Every device on a WiFi network gets assigned a unique IP address past the router. But that IP address assignment is only "leased" out for a specified amount of time. After that time runs out, your device has to renew its lease.

Renew lease on WiFi means your device needs to asking a new IP address from the router because the one it was previously assigned is no longer available. Tap the "Renew Lease" push button in the WiFi data menu, or toggle the WiFi off and dorsum on once again to renew the lease.

What is a WiFi lease?

A WiFi lease (likewise chosen a DHCP lease) is a way for a router to manage devices that are connected to the network. When a device connects to the router, the router assigns it a local IP address using a service called DHCP.

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a client/server protocol that automatically provides an Internet Protocol (IP) host with its IP accost.

The router will use a device'southward MAC Accost to kickoff identify it on the network, and so it will assign it the same IP accost the next time it connects.

You can think of the MAC address as a Vehicle Identification Number (VINs), which is unique to each machine. IP addresses are more than like license plates, which tin be reassigned or transferred to dissimilar cars.

The IP address volition be reserved for the amount of time the DHCP lease period has been set to, in most cases 24 hours. (The router admin can manually fix a DHCP lease fourth dimension and a DHCP IP range, details on how to do this below).

If the device does not reconnect later on the specified lease fourth dimension, that IP address will get available for other devices to connect to.

Problems can occur when you connect to a public network that has a short DHCP lease fourth dimension and merely a few available IP address slots. For instance, airports or coffee shops often take many people connected to the same network.

If yous connected to a WiFi network one time before, just now you're receiving a "Renew Lease on WiFi" message, it means the IP address that was reserved for you is now in use by someone else.

To fix that issue you lot can either turn off WiFi on your device so reconnect, or tap the "Renew Lease" push button in the network settings on your phone.

renew WiFi lease on iphone

In the majority of cases, your device should automatically request an IP address from the router, and all of these actions volition take place behind the scenes without y'all even knowing.

Change local network IP address

Virtually of the time, tapping the renew charter button volition provide you with a new IP address.

But, sometimes your router can automatically reassign your device to the aforementioned IP accost, which defeats the purpose.

To force your router to change IP addresses, y'all can:

  1. "Forget the Network" or your device and reconnect OR
  2. Close down the router for thirty seconds then turn it back on. This will reset all the settings and assign new IP addresses.

If you're still having issues, you likely assigned your device a static IP address.

Static IP address

If you're in charge of the router you're connecting to, yous might have fix your devices to use a static IP ( knowingly, or unknowingly), instead of setting an automatic IP assignment.

It's as well possible you accidentally configured two devices to apply the same IP accost. When this happens, yous will likely receive a WiFi lease expired warning, and neither device will connect to the internet. On Windows, you will run across an "IP Address Conflict" warning next to your network adapter.

To resolve this, make sure the network bill of fare is using automatic DHCP instead of static, or you lot could endeavour manually entering a unlike IP address.

That said, setting a static IP address is useful when it is critical that a data connection is not interrupted

How to set a static IP address

Setting a static IP address is helpful for people on computers who need to forward specific IP addresses for hosting services and other network features. A real globe instance of this would be network print servers.

Information technology likewise helps arrive easier to share files using file share apps because you can remember which IP each of your devices is using on the network. Not to mention VPNs usually require static network settings.

Windows 10

On Windows ten right-click your network adapter icon in the bottom correct tray and select "Open Network and Cyberspace Settings".

Click on "Properties" under your network data and then have note of the information. Click on Edit and choose Transmission and so toggle IPv4.

set static IP address on Windows 10

Adjacent, yous volition demand to fill out the information. You can use the same IP address as before, and the gateway is the router's admin page, it's usually the starting time IPv4 DNS Server IP address.

If yous're non sure, the router should take the data printed on the rear side. The subnet mask is usually 255.255.255.0.

You volition too need to enter a DNS server, which could exist any DNS, just information technology'south recommended to use a well-known one, or stick to the default from your ISP.

When you change the IP assignment setting the network connection will reset. If the configuration is correct, you volition exist able to use the internet as usual and your IP address will remain the same until you change it.

On iPhone

Open up your Settings and tap on the WiFi menu.

Tap the data icon adjacent to the WiFi network. From there, select Configure IP and select Transmission from the list.

You will need to enter the same information every bit above. Tap on Save and so select Configure DNS and choose Manual.

Enter your preferred DNS server, salve the settings, and connect to the network. If the settings are correct, no warnings will appear and you tin can connect to the net.

On Android

Open up Settings, Connections, and WiFi.

Tap on your currently continued WiFi and swipe down until you see an "Advanced" button. Under IP settings change DHCP to Manual and fill in all the relevant data.

The good news is Android will save the previous settings so y'all don't need to manually make full in every field. Tap on Save and run into if it works.

Setting DHCP lease fourth dimension as a network admin

If you lot're the admin of a network, yous can easily manually configure the DHCP lease fourth dimension. It's usually a adept idea to add some restrictions to the DHCP. This way yous limit the number of devices that can connect. Yous tin also reserve specific IPs for your devices.

For starters, enter the router'due south configuration page. The accost will vary depending on the router's model, merely you can usually find a sticker on the back of the router with the data.

If you never changed the router'due south login details, they'll be the default username and password which is also printed on the router.

The exact card options will vary depending on your router. In nearly cases, the DHCP settings are found under WAN/LAN options.

You'll come across DHCP is enabled and you can choose a Lease Time also as an IP range. If your router is public, I recommend using a short lease time such every bit 1 or 2 hours. If it'south a private network, you can put the maximum lease time or merely leave information technology on default.

Annotation: Charter times are oftentimes fix in seconds. So for example, a Charter Fourth dimension of 3600 would exist 1 hour.

DHCP lease time

The DHCP range is the range of IP addresses that are available to the router to assign. In about cases, the default is ten – 199, but you can increase or subtract it, depending on your needs. The default settings are usually good enough.

If you want to limit access to a certain number of devices, you tin subtract the range from 10 – 50 or something like. Limiting the connections tin can help prevent devices from eating up the bandwidth and slowing downward the connexion for anybody.

You lot'll likely see a feature chosen Reserved IP here equally well. Information technology volition tell the router to assign a specific IP to the MAC address on the list.

Information technology'south some other manner to add a static IP to your devices. You will demand to detect the MAC address of the device yous wish to add. You can sometimes find the MAC address of all connected devices from inside the router's page, along with their network name.

Conclusion

Devices on a WiFi network go assigned a unique IP address by the router. But that IP address assignment is only "leased" out for a specified amount of time.

This is usually only an issue when you're connected to a public network. Due to the shear number of connections they have to adapt, public WiFi networks have shorter DHCP lease times. This helps limit access.

If your device's WiFi lease has run out, its time to renew it and get a new IP address. To renew:

  • Tap the "Renew Lease" push nether your WiFi network on your telephone OR
  • Turn your device's WiFi off and and then back on. This should automatically reset the lease.

If it'due south critical that the data connection with your device is not interrupted and you're an admin on the network, you should consider setting a static IP accost. Just make sure the IP address you configure doesn't conflict with any other devices on your network.

Otherwise, set DHCP to "automatic" under IP settings to automate IP accost assignments.