How to Set a Static IP Address
A static IP (DHCP reservation) ensures a device always gets the same local IP address from your router. Essential for port forwarding, home servers, and network printers.
DHCP Reservation vs Manual Static IP
There are two ways to give a device a fixed local IP. The recommended way is DHCP reservation (also called IP binding) in the router: you tell the router to always assign the same IP to a device based on its MAC address. The device still uses DHCP, but always gets the same address. This is easier to manage and avoids conflicts.
Alternatively you can manually configure a static IP on the device itself. This works but requires more configuration per device and risks conflicts if the address falls within the router's DHCP range.
How to Set Up DHCP Reservation
Connect the device to your network first. In the router admin panel, check the connected devices list — it shows the MAC address next to each device name.
Go to http://192.168.1.1. Navigate to LAN > DHCP Server > Address Reservation (TP-Link, Asus), or Advanced > Setup > LAN Setup > Address Reservation (Netgear).
Enter the device MAC address and the IP you want to assign. Choose an IP outside the DHCP pool range to avoid conflicts — for example, if the pool is 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.200, choose 192.168.1.50 for reserved addresses.
Save the reservation. Disconnect and reconnect the device, or renew its DHCP lease, and it will receive the reserved IP address.