Resolve WiFi Doesn't Have a Valid IP Configuration in Windows 10

Facing the "Wi-Fi Doesn’t Have a Valid IP Configuration" error on your Windows 10 device? Here are some straightforward solutions to get your internet connection back up and running.

How to Fix "Wi-Fi Doesn’t Have a Valid IP Configuration" Error?​

1. Restart Your Router​

• Locate the power button on your router and turn it off.
• Wait for about 5 minutes to allow your router and network to fully shut down.
• Turn your router back on.
• Test your Wi-Fi connection to see if the issue is resolved.

Restarting your router clears temporary memory and allows your device to establish a new IP address with the router.

2. Change the Router’s SSID and Password​

• Find the router’s gateway IP, username, and password (usually found on a label on the router).
• Enter the gateway IP into a web browser and press Enter.
• Log in to the router using the username and password.
• Navigate to the settings to change the SSID and password.
• Save your changes and reconnect your device to the Wi-Fi using the new SSID and password.

Changing the SSID and password can clear any conflicts and ensure a fresh connection with new credentials.

3. Check if Network Service Is Running​

• Press the Windows key and type "services" in the search box, then press Enter.
• In the Services window, scroll down to find WLAN AutoConfig Service.
• Right-click on it and select Properties.
• Ensure the Status is “Running” and the Startup Type is “Automatic.”
• If changes were necessary, click Apply and restart your computer.

Ensuring the network service is running allows Windows to manage network changes effectively.

4. Remove your antivirus software​

• Click on the hidden access arrow in the Taskbar.
  
• Click on your antivirus icon, hover over Avast shields Control and select Disable for 10 minutes (This step varies for different antivirus software).
  

Antivirus software or firewall can often interfere with your Internet connection and cause IP configuration failure. Therefore, you might want to temporarily remove your antivirus or firewall as a workaround.

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5. Restart Your Computer with a Clean Boot​

• Press Windows + R to open the Run utility.
• Type “msconfig” and press Enter.
• In the System Configuration window, switch to the Services tab.
• Check the “Hide all Microsoft services” box.
• Click “Disable all” to disable third-party services.
• Click Apply and restart your computer.

A clean boot minimizes software conflicts, allowing you to isolate and identify problematic services.

6. Run the Network Adapter Troubleshooter​

• Open the Start menu and go to Settings (or press Windows + I).
• Click on Network & Internet.
• Under the Status tab, scroll down and click on Network troubleshooter.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to diagnose and fix network issues.

The network troubleshooter can automatically detect and fix common networking issues.

7. Reset IP Configuration and TCP/IP Settings​

• Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
• Type “cmd” and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.
• Enter the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each: ipconfig /release
  ipconfig /all
  ipconfig /renew
  netsh int ip set dns
  netsh winsock reset
• Restart your computer.

Resetting IP configurations and TCP/IP settings can resolve issues with IP address allocation.

8. Set the Channel’s Width to Auto​

• Press Windows + X and select Network Connections from the menu.
  
  
  
• Right-click your wireless connection and choose Properties from the menu.
• Click the Configure button.
• Go to the Advanced tab, locate 802.11n Channel Width for band 2.4, and set it to Auto.
  
  
• Finally, click OK to save changes.

Setting the channel width to Auto allows the router to select the best channel for communication.

9. Update the Wireless Network Adapter Drivers​

• Press Windows + X and choose Device Manager.
• Expand Network adapters.
• Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and select Update driver.
• Choose Search automatically for drivers or manually locate a driver file on your computer.
• Follow prompts to complete the update and restart your computer.

Updated drivers can fix compatibility issues and enhance network performance.

10. Reset the Firewall​

• Press Windows + S and type "firewall," then select Check firewall status.
• Click on Restore defaults.
• Confirm the action by clicking Restore defaults and then Yes.
• Try connecting to Wi-Fi.

Resetting the firewall can clear any misconfigurations blocking network access.

11. Set Your IP Manually​

• Press Windows + X and select Network Connections.
• Click Change adapter options.
• Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and select Properties.
• Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
• Select Use the following IP addressand enter:
  • IP Address: 192.168.1.# (replace # with any number)
  • Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
  • Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1
  • Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
  • Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4
• Click OK and restart your PC.

Setting the IP address ensures your device uses specific network settings, avoiding conflicts.

12. Perform a Network Reset​

• Open the Start menu and go to Settings (or press Windows + I).
• Click on Network & Internet.
• Stay on the Status tab and scroll down to Network reset.
• Click Reset now and confirm by clicking Yes.
• Restart your computer.

A network reset removes all existing network profiles, giving you a clean slate to reconnect.

Following these comprehensive steps, you should be able to resolve the "Wi-Fi Doesn’t Have a Valid IP Configuration" error and restore your internet connection.