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What Is an IP Address Conflict?

Multiple causes make IP address conflicts difficult to troubleshoot

By Bradley Mitchell Bradley Mitchell Writer Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of Illinois An MIT graduate who brings years of technical experience to articles on SEO, computers, and wireless networking. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 13, 2020 Reviewed by Ryan Perian Reviewed by Ryan Perian Western Governors University Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Home Networking ISP The Wireless Connection Routers & Firewalls Network Hubs Broadband Ethernet Installing & Upgrading Wi-Fi & Wireless An IP address conflict occurs when two communication endpoints on a network are assigned the same IP address. Endpoints can be PCs, mobile devices, or any individual network adapter. IP conflicts between two endpoints normally render either one or both endpoints as unusable for network operations. Malte Mueller / Getty Images

How IP Address Conflicts Happen

Two computers or other devices can acquire conflicting IP addresses in several ways: A system administrator assigns two computers on a local area network with the same static IP address. A system administrator assigns a computer a static IP address within the local network's DHCP range, and the local DHCP server assigns the same address automatically. A malfunction in the network's DHCP server allows the same dynamic address to be assigned to multiple computers automatically. This can occur when a mobile device is put into a hibernate mode and then awakened later, for example. An internet service provider accidentally assigns two customers the same IP address either statically or dynamically. Other forms of IP conflicts can occur on a network. For example, one computer may experience an IP address conflict with itself if that computer is configured with multiple adapters. Network administrators may also create IP conflicts by accidentally connecting two ports of a network switch or network router to each other.

How to Recognize IP Address Conflicts

The exact error message or other indication of an IP conflict varies depending on the type of device affected and the network operating system it runs. On many Microsoft Windows computers, if you attempt to set a fixed IP address that is active on the local network, you receive the following pop-up error message: The static IP address that was just configured is already in use on the network. Please reconfigure a different IP address. On newer Microsoft Windows computers that have dynamic IP conflicts, you receive a balloon error message in the Taskbar as soon as the operating system detects the issue: There is an IP address conflict with another system on the network. Sometimes, especially on older Windows computers, a message similar to the following may appear in a pop-up window: The system has detected a conflict for IP address...

How to Resolve IP Address Conflicts

Try the following remedies for IP conflicts: For networks where IP addresses are fixed, confirm that each localhost is configured with a unique IP address. If the computer has a dynamically assigned address, release and renew its IP address to work around IP address conflicts. If you believe the broadband router has a faulty DHCP server that causes IP conflicts on the home network, upgrade the router firmware to resolve the problem. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire What Is an IP Address? How to Set Up Port Forwarding Can't Connect to the Internet? Try These 10 Tips How to Find the Printer on Your Network in Windows 10 What Is a Public IP Address? (and How to Find Yours) NETGEAR Default Password List (Updated October 2022) Cisco Default Password List (Updated October 2022) How to Change Your IP Address How to Find the Default IP Address of a Belkin Router Private IP Addresses: Everything You Need to Know How to Fix a "Failed to Obtain IP Address" Android Error What Is DHCP? (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) What Is a Static IP Address? How to Fix a 169 IP Address Error How to Use an IP Address to Find a MAC Address When to Use a Static IP Address Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies