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DHCP vs Static IP: How to Set a Static IP or Enable DHCP in Windows 10

Published May 8, 2019

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Do you wonder whether it is better to use dynamic (DHCP leased) or static IP addresses and how to configure them? This guide explains the difference and shares the steps to configure both.

What is DHCP vs Static IP Address?

This tutorial will compare the difference between DHCP vs Static IP addressing. Dynamic (DHCP-enabled) IP addressing is when a client is configured to receive an IP address from a DHCP server. On the other hand, static IP configuration is when a specific IP is set for a client.

In this guide, you will learn:

What it means to enable Windows 10 for DHCP IP
What it means to set a static IP
The difference between DHCP vs Static IP configuration
How to Set a Static IP
How to Enable DHCP IP in Windows 10
Compare DHCP vs Static IP Addressing

Difference Between Dynamic and Static IP Addressing

The TCP/IPv4 or TCP/IPv6 of a Windows 10 client can be configured to receive an IP address from a DHCP Server. It may also be configured with a specific IP address.

Important Tip
DHCP means Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.

DHCP vs Static IP - configure a Windows 10 computer to receive IP from a DHCP server

The image above is the TCP/IPv4 property of a network card. By selecting the option “Obtain an IP address automatically” you have configured the client for DHCP IP. In other words, you have set the computer to receive an IP address automatically from a DHCP server.

This is what is means to enable DHCP in a Window computer.

Instead of enabling DHCP, you can set a static IP for a computer.

DHCP vs Static IP: How to Set a Static IP vs How to Enable DHCP in Windows 10

From the image above, you see that I set a specific IP address for this device. This means I have “set a static IP” address for this device.

How to Set a Static IP in Windows 10

To further understand the difference between static and dynamic IP addressing, I will show you how to set each of them up. Let’s start by setting up a computer with a static IP address.

Here are the steps to set a static IP in Windows 10:

From the search box on the taskbar, type control panel. Then click Control Panel.

Click View network status and tasks.

Click Change adapter settings.

Double-click the adapter you wish to modify the IP address.

Then click Properties.

Next, highlight Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then click Properties.

Finally, select Use the following IP address. Then enter the IP Address, the Subnet mask and Default Gateway. Also, on the Use the following DNS Server addresses, enter the DNS server. To save your changes, click Ok.

How to Enable DHCP IP Leasing in Windows 10

Since the primary purpose of this tutorial is to compare static vs dynamic IP, I will now show you how to enable DHCP (configure dynamic IP address on a Windows 10 computer).

To configure DHCP in Windows 10, follow the steps below:

From the last image, instead of selecting Use the following IP address, select Obtain an IP address Automatically. Finally, to save your changes click Ok.

DHCP vs Static IP: Summary Comparison Table

In the last part of this tutorial, I will explore the differences between DHCP (Dynamic) vs Static IP. The table below explores the features of each. It also covers the benefits and disadvantages of each.

S/N	Feature	DHCP (Dynamic) IP	Static IP
1	IP Assignment	Done automatically	Set manually
2	Possibility of IP Conflict	IP conflict is almost impossible as assignment is managed via a DHCP Server	Possibility of conflict due to two computers having the same IP address is high
3	IP Assignment Tracking	Automatic and dynamic. No need to track which computer has a specific IP address.	Manual. You have to manually track and record which computer have been assigned a particular IP address to avoid duplicating the IP addresses.

There you have it – DHCP vs Static IP compared and configured! I hope you found this Itechguide helpful.

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Conclusion

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About the Author

Victor Ashiedu

Victor is the founder of InfoPress Media, publishers of Ilifeguides and Itechguides. With 20+ years of experience in IT infrastructure, his expertise spans Windows, Linux, and DevOps. Explore his contributions on Itechguides.com for insightful how-to guides and product reviews.