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An IP address is a unique identifier for a specific device on your network. Your router assigns them to these devices using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). As you connect new devices to the network, they will be assigned the next IP address in the pool, and if a device hasn't connected in a few days, its IP address will "expire" so it can be assigned to something else.
For everyday use, this is perfectly fine, and you will never even notice it happening in the background. But if you regularly SSH into your Raspberry Pi, turn your computer on from across the house with Wake-on-LAN, or perform other advanced networking tasks, DHCP can become an annoyance. It's hard to remember which IP address is assigned to which device, and if they ever expire, you have to look it up all over again.
This is where a static IP address can come in handy. Here's how to set it up on all your devices.
What Is a Static IP Address?
Instead of letting your router assign whatever IP address is free at any given time, you can assign specific IP addresses to the devices you access frequently. For example, I have my home server set to 192.168.1.10, my main desktop to 192.168.1.11, and so on—easy to remember, sequential, and unchanging. You can assign these static IP addresses on the device itself—using, say, Windows' network settings on each computer—or you can do it at the router level.
If you do it through the router, it will likely be called a DHCP reservation, though many people (and even some routers) still refer to it as a "static IP address." DHCP reservations allow you to easily set everything up in one place with all your computers left at their default settings. Your computer will ask for an IP address via DHCP, and your router will assign it the one you reserved, with your computer being none the wiser.
How to Set Up a Static IP Address on a Device
If you wish to change the IP address of a single device, this can be done through its settings menu. You can set it on on your computers and mobile devices, though the process will differ depending on the operating system in use. Follow our directions to set up a static IP address:
Change Your IP Address in Windows
Your first step should be to track down your computer's current IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway. Do this by opening the Start menu and searching for "Command Prompt." Choose Run as administrator. Run the ipconfig / all command to view your network configuration settings. Look to the Wireless LAN adapter heading to view your current IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server. Write these down for later use.
Now use the Windows Start menu to search "network connections" and choose View network connections. Right-click on the Wi-Fi or Ethernet entry (depending on what kind of connection you're using) and choose Properties.
Find the Internet Protocol Version 4 entry in the pop-up window that appears and double-click on it. In the new menu that appears, click Use the following IP address. You can then add your preferred address, as well as the subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server you found earlier. Click OK to finalize.
Change Your IP Address in macOS
On a Mac, open System Settings > Network and pick the network connection you wish to use. Click the Details button next to the network (or the Advanced button at the bottom), then select the TCP/IP tab in the window that appears. Change the Configure IPv4 drop-down to Manually, then enter your new IP address and click OK.
Change Your IP Address on Mobile
On an iPhone, go to Settings > Wi-Fi and select the network. Tap Configure IP > Manual and enter the new IP address.
Directions for Android devices will differ by manufacturer. Open Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi (Samsung) or Settings > Network & internet > Internet (Google), then select the settings icon next to your current network. Tap View more > IP settings > Static (Samsung) or select the pencil icon, Advanced options, set IP settings to Static (Google) and create your new IP address.
How to Set Up a DHCP Reservation on Your Router
To set up a DHCP reservation, you need to know your IP address, which is easy to find. Then head to your router's configuration page—usually by typing its IP address in your browser's address bar—and log in. (For mesh Wi-Fi systems, you'd use an app instead.) The location is different for every config page, but you're looking for something called "DHCP reservations," "static IP addresses," or similar. On my Asus router, for instance, it's in the LAN settings category.
To assign a reservation, you need the MAC address of the device in question. This is a unique string of characters that identifies a particular network adapter, and you can usually find it in your router's list of connected devices. Make sure you're getting the MAC address for the correct network adapter—if you have both Ethernet and Wi-Fi on your computer, you have one MAC address for each.
On your router's config page, enter an easy-to-remember label for the device (like "Whitson's Desktop PC"), the MAC address, and your desired IP address. Save your changes, and repeat the process for any other IP addresses you want to reserve. From then on, those devices should have your reserved IP addresses assigned to them, and you'll never have to look them up again.
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