By default, most devices, including Windows, are set up to automatically obtain IP addresses. In most cases, a dynamic IP address is sufficient, and you don’t need to give it a second thought. However, there are several scenarios where configuring a static IP address is useful. For instance, in my case, my ISP requires me to configure Windows with a static IP address to connect to the internet. For you, the use case might be different.
Whether you want to set up remote desktop, host file server, run your Windows computer as a media center, or perform network troubleshooting, changing the IP address and setting up a static IP address in Windows 10 is a pretty simple task. In this tutorial, I’ll show the step-by-step process to set up static IP address in Windows 10. Let’s get started.
Before You Start
- Ensure you are connected to the network you want to configure.
- Setting up a static IP address in Windows 10 typically doesn’t require admin rights for regular users.
- However, admin privileges might be necessary on computers that are part of a domain or managed by organizations.
- Ensure you know the static IP address you want to assign and other required details such as Subnet mask, Default Gateway, and Preferred DNS server. You can obtain these details from your router settings, network administrator, or Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Related tutorial: How to find your IP address in Windows 10
Steps to Set Up Static IP address in Windows 10
To change the IP address in Windows 10 and configure static IP address, follow the below steps:
- Press Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
- Click on “Network & Internet.”
- Navigate to the “Status” tab on the sidebar.
- Click the “Properties” button in the right panel.
- Scroll down to the “IP Settings” section and click “Edit.”
- Select “Manual” from the dropdown menu.
- Turn ON the “IPv4” toggle.
- Enter the static IP address, Subnet, Gateway, and Preferred DNS addresses.
- Click the “Save” button.
- With that, you’ve configured Windows 10 to use a static IP address.
Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)
First, open the Settings app on your Windows 10 computer. To do that, press the Windows key + I shortcut. Alternatively, click the Start button and then click the Gear icon.
Once the Settings app opens, click the Network & Internet option and navigate to the Status tab on the sidebar.
On the right panel, click the Properties button under the active connection. If you don’t see it, then your computer is not connected to any network. Connect to a network and try again.
Now, scroll down to the “IP Settings” section and click the Edit button under it. This lets you edit the connection settings of the network you are connected to.
Select the Manual option from the dropdown menu. Next, turn ON the IPv4 option. Next, enter the static IP address you want to assign into the “IP address” field. When assigning a static IP you also need to fill in the additional details such as Subnet, Gateway, Preferred DNS and Alternate DNS. Fill them and click Save.
Note: You can get the Subnet, Gateway, and Preferred DNS detailed from your router, network administrator, or ISP.
That’s it. You’ve configured Windows 10 to use a static IP address. Disconnect from the network and reconnect to it to use the Static IP.
Wrapping Up — Setting Up Static IP in Windows 10
As you’ve seen, configuring a static IP address in Windows 10 is straightforward, thanks to the built-in options in the Settings app. Remember to manually configure the subnet mask and gateway addresses as well. If you don’t have these details handy, you can get them from your router, network administrator, or Internet Service Provider (ISP).
If you have any questions or need help, feel free to comment below. For Windows 11 users: you can follow our guide on how to set up static IP address in Windows 11.
