COMMAND
ipconfigIP configuration and DNS cache
ipconfig displays the IP address, subnet mask and default gateway for each network adapter on Windows. Its options manage DHCP leases and the DNS cache: /all shows full detail, /flushdns clears the resolver cache, and /release with /renew requests a fresh DHCP address.
Purpose
ipconfig (IP Configuration) reports and manipulates the TCP/IP settings of every network adapter on a Windows machine. It is the first command to run for almost any connectivity problem: it tells you whether the machine has an address, from where, and which DNS servers and gateway it is using.
Syntax
ipconfig [/all] [/release [adapter]] [/renew [adapter]]
[/flushdns] [/displaydns] [/registerdns]
[/release6] [/renew6]Options that matter
| Option | Effect |
|---|---|
| (none) | Address, mask and gateway per adapter |
/all | Full detail: hostname, MAC, DHCP server, lease times, DNS servers |
/flushdns | Clear the DNS resolver cache |
/displaydns | Show the current DNS resolver cache |
/registerdns | Refresh DHCP leases and re-register DNS names |
/release | Release the IPv4 DHCP lease (adapter loses its address) |
/renew | Request a new IPv4 DHCP lease |
/release6, /renew6 | The IPv6 equivalents |
Examples
See everything about your adapters:
ipconfig /allEthernet adapter Ethernet:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : lan
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : A4-5E-60-1B-2C-3D
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.37(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, 16 September 2026 08:14:02
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, 17 September 2026 08:14:02
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 1.1.1.1
1.0.0.1Clear the DNS cache after a DNS change (see the flush DNS guide):
ipconfig /flushdnsWindows IP Configuration
Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.Get a fresh DHCP address:
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renewRelease drops the address (you lose connectivity for a moment); renew requests a new lease from the DHCP server on port 67.
Common mistakes
- Expecting your public IP.
ipconfigshows the private address behind NAT, never the public one your traffic arrives from. - Flushing DNS to fix everything. It only helps when a stale cached record is the problem; it does nothing for connectivity or a resolver that is itself wrong.
- Renewing without releasing when the adapter has an APIPA address;
/renewalone often works, but if it fails, release first. - Wrong adapter name with
/release "Wi-Fi": names with spaces need quotes, and the name must match whatipconfigshows.
PowerShell equivalents
Get-NetIPConfiguration and Get-NetIPAddress give the same information as objects; Clear-DnsClientCache replaces /flushdns; Get-DnsClientCache replaces /displaydns.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ipconfig and ipconfig /all?
Plain ipconfig shows the address, mask and gateway per adapter. /all adds the hostname, MAC address, DHCP server, lease times, DNS servers and whether DHCP is enabled, which is what you need for most troubleshooting.
Does ipconfig /flushdns need administrator rights?
On current Windows it usually runs without elevation, but on some configurations it reports "action requires elevation". If so, run it from an elevated prompt.
ipconfig shows 169.254.x.x — what does that mean?
The adapter got no DHCP address and self-assigned an APIPA link-local address. There is no gateway, so no internet. Check the cable or Wi-Fi and the DHCP server, then run ipconfig /renew.