Printer IP address keeps changing — assign a static IP (Windows/Mac)

Joe B.

Expert ★★★★★ 27,853 satisfied customers

Specialities: Windows 11/10, macOS (Sonoma/Ventura/Monterey), Printers, Wi‑Fi & Ethernet, DHCP/DNS

Fix a printer that keeps getting a new IP address — set static IP or DHCP reservation (HP, Epson, Canon, Brother)

Technician

Hey! We’ll stop your printer IP address from changing. Tell me: the brand (HP, Epson, Canon, Brother), how it connects (Wi‑Fi 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or Ethernet), and the router model. We’ll choose between a static IP on the printer or a DHCP reservation and then update the TCP/IP port in Windows/Mac so apps stop saying printer offline.

Customer

Small office, mixed Windows 11 and Mac. Printer is a Brother HL‑L2395DW on Wi‑Fi. Every few days the printer IP changes and Windows shows “can’t connect to printer”. Ping fails unless we find the new address in the router.

Technician

Understood. That’s classic DHCP lease behavior. When a printer uses DHCP, the router assigns an IP from its pool (e.g., 192.168.1.100‑199). After a reboot or lease expiry, it may get a different address — so your PC’s Standard TCP/IP Port still points to the old IP, which breaks printing.

Best practice is to reserve a static IP for the printer: either create a DHCP reservation in the router (locks an IP to the printer’s MAC address) or set a manual static IP on the printer outside the DHCP range. Then we’ll update the printer port in Windows and the printer’s IP in Mac (IPP/AirPrint queue) so the queue always targets the fixed address.

Customer

Which option is better — static IP on the device vs DHCP reservation?

Technician

Recommendation: use a DHCP reservation whenever you can — it’s centralized in the router, avoids gateway/DNS typos, and survives printer resets. Choose an address outside the DHCP pool or mark it as reserved. If your router can’t reserve, set a static IPv4 on the printer (IP, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS), ideally below the pool (e.g., 192.168.1.20).

Customer

Can you walk me through the steps for both Windows and Mac? We also use Google Docs and AirPrint.

Technician

Step 1 — Find details
• Print the Network Configuration page from the printer to get its MAC address and current IP.
• Confirm your LAN subnet (e.g., 192.168.1.0/24) and your router’s DHCP pool range.

Step 2 — Create a DHCP reservation (preferred)
• In the router (Asus/TP‑Link/Netgear/UniFi, etc.), open LAN → DHCP. Add a reservation for the printer’s MAC, assign an unused IP (e.g., 192.168.1.50). Save & reboot printer.

Step 3 — Or set a static IP on the printer
• Via the printer panel or its web UI (http://current‑ip): set Manual/Static IPv4, enter IP, subnet (usually 255.255.255.0), gateway (router IP), DNS (router or 8.8.8.8). Disable WSD discovery if it keeps remaking dynamic ports.

Step 4 — Update Windows port
• Control Panel → Devices and Printers → right‑click your printer → Printer properties → Ports → select the Standard TCP/IP Port → Configure Port → set the new Printer Name or IP Address. Ensure SNMP Status matches the community or disable it if unknown. Avoid WSD ports for static setups.

Step 5 — Update Mac queue
• System Settings → Printers & Scanners → remove the old queue → Add Printer via IP tab. Enter the static IP, protocol IPP or AirPrint, choose the model/driver. Name it something like “Brother‑Static‑IP”.

Customer

What causes the address to jump so often? Anything else to stabilize Wi‑Fi printing?

Technician

Why IP keeps changing: short DHCP leases, router reboots, printer power‑saving (Wi‑Fi sleep), moving between 2.4 GHz/5 GHz SSIDs, or factory resets.

Hardening tips:
• Use a single SSID (2.4 GHz preferred for range) and a fixed Wi‑Fi channel if the area is noisy.
• Disable “Wi‑Fi Direct” if not used; it can confuse discovery.
• Keep firmware updated on the printer and router.
• For busy offices, put printers on Ethernet where possible — rock‑solid with static IPs.

Customer

After reserving 192.168.1.50 the queue still says offline in Windows.

Technician

Likely the queue is bound to a WSD port or the old IP. Fix:
1) Printer properties → Ports → Add Port → choose Standard TCP/IP Port → Next → enter 192.168.1.50 → pick TCP/IP Device.
2) Select the new port; uncheck the old WSD entry; click Configure Port and disable SNMP if status stays offline.
3) Print a test page. In Power Management, uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device” for the NIC if it’s a USB‑to‑Ethernet adapter.

Customer

How about macOS and Google Docs? AirPrint sometimes finds the old hostname.

Technician

On Mac: remove the auto‑discovered Bonjour/AirPrint queue and re‑add via the IP tab using the static IP and protocol IPP. In Google Docs/Chrome, choose “Print using system dialog” to reach the stable queue. If the hostname keeps resolving to an old IP, flush DNS with sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder and restart the Mac.

Customer

We have a second HP OfficeJet on Ethernet. Same advice?

Technician

Brand tips — HP / Epson / Canon / Brother: all support static IP and DHCP reservation. For HP, the web UI (EWS) under Networking → IPv4 has a one‑click “Manual IP”. Brother’s panel offers Menu → Network → WLAN/Ethernet → TCP/IP → Boot Method: Static. Epson/Canon are similar. After setting, update the TCP/IP port on PCs. Avoid WSD ports for fixed setups.

Customer

Great — after the reservation and port change, both Windows and Macs print instantly.

Technician

Summary: When a printer IP address keeps changing, lock it with a DHCP reservation or manual static IP, then update the Standard TCP/IP Port (Windows) or re‑add the queue via IPP/AirPrint on Mac. This eliminates “printer offline”, can’t connect, and ping failures. Need help choosing the right IP range or DHCP settings? Open the chat.

Quick answer: the accepted fix

Accepted fix when the printer IP address keeps changing: create a DHCP reservation in your router (bind IP to MAC) or set a static IPv4 on the printer outside the DHCP pool. Then update the TCP/IP port in Windows and re‑add the printer via IP/IPP on macOS.

FAQ

Step‑by‑step (Windows 10/11)

1. Create a DHCP reservation in your router or set a static IPv4 on the printer.
2. Open Devices and Printers → Printer properties → Ports → Add Port… → Standard TCP/IP Port → enter the static IP.
3. Select the new port and disable SNMP if status remains offline.
4. Print a test page; remove any WSD port duplicates.

Step‑by‑step (macOS)

1. Remove the old printer queue.
2. Click Add Printer → IP tab → enter the static IP; choose protocol IPP or AirPrint.
3. Select the correct driver/model; name it “<Model>‑Static‑IP”.
4. Print a test page from Safari/Chrome or Google Docs using the system dialog.

Sources

• Microsoft — Troubleshoot printer problems (Windows 10/11)
• Apple — Add a printer on Mac
• HP — Embedded Web Server (EWS) networking
• Brother — Set static IP / Boot Method

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