Connecting to the internet should be easy, right? You should be able to turn on your laptop, desktop computer, or other device and immediately be able to connect to your network, shouldn’t you? At least that’s what your device vendor or the commercials for new modems and routers have led you to believe. But networks can be complicated, and you can encounter errors that can leave you completely frustrated. One of those errors you may encounter is DHCP Lookup Failed. If you’re new to computer networks, you may be scratching your head, but this error is actually quite simple to understand doesn’t have to be a pain to solve.
Understanding DHCP
DHCP stands for Dynamic Hosting Configuration Protocol. While this sounds complicated, it’s really not. An easy way to explain DHCP is that it automatically assigns IP addresses to devices connected to your network. You can reboot your laptop, desktop computer, or other connected device and will be assigned an IP address that is required to use the network. You won’t have to do it manually, and other employees or users of the network won’t be left waiting for you to assign them an IP address before they go online.
This option must be enabled on your computer, and it’s really easy to do by accessing the Properties menu of your Network Settings. If you’re having DHCP problems, the first and easiest troubleshooting step is to make sure it’s enabled. If not, enable DHCP, restart your router and reboot your device and try again. In some cases, this may resolve your problem. In others, you may have to take a different approach to solving the DHCP error.
Troubleshooting Your DHCP Lookup Error
If you receive the message DHCP Lookup Error, this is means that an IP address has not been assigned to your device and you will be unable to access the network. The first thing you should do, as mentioned, is to make sure that DHCP has been enabled on your router. Make sure to check both IPv4 and IPv6 when doing this. Also make sure to select both options for automatic assigning of IP addresses and DNS server addresses. Once enabled, reboot and try again.
If this doesn’t sold the problem, you can also try disconnecting from Wi-Fi and connecting again, as well as resetting the router. You can do this by pushing the reset button. You can also unplug your equipment and reboot.
If you still are not having any success, you can run a troubleshooter if you are using Windows. To use, simply go to the Windows System Tray and select the option “Troubleshoot Problems.” As the troubleshooter runs, it will identify any problems with your system. Once finished, you will go through a list of one or more problems and be given instructions as to how to resolve these issues. Follow all instructions carefully, and you should be able to resolve your problem and get back online again in no time.
Resources
- https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkPad-Chromebooks-11e-X-and/DHCP-Lookup-Failed/td-p/3396563
- https://www.ghacks.net/2015/08/17/fix-dhcp-is-not-enabled-for-local-area-connection/