DHCP Is Not Enabled in Windows 11? 7 Ways to Fix It

If Windows 11 says “DHCP is not enabled,” your PC is having trouble getting an IP address from the network. DHCP automatically assigns an IP address and other network settings to your PC. If it is disabled or stops working correctly, Windows may fail to communicate with your router, and result no internet access or an Unidentified network. In most cases, this issue is related to incorrect network settings or a problem with the DHCP Client service, the network adapter, or the Wi-Fi router.

You might also see similar messages like:

• DHCP is not enabled for “Wireless Network Connection”
• DHCP is not enabled for “Ethernet”
• DHCP is not enabled for “Local Area Connection”

Let’s look at how to fix the “DHCP is not enabled” error in Windows 11 and get your internet connection working again.

Why Is DHCP Not Enabled in Windows 11?

Windows normally gets an IP address automatically from your router through DHCP. If that process fails because of incorrect network settings or the DHCP client service isn’t running, your PC may connect to the network but still have no internet access.

Some common reasons include:

• DHCP is disabled in the network adapter’s TCP/IP settings.
• The DHCP Client service is stopped or not working correctly.
• A temporary router or network issue prevents Windows from getting an IP address.
• Network drivers are outdated or corrupted.
• Incorrect network settings or a previous manual IP configuration is interfering with the connection.
• Windows network components have become corrupted or misconfigured.

1. Make Sure DHCP Is Enabled for Your Network Adapter

First, check your network adapter’s IP configuration. If Windows is set to use a manual IP address instead of obtaining one automatically, your PC may not connect properly to the network.

This applies to both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections.

1. Press Windows + R, type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.
2. Right-click your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection and select Properties.
3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
4. Select Obtain an IP address automatically.
5. Select Obtain DNS server address automatically.
6. Click OK, then click Close.

Now reconnect to Wi-Fi or unplug and reconnect the Ethernet cable. Try opening a website to see if the connection is working.

Quick Insight: If the adapter was previously configured with a static IP address, switching it back to automatic allows your router’s DHCP server to assign the correct network settings.

2. Restart the DHCP Client Service

Windows uses a DHCP Client service to get an IP address and other network information from your router. If the service is stopped or temporarily unresponsive, your PC may not get an IP address correctly.

You can restart the service and check whether that fixes the connection.

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Find DHCP Client in the list.
3. Right-click it and select Restart.
4. If Restart is unavailable, right-click the service and select Start.
5. Double-click DHCP Client and make sure Startup type is set to Automatic.
6. Click Apply and OK.

Now disconnect and reconnect your Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi connection. Then try opening a website.

3. Restart Your Router and Network Adapter

Sometimes the problem is temporary and not due to a permanent Windows setting. Your router may temporarily fail to assign an IP address, or the network adapter may just need to reconnect.

First, disconnect your PC from the network. If you are using Ethernet, unplug the cable. If you are using Wi-Fi, disconnect from the wireless network.

• Turn off your router and unplug its power cable.
• Wait about 30 seconds.
• Plug the router back in and wait for the connection lights to become stable.

Next, disable and Re-enable the Network Adapter

1. Press Windows + R, type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.
2. Right-click your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection.
3. Select Disable. Wait about 10 seconds.
4. Right-click the same connection and select Enable.

Reconnect your PC to the network and check whether you can access the internet.

Quick Insight: If other devices connected to the same router also cannot get online, the problem is more likely with the router or network rather than your Windows 11 PC.

4. Reset the Network Configuration

If the basic settings look correct but Windows still cannot obtain an IP address, resetting the network components can help. This clears temporary network settings and rebuilds some of the components Windows uses to establish a connection.

1. Open Start, type Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
2. Click Yes when the User Account Control prompt appears.
3. Run these commands one at a time:

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns

3. Restart your computer after running the commands.

The first two commands reset parts of the Windows network stack. The ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew commands release the current IP address and ask the DHCP server for a new one. And ipconfig /flushdns clears your computer’s local DNS (Domain Name System) resolver cache.

After restarting, reconnect to your Wi-Fi or Ethernet network and check whether you can access the internet.

5. Update or Reinstall the Network Adapter Driver

A problem with the network adapter driver can prevent Windows from communicating correctly with the DHCP server. This can happen after a Windows update, driver change, or when the installed driver becomes corrupted.

Try updating the driver first.

1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters.
3. Find your Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter.
4. Right-click it and select Update driver.
5. Select Search automatically for drivers.
6. If Windows finds an update, install it and restart your PC.

If the driver is already up to date, you can reinstall it instead. Right-click the network adapter, select Uninstall device, and confirm the removal. Then restart your computer. Windows should detect the adapter and automatically reinstall the driver.

After restarting, reconnect to your network and check whether you can obtain an IP address.

If the problem started immediately after a driver update, open the adapter’s Properties, select the Driver tab, and use Roll Back Driver if available.

6. Reset Windows Network Settings

If none of the previous methods work, Windows may have a deeper network configuration issue. The Network reset option removes and reinstalls your network adapters and returns related settings to their defaults.

This can fix problems caused by incorrect or corrupted network configuration.

To reset the network:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Network & internet.
3. Select Advanced network settings.
4. Scroll down and click Network reset.
5. Click Reset now and confirm.
6. Windows will restart your computer after the reset.

After the restart, reconnect to your Wi-Fi network or plug in the Ethernet cable again. You may need to enter your Wi-Fi password again, and some network software such as VPN clients may also need to be configured again.

7. Check the Router’s DHCP Settings

If Windows is configured to obtain an IP address automatically but still reports that DHCP is not enabled, the problem may be on the router side.

Most home routers have their own DHCP server, which automatically assigns IP addresses to connected devices. If that feature is disabled or the DHCP address range is exhausted, your PC may not receive an IP address.

Open your router’s administration page and look for a setting such as DHCP Server, LAN Settings, or Local Network. Make sure the DHCP server is enabled and has an available IP address range.

If you are not sure where the setting is, check your router manufacturer’s instructions rather than changing other network settings at random.

You can also test the connection with another phone or computer. If multiple devices connected to the same router have trouble getting an IP address, that points more strongly to a router or network issue rather than a Windows 11 problem.

Frequently Asked Questions