🌐 What Is an IP Address Conflict?

An IP address conflict happens when two or more devices on the same network share the same IP address. Since every device needs a unique IP, this causes issues like:

• ⚠️ Error messages such as “IP address conflict”
• 🚫 Internet getting disconnected
• 🖥️ Devices not being able to communicate properly

🔍 Causes of IP Address Conflicts

• 📌 Static IP misuse – Two devices manually set to the same IP
• 📌 DHCP server problems – Router giving the same IP to multiple devices
• 📌 Device reconnection – Old IP cached after waking from sleep
• 📌 Network glitches – Router or switch misconfigured
• 📌 VPN conflicts – Overlapping IP ranges between local and VPN network

🛠 How to Troubleshoot and Fix

Follow these steps to solve the problem:

✅ Step 1: Identify the Problem

• 💻 On Windows: “Windows has detected an IP address conflict”
• 🍎 On macOS: “Another device on this network is using your computer’s IP address”
• 📱 On Mobile Devices: Connection drops or warning messages appear

✅ Step 2: Restart Devices

Reboot your computer, router, and modem. This clears cached IPs and often fixes temporary issues.

✅ Step 3: Release & Renew IP (Automatic Fix)

Windows:

    ipconfig /release
    ipconfig /renew
    ipconfig /all
  

macOS: System Preferences → Network → Advanced → TCP/IP → Renew DHCP Lease

Linux:

    sudo dhclient -r
    sudo dhclient
  

✅ Step 4: Assign a Manual (Static) IP

If DHCP fails, assign an unused IP manually.

Windows: Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings → Properties → Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Enter:

• IP address: Example 192.168.1.50
• Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
• Default gateway: Your router IP (e.g., 192.168.1.1)

macOS: Network → Advanced → TCP/IP → Manually assign IP

✅ Step 5: Check DHCP Settings on Router

Log in to your router (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1). Make sure DHCP is enabled and adjust the IP pool range if needed (e.g., 192.168.1.100–192.168.1.200).

✅ Step 6: Check for Duplicate Static IPs

Devices like printers, servers, or cameras may have static IPs. Ensure they don’t overlap and adjust if necessary.

✅ Step 7: Reset Network (Last Resort)

Windows:

netsh int ip reset
netsh winsock reset

Restart your computer. If nothing helps, reset your router to factory settings and reconfigure it.

🧩 Special Cases

• 🔒 VPN users: If your VPN uses the same subnet (e.g., 192.168.1.x), change either the VPN or your home network range
• 🏢 Corporate networks: Contact IT, since IPs are usually managed by admins

🎯 Prevention Tips

• ✔️ Always enable DHCP on your router unless static IPs are necessary
• ✔️ Keep your router’s firmware updated
• ✔️ Document and reserve static IPs for devices like printers and servers
• ✔️ Avoid randomly setting IPs unless you know your network’s range

✅ In Short

Most IP conflicts are solved by renewing the IP lease or rebooting devices. If the issue continues, adjust your router’s DHCP settings or assign manual static IPs.