Troubleshoot a "DHCP Lookup Failed" on your Computer

12 methods of troubleshooting DHCP connection issues.

Co-authored by Travis Boylls Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: September 22, 2025 Fact Checked

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a network protocol that is responsible for assigning IP addresses to different connected devices. Without an IP address, a device cannot connect to the internet.^{[1]
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Research source} If you are getting a "DHCP Lookup Failed" error, it means your device cannot connect to the DHCP server. This error most commonly appears on Chromebooks and Windows computers. This could be because your computer’s network settings are configured improperly, your modem or router is configured improperly, or there is a problem with your internet service provider. This wikiHow article teaches you how to troubleshoot and fix a "DHCP Lookup Failed" error.

Fix "DHCP Lookup Failed"

Start by resetting your computer and router. Then try forgetting your Wi-Fi network and reconnecting to it. You can also renew your IP address. If you can access your router’s web interface, make sure it has a full range of IP addresses. If all else fails, contact your ISP or network administrator.

1

Reset your computer and router.

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You can often fix minor problems with your computer or internet connection by restarting your devices. Power off your PC or Chromebook. Then unplug your modem or router and wait 20 seconds. Plug it back in and wait a full minute for it to boot up. Then, power your PC or Chromebook back on and see if this fixes the issue.

2

Check your physical connection.

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If you are using a wired connection, check your Ethernet cable and connection. Make sure it is firmly connected to an Ethernet port on your PC and your router. Inspect the cable to make sure it isn’t damaged. Try using a different Ethernet cable.

3

Reconnect to your Wi-Fi network.

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There may be an issue with your connection settings. You may be able to fix this by disconnecting from your wireless network, forgetting the connection, and reconnecting again. Use one of the following steps to do so:
- Windows:
  - Click the Windows Start button.
  - Click the Settings/Gear icon.
  - Click Network & Internet.
  - Turn your Wi-Fi off.
  - Click Manage known networks.
  - Click Forget next to your network.
  - Turn your Wi-Fi back on and reconnect to your network.
- Chromebook:^{[2]
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  - Click the Time in the taskbar.
  - Click the Settings/Gear icon.
  - Click Network.
  - Click Wi-Fi.
  - Turn off your Wi-Fi.
  - Click Known networks.
  - Click the icon with three dots (⋮) next to your network. \
  - Click Forget.
  - Turn your Wi-Fi back on and reconnect to your Wi-Fi network.

4

Reset your network settings.

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Your network settings may be incorrect. You can fix incorrect network settings by resetting your network. You may need to reinstall and reconnect to any network software you have, such as VPNs. Use one of the following steps to reset your network:
- Windows:
  - Click the Windows Start menu.
  - Type "Network reset."
  - Click Network reset.
  - Click Reset now.
- Chromebook:^{[3]
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  - Chromebook doesn’t have the option to reset the network settings; however, you can perform a hard reset. This may delete any files stored locally on your Chromebook. Back up anything you want to keep to the Google Drive first. Then press and hold the Power and Refresh buttons until your Chromebook reboots.

5

Run the network troubleshooter.

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There may be an error with your network configuration. You may be able to fix errors with your network configuration by running a diagnostic tool on your computer. Use one of the following steps to do so:
- Windows:
  - Click the Windows Start menu.
  - Type Troubleshoot.
  - Click Troubleshoot settings.
  - Click Other troubleshooters.
  - Click Run next to "Network and internet."
  - Follow the prompts.
- Chromebook:^{[4]
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  - Click the Time.
  - Click the Settings/Gear icon.
  - Click About ChromeOS.
  - Click Diagnostics.
  - Click Connectivity.
  - Follow the prompts.

6

Set your network configuration to automatic.

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Your computer may be using an incompatible IP address. Each device on a network must have a unique IP address. If your computer is set to select a specific IP address, it may already be used on the network. Set your computer to configure its IP address automatically. Use one of the following steps to do so:
- Windows:
  - Click the Windows Start menu.
  - Type "Control Panel."
  - Open the Control Panel.
  - Click Network and Internet.
  - Click Network and Sharing Center.
  - Click Change adapter properties to the left.
  - Right-click the adapter you are connected to and click Properties.
  - Highlight "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and click Properties.
  - Ensure "Obtain IP address automatically" is selected.
  - Ensure "Obtain DNS server address automatically" is selected.
  - Click Ok.
- Chromebook:
  - Click the Time.
  - Click the Settings/Gear icon.
  - Click Network.
  - Click on your network connection (wired or Wi-Fi).
  - Click the radio option next to "Automatic name server."

7

Use a Google name server (Chromebook).

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There may be a problem with your DNS server. On Chromebook, you have the option to use a Google name server as your DNS server. You can try this and see if you have better luck connecting. Use the following steps to do so:
- Click the Time.
- Click the Settings/Gear icon.
- Click Network.
- Click on your network connection (wired or Wi-Fi).
- Click the radio option next to "Google name server."

8

Renew your IP address.

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You may not be assigned an IP address. It’s possible your modem or router, or DHCP server, may not be able to assign your computer an IP address. This may be because there are too many devices on the network, or your modem or router may not be configured properly. You can try to force an IP address to be assigned to your computer by renewing your IP address. Use one of the following steps to do so:
- Windows:
  - Click the Windows Start menu.
  - Type "CMD."
  - Right-click the Command Prompt.
  - Click Run as administrator.
  - Type "ipconfig /release" and press Enter.
  - Type "ipconfig /renew" and press Enter.
- Chromebook:
  - Click the Time.
  - Click the Settings/Gear icon.
  - Click Network.
  - Click on your network connection (wired or Wi-Fi).
  - Click the Network tab.
  - Uncheck "Configure automatically."
  - Check "Configure automatically" again.

9

Expand your DHCP address range.

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Your modem or router may not have enough IP addresses for all devices. If your modem or router only has a limited number of addresses it can assign, then the number of devices that can connect to it will be limited. Log in to your router’s web interface. You can access it by entering your router’s default IP address into a web browser. Then log in with your admin username and password. Access the DHCP settings. They may be under the "LAN" or "Network" tab. Ensure the DHCP range is between "192.168.x.10" and "192.168.x.253." Keep whatever number "x" is the same. Save your settings and try to reconnect.
- You can usually find your router’s login information on a sticker attached to your router (check the bottom and back), in documentation that came with your router, or on the manufacturer’s website.
- If you are experiencing this problem at work or school, you will need to contact a network administrator and let them know about the problem.

10

Update your router’s firmware.

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Your router’s firmware may be out of date. If your router’s firmware is severely outdated, you may start to experience issues. Log in to your router’s web interface. You can access it by entering your router’s default IP address into a web browser. Then log in with your admin username and password. Select the option to update your router’s firmware and follow the prompts.
- If your modem or router is more than 3 to 5 years old, you may want to consider getting a new router.

11

Update your network drivers.

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Your network drivers may be outdated. You can generally update your drivers by updating your computer. If your computer is not able to connect to the network, you can try connecting to a different network or a hotspot. You can also save your network driver updates to a flash drive and update them manually. Use one of the following steps to update your drivers:
- To save your network driver updates to a flash driver, you will need to download them from your computer manufacturer’s website.
- Windows:
  - Right-click the Windows Start menu.
  - Click Device Manager.
  - Expand Network adapters.
  - Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter (or wired if using a wired connection).
  - Click Update drivers.
  - Click Search automatically for drivers if you are able to connect to the internet. Click Browse my computer for drivers if you have your driver updates saved to a flash drive.
  - Select your driver update.
  - Follow the prompts.
- Chromebook:
  - Click the Time.
  - Click the Settings/Gear icon.
  - Click About ChromeOS.
  - Click Check for updates.

12

Contact your ISP or network administrator.

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It’s possible there could be a server outage with your internet service provider. They can let you know if they are experiencing any issues and when you can expect to have it resolved. If you are experiencing this issue at work or school, contact a network administrator. It’s also possible they may need you to configure your network settings a specific way. They can tell you how to do this.