How to Restore IP Address Starting with 169.254 Problem

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If your computer is set to “Obtain an IP address automatically” and cannot find a DHCP server, it will probably generate an IP address similar to this address 169.254.x.x. Some modems are a combination of a router and a modem, so you may only have one device. In all cases, the router handles DHCP.

Your Windows computer must obtain some sort of IP address from the DHCP server. If that process fails, it gives up and uses Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) to generate its own. This often results in your computer not being able to connect to the Internet or see other computers on your local network. This problem with IP address 169.254.x.x can have many causes.

What causes IP address error 169.254?

In order for a computer to access the Internet through a network, it needs a valid IP address. The easiest way to ensure this is to use Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), which allows the router to automatically assign an IP address to each device on the network.

When a Windows computer fails to communicate with a DHCP server, a system called Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) comes into play. It assigns the computer an IP address beginning with 169.254. These IP addresses are only useful on local networks but not on the Internet.

How to resolve the 169.254 IP address error?

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Perform an SFC scan

This is especially useful if your computer is infected with proxy redirection. Scanning your system will check for these issues.

  1. Click the Start button
  2. Go to the search box and type CMD
  3. Right-click on Command Prompt
  4. Select Run as administrator
  5. Type sfc/scannow
  6. Press Enter
  7. Reboot your computer and try to connect again

Using a VPN

  1. Buy a VPN subscription
  2. Download a VPN client
  3. Install it on your computer.
  4. Start VPN Client.
  5. Sign in to your account
  6. Connect to the server of your choice (regardless of location)
  7. Check to see if you’re still stuck with an IP address of 169.254.

A VPN allows you to use the Internet anonymously by assigning you an IP address other than the one assigned by your ISP.

Reinstalling the LAN adapter

  1. Right-click on the Start menu
  2. Select Device Manager
  3. Search for network adapters
  4. Expand list
  5. Right-click on the Ethernet LAN Adapter
  6. Select Properties
  7. Click on the Driver tab
  8. Click on the Uninstall button
  9. Restart your computer

Restart the DNS service

  1. Right-click on the Start menu
  2. Select Run
  3. Type services.msc and press Enter.
  4. Go to Services
  5. Select DNS Client
  6. Right-click and select Restart

Disable quick startup

  1. Right-click on the Start menu
  2. Select Control Panel
  3. Go to the Power Options category
  4. Select the option Choose what the power buttons do
  5. Click on Change settings that are not currently available
  6. Scroll down to the shutdown settings
  7. Uncheck the Enable QuickStart option
  8. Click the Save Changes button



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Frequently Asked Questions

When a Windows computer fails to communicate with a DHCP server, a system called APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing) comes into play. Without communication between the computer and the DHCP server, as long as the computer has an IP address 169, it cannot connect to the Internet.

  1. Open the Control Panel.
  2. Click on Network and Internet -> Network and Sharing Center -> Change adapter settings.
  3. Right-click on the network adapter.
  4. Click Properties.
  5. Double-click Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP / IPv4).
  6. Click the Advanced button.
  7. In the IP Addresses section, click on the desired IP address.

  1. Reboot the computer.
  2. Update the IP configuration.
  3. Disable the Quick Restart option (temporarily).
  4. Restart the DNS client.

Generally, IP address 169 means that your computer has failed to communicate with a DHCP server. It usually means that your router is stuck and needs to be rebooted, or that your Wi-Fi is not working at all.

Related posts:
  1. How to Release and Renew an IP Address in Windows 10
  2. Windscribe VPN hides your IP address so you cannot be tracked
  3. Fix Ethernet Doesn’t Have a Valid IP Configuration
  4. How to solve the “An error occurred while renewing interface Ethernet” problem
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