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You will undoubtedly lose access to any network resource you previously used if your system suddenly acquires an IP address with the prefix 169.254 on it. This IP address is almost as beneficial as having none at all. You could also say that your system is simply disconnected from the network. A Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server is in charge of automatically assigning you a special identity on that network when you connect to it when you are on a network, using the internet, or accessing any other network resource, if you are not given an identity manually.
The name of that identity is an IP address, which typically begins with 192.168.X.X. The DHCP server at a workplace typically resides on a different machine known as a server. As opposed to this, your router manages the DHCP server internally in a home or SOHO setup. Your system won’t be able to locate a DHCP server to obtain an IP address automatically if you lose network connectivity for some reason. Therefore, Windows will give itself an IP address that begins with 169.254 in this circumstance.
Automatic Private Internet Protocol Addressing is the name of this process (APIPA). When you send a request for an IP address, the DHCP server frequently stops responding, which can cause this to occur. Therefore, your router or wireless access point is usually where the problem is. This problem’s root cause has occasionally also been cited as Windows. Windows will assign itself the 169.254.0.0 IP address if it is unable to obtain an appropriate IP address in time, in accordance with its APIPA protocol.
Ways to fix 169.254 ip address error
Perform an SFC scan
This is especially helpful if your computer has a proxy redirection infection. Your system will be scanned to look for these problems.
Reinstalling the LAN adapter
Disable quick startup
Using a VPN
By giving you an IP address different from the one given to you by your ISP, a VPN enables you to access the Internet anonymously.
Restart the DNS service
Causes of 169 IP Address Error
A computer needs a valid IP address in order to connect to the internet over a network. The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), a setting that enables the router to automatically assign an IP address to each device on the network, is the simplest way to ensure that this happens without a hitch. Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) takes over when a Windows 11 computer or laptop is unable to connect to the DHCP server. It assigns the computer a 169.254-based IP address. Only local networks can make use of these IP addresses; the internet cannot.
An effective IP address is required for a computer to be able to connect to the Internet via a network. The simplest way to ensure this is by using DHCP, or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It might enable the router to give each device on your network an IP address on its own. APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing) kicks in and assigns the computer an IP address that starts with 169.254 when the PC is unable to communicate with the DHCP server. The network is hidden from computers with an IP address in this range (169.254.x.x). The addresses are not Internet-compatible; they only function on local networks.
Final Words
We hope you like our article on how to fix 169.254 ip address error. There is a straightforward explanation for why you can’t access the internet even though your computer appears to have an IP address that begins with 169.254. When a Windows computer requests an IP address but doesn’t get one, this kind of error occurs. Your computer must be able to get a working IP address from your network in order to resolve this kind of 169 IP address error. The computer cannot connect to the internet if it cannot communicate with the DHCP server and has an IP address of 169.