🔎 What Does This Error Mean?

Every device on your network—whether it’s a phone, laptop, smart TV, or printer—needs a unique IP address to communicate properly. If two devices end up sharing the same IP:

• The connection may become unstable ⚡
• One or both devices could lose internet access 🌐
• You’ll see error messages on Windows, Mac, iOS, or other systems 📱💻

🛠️ Common Causes

• Static IP conflict – A device was manually assigned an IP that another device is already using.
• DHCP issue – The router gave out the same IP to more than one device.
• Network glitches – Temporary errors in the router or device network settings.
• Sleep/Resume problems – A device wakes up and tries to reclaim an IP that was already reassigned.

✅ Step-by-Step Troubleshooting & Fix

• Restart Devices 🔄

  Restart your computer, phone, and router. This often clears temporary conflicts.

• Release & Renew IP Address (Windows) 🖥️

  Open Command Prompt as Administrator and type:

  ipconfig /release
        ipconfig /renew
        ipconfig /flushdns
        

• On macOS 🍏

  Go to System Preferences > Network → Select your Wi-Fi/Ethernet → Advanced → TCP/IP tab → Click Renew DHCP Lease.

• On iPhone/iPad 📱

  Open Settings > Wi-Fi → Tap the “i” next to your Wi-Fi → Tap Renew Lease.

• On Android 🤖

  Go to Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi → Long-press your connected Wi-Fi → Manage network settings → Select DHCP instead of Static.

• Check Router’s DHCP Settings 📡

  Log into your router (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). Make sure DHCP is enabled and expand the DHCP pool if it’s too small (e.g., 192.168.1.100 – 192.168.1.200).

• Manually Assign a Unique IP 🔢

  If the issue persists, go to your device’s network settings → choose Static IP → assign an unused IP (e.g., 192.168.1.220), ensuring it doesn’t overlap with others.

• Update Router Firmware 🆕

  Check your router manufacturer’s site for updates. Old firmware may cause DHCP bugs.

🧑‍💻 Pro Tips

• Always let devices use DHCP unless you specifically need a static IP.
• Reserve IPs in your router’s DHCP list for devices like printers, servers, or NAS storage.
• If this issue happens frequently, your router may be faulty—consider upgrading to a new one.

✅ In Summary

Two devices are fighting over the same IP address. You can fix it by restarting devices, renewing IPs, and checking your router’s DHCP settings. If necessary, set static or reserved IPs to prevent future conflicts. 🚀