• Windows 10

Releasing and renewing the IP address on a computer with the Windows operating system resets the underlying IP connection, which often eliminates common IP-related issues, at least temporarily. It works in a few steps to disengage the network connection and refresh the IP address. Instructions apply to Windows 10. 

1. Open Command Prompt
   1. The quickest method is to press Win+R to open the Run box dialog, enter cmd, and then press Enter
2. Enter ipconfig /release and press Enter

3. In the command results, the IP address line shows 0.0.0.0 as the IP address. This is normal because the command releases the IP address from the network adapter. During this time, your computer has no IP address and cannot access the internet.

4. Enter ipconfig /renew and press Enter to get a new address.

5. When the command is finished, a new line appears at the bottom of the Command Prompt screen that contains an IP address.

Under normal conditions, a device can use the same IP address indefinitely. Networks usually reassign correct addresses to devices when they first join. However, technical glitches with DHCP and network hardware can lead to IP conflicts and other problems that prevent the networking system from working correctly.

When to release and renew the IP address

Scenarios in which releasing the IP address and then renewing it might be beneficial include:

• When connecting a computer to a modem.
• When physically moving a computer from one network to another, such as from an office network to home or home to a hotspot.
• When experiencing an unexpected network outage.

Article information adapted from: https://www.lifewire.com/renewing-ip-addresses-in-microsoft-windows-816528