How-To: Change Your IP Address in Windows 7

Your computer’s IP address can be either static or dynamic. A static IP address is when a specific IP address has been assigned to a specific computer on the local network. A dynamic IP address is automatically or dynamically configured by the DHCP server. Whenever possible I recommend using a dynamic IP address with DHCP, if your network supports it. If you use a dynamic IP address with DHCP then you don’t have to change your settings if you move your computer to another location, and DHCP doesn’t require you to manually configure settings such as Domain Name System (DNS) and Windows Internet Name Service (WINS). To change your IP address in Windows 7 do the following:

1. Click the Start Orb .

2. Click Control Panel.

3. Find the “View by:” drop down box in the upper right corner of the Control Panel and do one of the following:

3a. If it is set to “View by: Category”, then click View network status and tasks.

3b. If  it is set to “View by: Large icons” or “View by:Small icons“, click Network and Sharing Center.

Both will lead you to the same screen.

4. On the next screen click Change adapter settings.

5. Right click on your network adapter and select Properties. This is usually named either “Local Area Connection” or “Wireless Network Connection”. The “Local Area Connection Properties” box will open.

6. Click the Networking tab. Under “This connection uses the following items”, click either Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), or Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6), and then click the Properties button.

7a. To specify IPv4 IP address settings, do one of the following:

7a(1). To obtain IP settings automatically, click the radio button next to Obtain an IP address automatically, and then click the OK button.

7a(2). To specify an IP address, click the radio button next to Use the following IP address, and then, in the “IP address”, “Subnet mask“, and “Default gateway” boxes, type the IP address settings, and then click the OK button.

7b. To specify IPv6 IP address settings, do one of the following:

7b(1). To obtain IP settings automatically, click the radio button next to Obtain an IPv6 address automatically, and then click the OK button.

7b(2). To specify an IP address, click the radio button next to Use the following IPv6 address, and then, in the “IPv6 address”, “Subnet prefix length”, and “Default gateway” boxes, type the IP address settings, and then click the OK button.

8. To specify DNS server address settings, do one of the following:

8a. To obtain a DNS server address automatically, click the radio button next to Obtain DNS server address automatically, and then click the OK button.

8b. To specify a DNS server address, click the radio button next to Use the following DNS server addresses, and then, in the “Preferred DNS server” and “Alternate DNS server” boxes, type the addresses of the primary and secondary DNS servers, and then click the OK button.

9. To change DNS, WINS, and IP settings, click Advanced.

10. Click OK to close the “Local Area Connection Properties” box.

11. Right click on your network adapter and select Diagnose. This is to ensure that your new configuration is working properly.