An IP conflict arises when 2 or above devices or computers with in the Internet or LAN (local area network) obtain the same IP address. This produces one or both of the terminals implicated to be inactivated to carry out network operations.
Why an IP conflict arises
2 devices can get the similar IP address for many reasons:
Mistakenly a system administrator allots the same static IP address to 2PC’s;
A system administrator allots a fixed IP to a PC, within the range of DHCP of the local network, & this similar IP is dynamically assigned to another PC by the DHCP server;
Similarly the unpredictable operation of the DHCP server may produce the assignment of the similar IP to numerous terminals;
By mistake an Internet Service Provider (ISP) allots the similar IP address to 2 of its customers;
A PC enters standby or hibernation mode and when it is re-started, the IP which it used might have been relocated.
In Windows how to troubleshoot an IP address clash
If you get an error for example: “There is an IP address clash with other devices on the network, Windows noticed clash in the IP address” or certain similar one. Such errors can occur as your PC has an identical or same IP to that allotted to the other device within the similar network. Numerous times such clashes are automatically resolved, however, it may take time &might not be resolved automatically.
IP address Renew. The IP address of your PC can be renewed by using the Command Prompt. You must do this with the command renew/ipconfig, for which you should follow, the below steps:
Go to the Command Prompt. You may do this by using Windows + R (the Run) tool, by directly looking at the Start menu or writing in the latter “cmd”;
Press the Enter key Once inside, write renew/ipconfig;
As the DHCP server manages IP addresses automatically, it will provide your PC an available IP which is not being used by different PCs on the network.
Reconfigure fixed IP. If you use a fixed IP, you may change manually that address to a different one. You must ensure that the recent address is not used, for which you may make an endless PING to that IP (For instance ping 192.168.0.1 -t).
Using DHCP. If it is not essential of using a fixed IP address, it is better to let IP address be dynamically allotted by DHCP. The server will control the matter better as it will identify which IP addresses are free &that are being used. Renew the firmware of the router. At times the issue can be in an error of the DHCP server, & it allots the similar IP address to more than one PC. For these events, it is advisable to renew the firmware of the router being used.