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A step-by-step troubleshooting guide for Windows ethernet problems
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- Restart Your PC |
- Run the Network Troubleshooter |
- Restart Your Home Network |
- Restart Your Ethernet Adapter |
- Renew Your IP Address |
- Check your IP Settings |
- Reset the TCP/IP Stack |
- Connect Directly to the Router |
- Reinstall Your Ethernet Drivers |
- Reset Network Settings |
- Check Your Router Configuration |
- Connect to a Different Network |
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If you lose your internet connection, the Windows Network Diagnostics troubleshooter is usually helpful. However, sometimes you'll just see a vague error message like "Ethernet doesn't have a valid IP configuration," which doesn't give you much information about the problem. This error usually pops up when there's a problem when you're connected to the internet via Ethernet and your router can't assign your PC an IP address via DCHP. Fortunately, these fixes will get you back online in no time. This wikiHow article will walk you through fixing the "Ethernet doesn't have a valid IP configuration" error on your Windows 10 or 11 PC.
Things You Should Know
- The "Ethernet doesn't have a valid IP configuration" error appears in the Windows network troubleshooter when your PC cannot obtain an IP address.
- The problem is usually related to your TCP/IP settings, ethernet driver, or router.
- A properly configured router or switch could also lead to an invalid IP configuration.
Steps
Section 5 of 12:
Renew Your IP Address
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Open a Command Prompt window. To do this, type cmd into the Window Search bar, then click Command Prompt in the search results.
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Type ipconfig /release and press ↵ Enter . This releases the last IP address and displays several "disconnected" messages in the window.
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Type ipconfig /renew and press ↵ Enter . Windows will request a new IP address from your router.
- Once your IP address is renewed, you should see an IPv4 and/or an IPv6 address under your ethernet adapter.
- If you see the error "This operation failed as no adapter is in the state permissible for this operation," you have configured a static IP address for your PC. If your IP address is supposed to be dynamically assigned by your router, you will need to open your TCP/IP settings and select "Obtain an IP address automatically."
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Section 7 of 12:
Reset the TCP/IP Stack
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Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. If you're using Windows 11, you can open Terminal as an administrator instead if you prefer—either will work.
- Type cmd or terminal into the Windows Search bar.
- Right-click Command Prompt (or Terminal) and select Run as administrator .
- Click Yes .
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Type netsh int ip reset and press ↵ Enter . This resets TCP/IP by overwriting its registry keys. [2] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
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Type netsh winsock reset and press ↵ Enter . You should see the message "Successfully reset the Winsock Catalog. You must restart the computer to complete the reset."
- A quick way to reboot from Command Prompt is to type shutdown /r /t 0 and press Enter .
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Section 9 of 12:
Reinstall Your Ethernet Drivers
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Open the Device Manager. You can do this quickly by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager .
- If your computer is not currently connected to the internet, a default ethernet driver will be installed once you uninstall your current driver. However, it's better to use this method if you can connect to the internet, even if you have to head to a café or other location with Wi-Fi.
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Click the arrow next to "Network adapters." A list of network adapters will expand.
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Right-click your ethernet card and click Uninstall device . If prompted, click Uninstall to confirm. This removes the driver from your PC.
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Restart your PC. When Windows restarts, it will automatically install the best-fitting driver for the card. [3] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
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Section 10 of 12:
Reset Network Settings
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Open your Windows Settings . This method will delete all your saved network settings, including any Wi-Fi passwords and VPN settings you've added. However, it may also resolve the "Ethernet doesn't have a valid IP configuration" error.
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Click Network & Internet . This opens your internet settings.
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Click Advanced Network Settings (Windows 11 only). You can skip this step if you're using Windows 10.
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Click Network Reset . If you're using Windows 10, it'll be a text link at the bottom of the right panel. On Windows 11, it's under the "More Settings" header.
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Click Reset now . This deletes your entire network configuration and replaces it with the default settings.
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Restart your router. Now that your network settings are cleared, power down your router and disconnect the ethernet cable from your PC. After a few moments, turn the router back on, then plug the ethernet cable back in. Wait 3 to 4 minutes.
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References
- ↑ https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-ip-address-lease-not-renewing-until/bb45402a-cf37-40f5-a444-e2cc7bdeb194
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-reset-tcp-ip-by-using-the-netshell-utility-d954430c-9b11-43f0-6081-0fc9235a8b4a
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/update-drivers-manually-in-windows-ec62f46c-ff14-c91d-eead-d7126dc1f7b6
About This Article
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