Your router gives your device a local IP address through DHCP. Sometimes that lease gets stuck, conflicts with another device, or points at old router settings. Renewing it forces the device to request a fresh address.
Does this affect you?
Use this for Windows 10, Windows 11, and macOS when Wi-Fi or Ethernet says no internet access, an IP conflict appears, or a device acts wrong after a router change.
Renew your IP address on Windows
Command Prompt can release the old lease and request a new one.
- Click Start, type Command Prompt, and open it.
- Type ipconfig /release and press Enter. The connection may briefly show no IP address.
- Type ipconfig /renew and press Enter.
- Wait while Windows asks the router for a new address.
- Type ipconfig and confirm an IPv4 Address appears under the active adapter.
Renew your IP address on Mac
macOS does this from Network settings.
- Open System Settings > Network.
- Select the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection.
- Click Details.
- Open TCP/IP.
- Click Renew DHCP Lease and wait a few seconds for the IPv4 address to refresh.
More control
What this can and cannot fix
Renewing helps with stuck leases, address conflicts, and router setting changes. It will not fix a provider outage, dead router, bad cable, or weak Wi-Fi signal.
Restart the router for many devices
If several devices need fresh addresses after replacing a router, restart the router so every device renews automatically.
Use network reset for deeper device problems
If one device remains tangled after renewals, use Network reset on Windows or Reset Network Settings on iPhone. That goes further than replacing one IP lease.
Sources
- Microsoft Support – Release and renew an IP address (2025)
- Apple Support – Renew a DHCP lease on Mac (2025)
- FCC Consumer Guide – Wireless Network Troubleshooting (2024)