How to Set a Static IP Address on Windows

By default, Windows gets an IP address automatically from your router via DHCP. This works well for most devices, but for anything that other computers need to reliably find — like a home server, a NAS drive, a printer, or a PC you remote into — a static IP makes sure the address never changes. Here’s how to set one.

Two Ways to Set a Static IP

There are two approaches, and it’s worth understanding the difference:

• Set a static IP in Windows — you configure the IP address directly on the PC. It works, but if you ever set the same address on another device, you’ll get a conflict.
• Set a DHCP reservation on your router — you tell the router to always give a specific device the same address. The device still uses DHCP, but always gets the same IP. This is generally the cleaner option for home and small office networks.

This guide covers both.

Method 1: Set a Static IP Address in Windows

1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Network & internet.
3. Click Ethernet or Wi-Fi, depending on your connection.
4. For Wi-Fi, click your network name. For Ethernet, click Ethernet.
5. Next to IP assignment, click Edit.
6. Change the dropdown from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual.
7. Toggle IPv4 on.
8. Fill in the fields:

• IP address — choose an address in your router’s range but outside its DHCP pool (e.g. 192.168.1.200). To find your router’s range, check its admin page.
• Subnet mask — usually 255.255.255.0
• Gateway — your router’s IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). Find it by running ipconfig and looking for Default Gateway.
• DNS — use your router’s IP, or a public DNS like 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare).

9. Click Save.

Method 2: Set a DHCP Reservation on Your Router

This is the preferred approach as it avoids IP conflicts and keeps the device working even if you reinstall Windows.

1. Find your router’s IP address — press Windows key + R, type cmd, run ipconfig, and look for Default Gateway.
2. Open a browser and go to that address (e.g. http://192.168.1.1).
3. Log in with your router’s admin credentials (printed on the router label if you haven’t changed them).
4. Find the DHCP or LAN settings — look for Address Reservation, Static Lease, or similar.
5. Add a new reservation: enter the device’s MAC address and the IP address you want to assign.
6. Find the MAC address on the PC by running ipconfig /all in Command Prompt and looking for Physical Address.
7. Save the setting and restart the router.

Choosing a Good Static IP Address

Pick an address that:

• Is in the same range as your other devices (e.g. 192.168.1.x)
• Is outside your router’s DHCP pool — log into the router to see the pool range (e.g. 192.168.1.10–199), then choose something like 192.168.1.200
• Isn’t already used by another device — ping it first to check: ping 192.168.1.200. No reply means it’s free.

How to Revert to DHCP

If you want to go back to automatic addressing, follow the same steps in Method 1 but change the dropdown back to Automatic (DHCP) and save.

Related Guides

• What is DHCP? A Plain English Explanation
• How to Find Your IP Address on Windows
• How to Ping a Server or Website