Change Wi-Fi DHCP to Static IP on Android

How to Change Wi-Fi Settings from DHCP to Static IP on Android Devices.

Learn how to switch your Wi-Fi connection from DHCP to a static IP address on your Android phone. This can help when you’re troubleshooting network problems or need a more stable connection for certain apps.

I’ll show you this on a Sony Xperia 1V running Android 15, but the steps are very similar on most Android phones from Samsung, Google, OnePlus, Motorola, and other brands.

What is DHCP vs Static IP?

Before jumping into the steps, let’s quickly cover what these terms actually mean.

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is the default setting on almost every phone. When you connect to Wi-Fi, your router automatically gives your phone an IP address. You don’t have to do anything. It just works.

Static IP means you manually assign a fixed IP address to your phone. That address stays the same every time you connect to that Wi-Fi network.

Pros and cons of each option

DHCP advantages:

• No setup required
• Works fine for most people
• Good if you connect to different Wi-Fi networks often

DHCP disadvantages:

• Can sometimes cause IP conflicts
• Your IP address might change unexpectedly
• Some apps or services may get disrupted when your IP changes

Static IP advantages:

• Your phone always has the same address
• More control over your network setup
• Useful for port forwarding or remote access
• Can help with certain network troubleshooting

Static IP disadvantages:

• You have to set it up manually
• Less flexible when switching between different Wi-Fi networks
• If your router settings change, you might lose connection

When should you use a static IP?

A static IP makes sense if:

• You need to consistently access your phone from another device on your network
• You’re doing port forwarding for gaming or hosting something
• Your DHCP server is acting slow or unreliable
• You want to remember your phone’s IP address easily

For everyday browsing, streaming, and social media, DHCP is perfectly fine. Most people never need to change this setting.

How to change from DHCP to static IP on Android

Here are the steps. I’m using a Sony Xperia phone with Android 15, but the menu names are similar across Android devices.

Step 1: Open Settings
Find and tap the Settings app on your phone. It looks like a gear icon.

Step 2: Go to Network & Internet
Tap on “”Network & internet”” or just “”Connections”” depending on your phone brand.

Step 3: Tap on Internet
You’ll see your Wi-Fi network and mobile data listed here.

Step 4: Find your connected Wi-Fi network
Look for the network you’re currently connected to. Next to it, you’ll see a gear icon (??) or an info icon. Tap that.

Step 5: Open advanced network settings
Look for a pencil icon (??) or an edit button. Tap it. You may also see “”Advanced”” or “”Modify network.””

Step 6: Change IP settings from DHCP to Static
Scroll down until you see “”IP settings”” or “”DHCP.”” Tap on it. A menu will pop up. Select “”Static”” instead of DHCP.

Step 7: Enter your static IP information
Once you switch to Static, new fields will appear. You’ll need to enter:

• IP address – Choose a fixed address for your phone. On most home networks, it will look like 192.168.1.xxx or 192.168.0.xxx. Pick a number that isn’t already used by another device. For example, 192.168.1.50.
• Gateway – This is usually your router’s IP address. It’s often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. You can find this in the network info before you switch.
• DNS (Domain Name System) – This translates website names to IP addresses. Options include:
• 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare – fast and private)
• 8.8.8.8 (Google)
• 8.8.4.4 (Google alternate)
• 4.4.4.4 (another option)
• Network prefix length – Usually 24 for home networks. Most phones fill this in automatically. Leave it as is.

Step 8: Save your settings
Tap “”Save”” or the checkmark icon to apply the changes.

Step 9: Test your connection
Open a website or use an app that needs internet. Make sure everything still loads properly.

Important tips before you start

Write down your current settings first
Before changing anything, look at your current IP address, Gateway, and DNS. You can find this in the network info screen. Write these down. If you make a mistake, you’ll need this info to fix it.

Pick an IP address that won’t cause conflicts
Most routers automatically assign IP addresses in a certain range, like 192.168.1.2 through 192.168.1.200. Pick an address outside the automatic range if you know it, or use a high number like .200 or .250. This prevents two devices from getting the same IP.

If you lose connection, switch back to DHCP
If your internet stops working after switching to static:

1. Go back to the same network settings
2. Change IP settings back to DHCP
3. Tap Save
   Your connection should work again right away.

Common problems and fixes

Internet stopped working after switching to static
This usually means one of your settings is wrong. Double-check:

• The gateway IP address (should match your router)
• The DNS addresses (try 8.8.8.8 if unsure)
• The IP address (make sure it’s on the same subnet as your gateway)

Can’t find the static IP option
On some Android phones, you need to tap “”Advanced options”” or scroll all the way down before you see IP settings. Look for a small dropdown arrow.

The settings won’t save
Make sure you entered all required fields. Most phones need IP address, Gateway, and at least one DNS to save.

Wi-Fi connects but no internet
Your DNS settings might be wrong. Try changing your DNS to 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. These are Google’s public DNS servers and almost always work.

Can static IP help with slow Wi-Fi?

Sometimes. If your router’s DHCP server is slow or buggy, switching to a static IP can make your phone connect faster. But if your Wi-Fi is generally slow, static IP probably won’t help much. That’s usually a signal strength or bandwidth issue.

A note about Android versions and phone brands

The exact menu names change slightly between Android versions, but the logic is the same:

• Samsung Galaxy: Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi > tap gear icon next to your network > tap pencil or “”View more”” > IP settings
• Google Pixel: Settings > Network & internet > Internet > tap gear icon > pencil icon > IP settings
• OnePlus: Settings > Wi-Fi & network > Wi-Fi > tap gear icon > Modify network > Advanced > IP settings
• Sony Xperia: Settings > Network & internet > Internet > tap gear icon > pencil icon > Advanced options > IP settings

How to switch back to DHCP

If you want to go back to automatic settings:

1. Go to the same network settings screen
2. Tap the pencil icon to edit
3. Open Advanced options
4. Change IP settings from “”Static”” back to “”DHCP””
5. Save

Your phone will immediately get an automatic IP address from the router again.

Quick summary

To change from DHCP to static IP on Android:

1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Internet
2. Tap the gear icon next to your connected Wi-Fi network
3. Tap the pencil icon to edit
4. Open Advanced options
5. Change IP settings from DHCP to Static
6. Enter your desired IP address, Gateway, and DNS
7. Save and test your connection

Only do this if you have a specific reason, like troubleshooting or setting up remote access. For normal daily use, DHCP works great and requires no maintenance.