print job. How can I assign a static IP address to only the printer/ The address is always between 192.168.2.2 and 192.168.2.8, but never the same twice in succession.

  19. February 1, 2011 9:16 pm
    Andrea

    I am now convinced that I can either continue to ignore the warning message “windows has detected an IP address conflict blah blah. Or maybe I can call someone (who???)and hope that he or she knows what needs to be done to stop the IP address conflict message.

    The comments on this blog lead me to believe that it is a crap shoot possibility of getting someone who knows for sure. So much technical jargon and gibberish…who can know for sure?

  20. April 29, 2011 9:07 pm
    Jayne Waldorf

    Thank you for this extremely useful article.It was just what I needed, well explained and easy to understand.

  21. May 30, 2011 12:55 am
    Kai jan

    thanks it was usfull

  1. June 22, 2011 3:57 pm
    asgsam

    How do I find the ip address, subnet mask, default gateway and dns sever

  2. June 26, 2011 4:35 pm
    Kanishk

    I am running windows xp.
    When I change my ip address suddenly my internet goes off and when I turn it into automatic my internet again goes on.
    Any suggestions please?????

  3. July 17, 2011 1:14 am
    sfmoored

    Is there any reason I wouldn’t want to set a static IP address?

  4. July 20, 2011 11:43 am
    Kiss Chef

    @yea
    Does this mean that, to get the IP, Subnet mask, Default Gateway, and DNS Server Addresses, I want to use ipconfig /all and just use the values that it reports?

  5. July 22, 2011 8:48 am
    surilocal

    very gud service i know very well about ip adress

  6. July 28, 2011 4:50 am
    Demetris

    Excellent very good exlpanation and very easy to understand throught the screenshoots! Great work. Thank you!!!!

  7. August 2, 2011 5:25 am
    mark

    if i will setup 3 or more computers, do i need to configure the ipaddress, subnetmask, and default gateway or only the ipaddress. someone can help thank you……………..

  8. August 5, 2011 7:13 am
    benny

    Tried this runing Windows7 on BThomehub ,no joy
    Changing th IP address to 192.168.1.x ( x could be any number between 2 -253)
    Default gateway 192.168.1.254 ( routers ip) sorted it out

  9. August 21, 2011 1:22 am
    shafaqulhira

    can i use the same method for assigning ip address in windows 2000? rep soon

  10. September 7, 2011 7:00 am
    sandeep

    thanks

  11. September 10, 2011 11:43 am
    hkQQ2010

    Thanks for these thorough step by step description.

  12. October 1, 2011 9:59 am
    ugobest4you

    pls i hv this problem, i was called to setup an internet cafe, but after running the timers the server could not connet to the clients & the clients could not connect to the server, it keep on say ip conflict on d clients & on the server, i should contact administrator right of the client…..i.e. after assigning an ip address to it. i ask a friend he said that the basic thing is to knw the switch that they are using b4 assigning d ip’s but i am confuse cus i dnt knw hw to find the ip of the switch so that i can be able to assign the right ip’s to d computers……pls …i need help urgently…..i will like to knw if switch, router determine the ip’s we assign to network….

    thanks

  13. October 13, 2011 2:27 am
    wm

    Hi, thanks a lot for the instruction.
    I could assign the IP to my pc without problem, and the internet connection is fine. One frustrating thing is that each time when I restart my pc, they don’t seem to remember the IP I typed in, so I have to type again, is this normal?

  14. October 18, 2011 3:44 am
    WasSup!!!

    im not getting any details wen i type “ipconfig /all” in cmd……….im using windows7

  15. October 19, 2011 4:48 am
    Jean

    Windows 7 . How do I find the Com Port config in “Manage device”

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