Did your device lose internet access with an error popup Windows has detected an IP address conflict. This error message means that more than one device on your network is using the same IP address, Which Conflicts with the network connection and results IP address conflict:
Windows has detected an IP address conflict
If you are also a victim of similar problems, this article explains what is IP address and what causes IP address conflict. Also, share a few troubleshooting steps that help others Solve the “Windows Has Detected an IP Address Conflict” Error on their computer.
What is an IP address?
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. It serves two primary purposes:
- Identification: An IP address uniquely identifies a device on a network, similar to how a street address identifies a house in a neighborhood.
- Routing: IP addresses enable routers and other network devices to efficiently route data packets between different devices on the network.
There are two main types of IP addresses:
- IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4): This is the most commonly used IP address format and consists of four sets of numbers separated by periods (e.g., 192.168.1.1).
- IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6): IPv6 addresses are longer and are represented as a series of hexadecimal numbers separated by colons (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334).
What Is an IP Address Conflict?
Well, IP conflicts occur when two or more devices on the same network are assigned the same IP address. This can happen due to several reasons, including:
- Static IP Address Assignment: If a network administrator manually assigns the same static IP address to multiple devices, an IP conflict will occur.
- Dynamic IP Address Assignment: In networks where IP addresses are assigned dynamically by a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server, conflicts can arise if two devices request the same IP address at the same time.
- Network Configuration Changes: If network settings are changed manually or by software updates without proper coordination, IP conflicts may occur.
For example, you have 3 devices (PC1, PC2, and PC3) connected to your network. When PC 1 sends some message to PC 2 that uses IP address to communicate to PC 2. Well, if on your network both PC 2 and PC 3 have the same IP address that creates the conflict as PC 1 didn’t understand where to send the data. This can lead to connectivity issues, data transmission errors, and disruptions in network operations.
There are various solutions you can apply to fix Windows has detected an IP address conflict problem. But the simplest way is go ahead and restart your PC. Yes, that usually fixes the problem automatically.
Restart Network Devices
Also Restarting WiFi routers, switches, and other network devices can effectively clear temporary glitches and refresh the network configuration. This action can be particularly helpful in resolving conflicts caused by hardware malfunctions, software errors, or misconfigurations. By power cycling the network equipment, any small issues that may be contributing to IP address conflicts can be eliminated, and for a fresh start.
- Locate the power button or switch on your router, switch, or modem.
- Turn off the device by pressing the power button or flipping the switch.
- Wait for about 30 seconds to 1 minute to ensure that the device completely powers off.
- Turn the device back on by pressing the power button or flipping the switch again.
- Wait for the device to fully restart and establish connections with other network devices.
Obtain an IP Address Automatically
Setting TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) settings to obtain an IP address automatically, ensures dynamic IP allocation from DHCP server. Most of the time, This configuration eliminates the risk of conflicts arising from the manual IP address configuration.
- Press Windows + R, type ncpa.cpl and ok to open the Network connections window,
- Right-click on Active network connection select properties,
- Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPv4).
- Select the radio button Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically.
- Click on ok and apply to save changes, and check if this helps fix the problem and internet connection is restored.
Configuring TCP/IP settings to obtain an IP address automatically promotes efficient network management and reduces the likelihood of IP address conflicts.
Refresh IP address configuration using CMD
Also, you can perform the following commands to release the current IP address that causing conflict with other computers and request the DHCP server for a new IP address.
- netsh winsock reset
- netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt
- ipconfig /release
- ipconfig /flushdns
- ipconfig /renew
This process effectively terminates the conflicting IP address assignment and obtains a fresh, unique address. Now close the command prompt and check there is no more IP address conflict error.
Disable IPv6 on Your System
Disabling IPv6 on your system can help prevent IP address conflicts, particularly in environments where IPv6 is not fully supported or configured correctly. IPv6 runs parallel to IPv4 and can sometimes lead to conflicts or connectivity issues if misconfigured. By disabling IPv6, you ensure that your system solely relies on IPv4, reducing the complexity of network configurations and minimizing the risk of conflicts.
- Press Windows key + R, type ncpa.cpl and click ok
- Right-click on the active network adapter (WiFi/ethernet) select properties,
- Look for the ‘Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IP)’ option and uncheck it.
- After that, click on the ‘OK’ button to apply the changes and close the window.
Update Network Adapter
Again sometimes incompatible network Adapter driver fails to get a new IP address from the DHCP server. And that probably causes different network problems including IP address conflict. Updating network adapter drivers ensures compatibility with the latest protocols and standards, improving the stability and performance of network connections.
- Open Device Manager using devmgmt.msc
- Then expand the Network adapter
- Select the installed driver right click on it select update driver and follow the on-screen instructions to install and update the latest driver.
Still, need help? perform a system restore, that reverts the system to the previous working state and helps to fix the problem for you.
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