How to Set a Static IP Address in Windows 11 Without Command Prompt

Quick fix: Open Settings → Network & internet → (your adapter). Scroll to IP assignment, click Edit, switch from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual, toggle IPv4 on, enter IP, subnet, gateway, and DNS. Save.

You need a fixed IP address for your PC — running a server, configuring port forwarding, troubleshooting network issues. The Command Prompt approach with netsh works but is intimidating. Windows 11’s Settings has a clean GUI for static IP configuration that’s easier to use and less error-prone.

What causes this

By default, Windows uses DHCP — your router assigns an IP automatically. For most users, this works fine. But some scenarios need a fixed IP: hosting a game/web server, accessing the PC from outside the LAN, troubleshooting connection issues, or working around a flaky DHCP server. Static IP setup in Windows 11 Settings is GUI-only and supports both IPv4 and IPv6.

Method 1: Set static IP via Settings UI (Ethernet)

The standard approach.

1. First, gather network details from your router. Look at the router’s admin page for:
   • Network address (e.g., 192.168.1.0/24 — meaning IPs 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.254)
   • Subnet mask (typically 255.255.255.0 for /24)
   • Default gateway (your router’s IP, often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1)
   • DNS (your router’s IP, or 1.1.1.1, or 8.8.8.8)
   • DHCP range — pick an IP outside this range to avoid conflicts (e.g., if DHCP is 192.168.1.100-200, pick 192.168.1.50 for static)
2. Open Settings → Network & internet.
3. Click Ethernet (or Wi-Fi then click your network name).
4. Scroll to IP assignment. Click Edit.
5. Change Edit IP settings from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual.
6. Toggle IPv4 On.
7. Enter:
   • IP address: e.g., 192.168.1.50
   • Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0 (or use prefix /24)
   • Gateway: 192.168.1.1
   • Preferred DNS: 1.1.1.1
   • Alternate DNS: 1.0.0.1
8. Click Save.
9. Confirm connectivity: open a browser, visit any website.

This is the standard fixed-IP setup. Works for both Ethernet and Wi-Fi.

Method 2: Use DHCP reservation on the router (preferred over static IP)

The cleaner alternative — get a fixed IP without touching Windows settings.

1. Find your PC’s MAC address: Settings → Network & internet → (adapter) → Hardware properties. Note the Physical address (MAC).
2. Open your router’s admin page in a browser.
3. Find DHCP reservations (different routers call it: Static DHCP, IP Reservation, DHCP Static Lease).
4. Add a reservation:
   • MAC address: your PC’s MAC
   • IP address: the fixed IP you want (e.g., 192.168.1.50)
   • Hostname: optional, descriptive (e.g., “Office-PC”)
5. Save.
6. On the PC, leave settings on Automatic (DHCP). On next DHCP renewal, the PC gets the reserved IP every time.
7. The reservation is in one place (router), so any device connecting via DHCP gets the right IP without configuration on each device.

This is preferred over static IP on the PC because it’s centralized and doesn’t break if you connect the PC to a different network (laptop scenario).

Method 3: Set static IP via PowerShell (scriptable)

For automation or precise control.

1. Open Terminal (Admin).
2. Identify the adapter name:

   Get-NetAdapter | Format-Table Name, Status, InterfaceDescription

3. Set static IP (replace adapter name and addresses):

   New-NetIPAddress -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet" -IPAddress 192.168.1.50 -PrefixLength 24 -DefaultGateway 192.168.1.1
   Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet" -ServerAddresses 1.1.1.1,1.0.0.1

4. Verify:

   Get-NetIPAddress -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet" | Format-Table IPAddress, PrefixLength, PrefixOrigin

5. To revert to DHCP later:

   Remove-NetIPAddress -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet" -Confirm:$false
   Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet" -Dhcp Enabled

This is the right approach for fleet deployment or automated setup.

How to verify the fix worked

• Run ipconfig in Terminal. Your adapter shows the static IP, subnet, and gateway.
• Run Get-NetIPAddress -InterfaceAlias "Ethernet" | Select IPAddress, PrefixOrigin. PrefixOrigin should be Manual, not Dhcp.
• Ping the gateway: ping 192.168.1.1. Replies confirm LAN connectivity.
• Visit any website. Confirms internet routing.

If none of these work

If static IP doesn’t produce internet connectivity, three causes apply. IP conflict: another device already uses the IP you chose. Pick a different IP outside the DHCP range, or restart all devices. Wrong subnet mask: if you set /16 (255.255.0.0) but your network is /24 (255.255.255.0), routing breaks. Match the router’s subnet. Wrong gateway: gateway must be your router’s IP and must be in the same subnet as your static IP. For laptop users who move between networks: static IP becomes a liability — you can’t connect to coffee shop Wi-Fi without changing settings. DHCP reservation (Method 2) is much better for laptops.

Bottom line: Static IP in Windows 11 is a GUI flow in Settings — no Command Prompt needed. For laptops or shared environments, DHCP reservation on the router is the cleaner solution.