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How to Renew a DHCP Lease in Batch Script

In a network that uses DHCP, your computer is "leased" an IP address for a set period. Renewing this lease is a fundamental network troubleshooting step. It forces your computer to contact the DHCP server and request a new (or confirm its existing) IP address. This is often done to resolve connectivity issues, apply new network configurations pushed from a server, or simply to get a fresh IP after connecting to a new network.

This guide will teach you how to use the standard, built-in ipconfig command to renew your DHCP lease. You will learn its relationship to the /release command, the prerequisites for it to work, and how to use it as part of a complete network reset script.

The Core Command: ipconfig /renew​

The ipconfig.exe utility is the primary command-line tool for managing your computer's network interface configuration. To request a new DHCP lease for all adapters, you use the /renew switch.

Syntax: ipconfig /renew

This command initiates the process of contacting the DHCP server on your network to obtain an IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway. This is a privileged operation and requires an elevated command prompt.

Basic Example: A Simple Lease Renewal Script​

This script will immediately attempt to renew the IP address lease for all network adapters.

@ECHO OFF
TITLE DHCP Lease Renewal
REM This script must be run as an Administrator.

ECHO --- Renewing DHCP IP Address Lease ---
ECHO This will request a new IP address from the DHCP server.
ECHO.

ipconfig /renew

ECHO.
ECHO --- Operation complete ---
PAUSE

The Other Half of the Process: ipconfig /release​

While ipconfig /renew can be run on its own, it is most often used as the second step in a two-part process. To ensure you get a completely fresh configuration, you should first release your current lease before renewing.

  • ipconfig /release: Tells the DHCP server you are done with your current IP address.
  • ipconfig /renew: Asks the DHCP server for a new IP address lease.

Running them in this sequence (release, then renew) is the most thorough way to reset your IP configuration.

How the Command ipconfig /renew Works​

When you run ipconfig /renew, your computer sends a special broadcast packet onto the network called a DHCPDISCOVER message. This is essentially your computer shouting, "Is there a DHCP server out there? I need an IP address!" A DHCP server on the network will hear this request and respond with a DHCPOFFER message, offering an available IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and other configuration details. Your computer accepts the offer, and the lease is established.

Common Pitfalls and How to Solve Them​

Problem: The Script is Not Run as Administrator​

This is the most common reason the command fails. Modifying network configuration is a privileged operation.

Example of error message:

The requested operation requires elevation.

Solution: The script must be run as an Administrator. Right-click your .bat file or cmd.exe and select "Run as administrator."

Problem: The DHCP Client Service is Not Running​

The ipconfig command relies on the "DHCP Client" service (Dhcp) to communicate with the DHCP server. If this service is stopped, the command will fail.

Example of error message:

The operation failed as no adapter is in the state permissible for this operation.

Solution: This is rare, as the service is critical for networking. However, a robust script can check for and start the service if needed.

SC query Dhcp | FIND "STATE" | FIND "RUNNING" > NUL
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 (
    ECHO DHCP Client service is not running. Starting it...
    NET START Dhcp
)

Problem: How to Target a Specific Network Adapter​

By default, ipconfig /renew works on all adapters. If you only want to renew the IP for your "Wi-Fi" connection and not your "Ethernet," you can specify its name.

Solution: Find the adapter's name by running ipconfig. The name is the string listed under "Ethernet adapter" or "Wireless LAN adapter".

REM The name of the adapter is "Wi-Fi".
ipconfig /renew "Wi-Fi"

Practical Example: A Full Network Reset Script​

This is the standard, go-to script for resolving a wide range of network connectivity issues. It combines the release and renew commands with a DNS flush for a comprehensive reset.

@ECHO OFF
SETLOCAL
TITLE Full Network Reset Utility
REM This script must be run as an Administrator.

ECHO --- Network Reset Script ---
ECHO This will release/renew your IP, and flush your DNS cache.
ECHO Your network connection will be briefly interrupted.
ECHO.
PAUSE

ECHO Step 1: Releasing current IP address...
ipconfig /release

ECHO.
ECHO Step 2: Renewing IP address from DHCP server...
ipconfig /renew

ECHO.
ECHO Step 3: Flushing the DNS Resolver Cache...
ipconfig /flushdns

ECHO.
ECHO [SUCCESS] Network reset is complete.
PAUSE
ENDLOCAL

Conclusion​

The ipconfig /renew command is a fundamental tool for network troubleshooting and management from the command line.

Key takeaways for using it in a script:

  • You must run the script as an Administrator.
  • It is most effective when used after ipconfig /release for a full IP configuration reset.
  • You can target a specific network adapter by providing its name (e.g., ipconfig /renew "Wi-Fi").

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