Have you encountered the error message “Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP configuration”? Sure you have and that’s why you are here!
This is a common error in windows 10 operating systems and is most often impermanent. IP (Internet Protocol) is the unique identity for your device and allows you to connect your device over the internet, issues in fetching these IP’s could result in problems accessing the internet.
This guide provides detailed steps to solve issues related to DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) which is responsible for assigning an IP address for your computer for a particular network.
These errors could be due to outdated or faulty network drivers or could be due to incorrect network configuration. The following steps would guide you through some fixes to solve these issues. Simply follow these steps.
How to Fix ‘Ethernet doesn’t have a Valid IP configuration Error
Method 1: Updating Your Network Adapter Drivers
Outdated network drivers are a common issue leading to Invalid IP configuration. These steps will help you to update your device network drivers via device manager to solve the issue.
Step 1: To begin open the Windows Explorer.
Step 2: Navigate to This PC and right-click on it to open Properties.
Step 3: From the window which appears next click on Device Manager option on the left side of the window. Alternatively, you could search for Device Manager using the search feature of windows from the desktop.
Step 4: From the window that pops up, find the Network Adapters and click on the arrow next to it to display furthermore options.
Step 5: From the available options find your Network adaptor and right-click on it and choose Update driver.
Step 6: Click on Search automatically for updated driver software, this will download and install driver updates for the Network adapter if an update is available.
Make sure you have an active internet connection and your system is connected to the network.
Step 7: After completion of Installation, Restart for the changes to take place and check if the issue persists. If this doesn’t solve your problem move to next method
Method 2: Uninstalling Ethernet Drivers
Sometimes updates for Network adaptors might have caused this issue. Restoring defaults for the network adaptor could solve the issue.
Step 1: Open Windows Explorer.
Step 2: Navigate to This PC and right-click on it to open Properties.
Step 3: From the window which appears next, click on Device Manager option on the left side of the window or you could search from the desktop.
Step 4: From the window that pops up, find Network Adapters, and click on the arrow next to it to display furthermore options.
Step 5: From the available options find the Network that you want to uninstall and right-click on it.
Step 6: Now select Uninstall device.
Step 7: Click OK to confirm your selection.
Step 8: Upon successfully uninstalling your network adaptor, click on Action present on top of Device manager window and select Scan for hardware changes. This will prompt the system to reset your drivers to the default version.
Step 9: Now Restart your PC and check whether the issue is solved.
Method 3: Restoring TCP/IP Settings
Still your issue of “Ethernet doesn’t have a Valid IP configuration” not solved!
Now let’s try restoring TCP/IP settings. Often this method has proved useful. Restoring TCP/IP setting resets TCP/IP values to the state when the OS was installed. To perform restoration, follow these steps.
Step 1: Press Windows key + S simultaneously to open the search bar of windows 10.
Step 2: On search bar, search for Control Panel and hit enter. This will open the Control Panel.
Step 3: Find and click on Network and Sharing Centre from the control panel window.
Step 4: From the window that appears next, under View your active networks list select the network that throws you the error and click on Connections options next to it.
Step 5: From the window that just popped up, click on the properties button.
Step 6: Click on install button in properties and select Protocol.
Step 7: Now click on Add and then select Reliable Multicast Protocol option.
Step 8: Click OK to finish applying changes and now Restart your PC.
Check If the issue has been resolved.
Method 4: Configure TCP/IPv4 Settings
This method is used to configure TCP/IPv4 settings to automatically obtain IP and DNS addresses.
Step 1: Press Windows key + S simultaneously to open the search bar of windows 10.
Step 2: On search bar, search for Control Panel and hit enter. This will open the Control Panel.
Step 3: Find and click on Network and Sharing Centre from the control panel window.
Step 4: from the window that appears next, under View your active networks list, select the network that throws you the error and click on Connections options next to it.
Step 5: From the window that just popped up, click on the properties button.
Step 6: In this window select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) listed under This connection uses the following items and select Properties.
Step 7: In the window that appears, toggle the radio buttons to set Obtain an IP address automatically and to Obtain DNS server address automatically.
Step 8: Click OK to finalize changes. Restart your system to check if the problem has been solved.
Method 5: Disable And Enable Your Network Adaptor
This method involves Disabling and then Enabling your network adaptor. This should hopefully solve your issue.
Step 1: Similar to previous method we need to access Control Panel for this method. First hit Windows key + S to open the search bar.
Step 2: On the search bar search for Control Panel and hit enter. This will open the Control Panel.
Step 3: Find and click on Network and Sharing Centre from the control panel window.
Step 4: From the window that appears next, under View your active networks list, select the network that throws you the error and click on Connections options next to it.
Step 5: Click on Disable to disable your network adaptor.
Step 6: Now click on Enable to enable back your Network adaptor
Step 7: At this point Restart your system and check if the issue still exists.
Method 6: Updating Your BIOS
Updating BIOS sometimes fixes this error. This is an advanced method and varies from system to system, you might need to look up the procedure to do so yourself.
Resort to this method only if the above methods fail and if you are an expert. If anything goes wrong it might brick your motherboard forever.
Conclusion
This guide covers almost all software fixes for “Ethernet doesn’t have a Valid IP configuration” error. Apart from these methods try restarting your modem/routers and try unplugging and plugging back every cable connection to ensure that there is no problem with your modem/routers.
If this guide doesn’t help you there is a high chance that your Network Interface adaptor might be faulty, if that’s the case contact an expert to perform a diagnostic.
