How To Do An IP Release and Renew

Sometimes, if you have multiple devices at home, you’ll encounter ip address conflict. This is when releasing and renewing an ip address comes in handy. This is also helpful in reconnecting your computer to your local network (modem or router). It’s similar to rebooting your computer to gain a new ip address from the router without the boot time.

Sometimes, you also need to do a manual ip address release and renew like if there’s a power interruption, you moved your desktop computer to a new location, you have a new router or you you just need to reconfigure you home network.*

On your Windows computer, you can search for CMD (the shortcut for Command Prompt) and when you open it, you’ll get a black window that is similar to DOS (of the past).

Do an ipconfig or ipconfig/all on command prompt first. You can also type ipconfig(space)/all which also works but of course, you want to give the simplest instruction to your customers.

Type ipconfig/release on command prompt. Again, it works even with a space between ipconfig and / but again, simplest instruction works best. You can advise customer that it’s just one word – ipconfig/release.

Finally, type ipconfig/renew to gain a new ip address from the router.

Would you believe that this Windows command has a Macintosh equivalent?

Mac OS X Yosemite, Mac OS X Mavericks and Mac OS X Mountain Lion*

1. Close any open Internet applications (web browsers, email, etc.).
2. Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu, then click Network.
3. Select your service that uses DHCP (such as Ethernet or WiFi) in the network connection services list.
4. Click Advanced.
5. Click TCP/IP.
6. Click Renew DHCP Lease.
7. Open a web browser and attempt to connect to the Internet.

*Source

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