Most devices get a new IP address automatically from your router and that address can change over time. Some devices need a fixed address that never changes - a network printer, a NAS, a security camera, or anything you point a port forwarding rule at. Here is the right way to set one.
Two ways to get a fixed IP
- DHCP reservation (recommended): you tell the router to always hand the same address to a specific device. The device still uses automatic settings, but the router guarantees the same IP. This is the cleanest method and avoids conflicts.
- Manual static IP: you configure a fixed address directly on the device. This works but risks an IP address conflict if that address is also in the router's automatic pool.
How to set a DHCP reservation (the easy way)
- Log in to your router - see how to log in to your router.
- Find DHCP Reservation (sometimes called Address Reservation, Static Lease, or DHCP Static IP), usually under LAN or DHCP settings - and the connected devices list often lets you pick the device directly.
- Select the device (by name or MAC address) and assign the IP you want it to keep.
- Save. Reboot the device so it picks up the reserved address.
For the full background on how this fits into DHCP, see DHCP reservation.
How to set a manual static IP on a device
If you prefer to set it on the device, choose an address outside your router's DHCP range to avoid conflicts (check the range in your router - see DHCP range). You will also need to enter the subnet mask, the gateway (your router's IP), and DNS servers manually.
Which should you use?
For almost everyone, a DHCP reservation is better: it is centrally managed on the router, survives device reinstalls, and cannot collide with the automatic pool. Use a manual static IP only when a device cannot be reserved or must work even if the router's DHCP is off. If a device uses a custom identifier, see DHCP client ID.
