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How to fix Failed to obtain IP address error on Android

[en]

Why am I getting the Failed to obtain IP address error?

The Failed to obtain IP address error usually shows up when accessing a Wi-Fi network, whether it is new or one you have saved on your device. This error message means the router can not assign an IP address to your device. As long as the issue persists, the user can not access the internet using that Wi-Fi network.

Some users experience this error message differently. It can show up as Obtaining IP address, but the problem is the same, regardless.

How do I fix the Failed to obtain IP address error?

It is hard to say exactly why this happens, but here are some tricks to try and get your internet connection to work.

Forget network

The first method you should try is to forget the network and sign into it again. The steps to take are simple and sometimes this is all it takes to get rid of the Failed to obtain IP address discrepancy.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Select Network & internet.
  3. Select Wi-Fi.
  4. Long-press on the network you can not connect to.
  5. Select Forget network.
  6. Log into the Wi-Fi network again.

Restart the router

Flashrouters ports of Linksys-3200ACM router and how to fix failed to obtain ip address problem

If the phone is not the problem, the router could be. Try restarting it and see if that fixes it. Most routers have a reset button. You can also disconnect it and plug it back in.

Rename your Android device

We are not exactly sure why this would help, but many users claim it solves the issue. The process is simple too, so give it a go.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Select About phone.
  3. Tap on Device name.
  4. Change the name to anything you wish and select OK.
  5. Try and reconnect to the router.

Turn Airplane mode on and off

Doing this forces the router to reconfigure your connection. Just turn Airplane mode on for a little bit, then turn it back on.

Paranoid Android quick look

Use WPA2-PSK encryption

Some devices do not work very well with certain types of encryption, including AES and TKIP. Go to your router settings and switch over to WPA2-PSK.

Is the MAC filter on?

Wi-Fi administrators often use MAC addresses to whitelist or blacklist devices on their network. This means that if your device is not on the whitelist, or is in the blacklist, it will not be able to connect. The solution would be to either turn your routers MAC filter off, remove your device from the blacklist, or add it to the whitelist.

Assign a static IP address

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Select Network & internet.
  3. Select Wi-Fi.
  4. Long-press on the network you ca not connect to.
  5. Select Modify network.
  6. Select Show advanced options.
  7. Look for IP settings and select Static.
  8. In the IP address, change the last number to any number between one to 225.
  9. Try to connect.

Facebook Chrome and Google Play Store Logo

Clear Google Play Services cache

This method seems to be involved in every troubleshoot guide, and it is because it involves so many things around your phone. Restarting the app from scratch can solve a plethora of problems.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Select Apps & notifications.
  3. Find and tap on Google Play Services.
  4. Select Storage.
  5. Select Clear cache.
  6. Try to connect to Wi-Fi again.

Factory data reset

If all else fails, and the problem persists for a long period of time, you might want to consider performing a factory data reset. This will delete everything in your phone and bring it back to its factory state (software-wise). Make sure to back up any important files before proceeding.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Select System.
  3. Select Advanced options.
  4. Select Reset options.
  5. Select Erase all data (factory reset).
  6. Select Reset phone.

One of these fixes should get you up and going in no time, or in a bit of time. Have any of you guys tried other methods? We would love to hear about them.

[/en][gr]

Why am I getting the Failed to obtain IP address error?

The Failed to obtain IP address error usually shows up when accessing a Wi-Fi network, whether it is new or one you have saved on your device. This error message means the router can not assign an IP address to your device. As long as the issue persists, the user can not access the internet using that Wi-Fi network.

Some users experience this error message differently. It can show up as Obtaining IP address, but the problem is the same, regardless.

How do I fix the Failed to obtain IP address error?

It is hard to say exactly why this happens, but here are some tricks to try and get your internet connection to work.

Forget network

The first method you should try is to forget the network and sign into it again. The steps to take are simple and sometimes this is all it takes to get rid of the Failed to obtain IP address discrepancy.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Select Network & internet.
  3. Select Wi-Fi.
  4. Long-press on the network you can not connect to.
  5. Select Forget network.
  6. Log into the Wi-Fi network again.

Restart the router

Flashrouters ports of Linksys-3200ACM router and how to fix failed to obtain ip address problem

If the phone is not the problem, the router could be. Try restarting it and see if that fixes it. Most routers have a reset button. You can also disconnect it and plug it back in.

Rename your Android device

We are not exactly sure why this would help, but many users claim it solves the issue. The process is simple too, so give it a go.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Select About phone.
  3. Tap on Device name.
  4. Change the name to anything you wish and select OK.
  5. Try and reconnect to the router.

Turn Airplane mode on and off

Doing this forces the router to reconfigure your connection. Just turn Airplane mode on for a little bit, then turn it back on.

Paranoid Android quick look

Use WPA2-PSK encryption

Some devices do not work very well with certain types of encryption, including AES and TKIP. Go to your router settings and switch over to WPA2-PSK.

Is the MAC filter on?

Wi-Fi administrators often use MAC addresses to whitelist or blacklist devices on their network. This means that if your device is not on the whitelist, or is in the blacklist, it will not be able to connect. The solution would be to either turn your routers MAC filter off, remove your device from the blacklist, or add it to the whitelist.

Assign a static IP address

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Select Network & internet.
  3. Select Wi-Fi.
  4. Long-press on the network you ca not connect to.
  5. Select Modify network.
  6. Select Show advanced options.
  7. Look for IP settings and select Static.
  8. In the IP address, change the last number to any number between one to 225.
  9. Try to connect.

Facebook Chrome and Google Play Store Logo

Clear Google Play Services cache

This method seems to be involved in every troubleshoot guide, and it is because it involves so many things around your phone. Restarting the app from scratch can solve a plethora of problems.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Select Apps & notifications.
  3. Find and tap on Google Play Services.
  4. Select Storage.
  5. Select Clear cache.
  6. Try to connect to Wi-Fi again.

Factory data reset

If all else fails, and the problem persists for a long period of time, you might want to consider performing a factory data reset. This will delete everything in your phone and bring it back to its factory state (software-wise). Make sure to back up any important files before proceeding.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Select System.
  3. Select Advanced options.
  4. Select Reset options.
  5. Select Erase all data (factory reset).
  6. Select Reset phone.

One of these fixes should get you up and going in no time, or in a bit of time. Have any of you guys tried other methods? We would love to hear about them.

[/gr]