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As the internet becomes more and more ingrained
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a small commission if you make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. For more information, please visit our Disclaimer Page.
As the internet becomes more and more ingrained in our lives, so do the problems that come with it. One of these issues is dealing with an invalid IP address. If you’re getting this error message, there’s no need to worry; we’ve outlined probable causes and their fixes below.
A few of the common reasons why an IP address becomes invalid are using reserved IP address ranges, using invalid IP addresses, using non-standard IP address formats, outdated IP addresses, DNS configuration issues, network card problems, and IP address conflicts.
Let’s consider these probable causes in detail, below.
10 Reasons You Could Be Getting the IP Address Invalid Error
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you’ve been getting the IP address invalid error and are looking for some help. In this section, we will discuss 10 reasons why you could be getting this error and how to fix it.
1. The Ip Address Is Outdated
If the IP address of your system changes over time because of factors like moving locations or changing providers, then other devices won’t recognize its identity anymore and will reject any incoming traffic until they update their records.
2. DNS Configuration Does Not Match the External IP
The DNS is the system that converts domain names into IP addresses. If you are using a particular website regularly, then it will store its IP address in your computer’s cache so that next time when you type in the URL for this site – instead of having to look it up again on an external server.
If these two things don’t match up (for example, if someone was trying to spoof their own IP address), then the client wouldn’t be able to reach any servers connected through that ISP because it would think they were invalid or nonexistent.
If you’re getting an error message like “Error: Unknown host”, this means your DNS configuration does not match with what’s coming from outside.
No worries though, this is easily fixed by doing a DNS flush on Windows machines or Linux/Mac OSX systems using the following command prompt: ipconfig /flushdns
3. Some Devices Are Not Visible to the Internet
There are several devices that we use daily that are not visible to the internet and don’t have an IP address assigned to them. Things like printers, smart TVs, or even some gaming consoles will fall into this category.
If you’re trying to access something on your network that is not routable (meaning other devices on the network can ‘t see it), then you’ll get an error message like “The page cannot be displayed”.
This is usually because either the device isn’t turned on or it’s not properly configured to be visible to the internet.
4. The Computer Is Not Connected to the Internet
If there is no connection available, then you’ll get an error message like “The page cannot be displayed” or “Cannot find server”.
This could mean one of two things: either the computer isn’t connected to any internet source at all (such as wi-fi) and therefore it can’t reach out for help in resolving DNS names etc., or there is an issue with the network adapter on your machine which means it can’t communicate over TCP/IP.
An easy way to test if this might happen would be by plugging in an ethernet cable directly from your router so as not to rely on wireless signals being picked up; if that works, then there could be a problem with the wireless card on your computer.
5. A Network Card That Is Not Plugged in or Set Up Correctly
It’s likely that your computer is trying to communicate with a network card that isn’t physically plugged in or set up correctly.
This will usually happen if you’ve just installed a new network card and haven’t gone through the proper steps of setting it up so that other devices can use this device over TCP/IP.
To fix this problem, go into your computer’s control panel (usually found under Start Menu > Control Panel) and select “Network Connections” from there. You should see an entry for each network card you have on your machine; once selected, make sure the “Status” is set to “Enabled”.
If you’re still having problems after doing this, then it’s likely that your network card isn’t compatible with your version of Windows or there could be a driver issue. In this case, it might be best to try reinstalling the drivers for your network card.
6. Virus, Malware Threats
Malware, spyware, adware, viruses, Trojan horses, and other malware programs are preventing access to websites, or are redirecting web traffic to illegitimate websites.
These programs can also cause IP address conflicts or hide the real IP address of a computer. To avoid these issues, make sure to regularly scan your system for malware and viruses.
If you suspect that there is a problem with the IP address, check to see if any other computers are experiencing similar problems. If so, then it might be time to investigate further into the issue.
If you’re using a public Wi-Fi connection, make sure that it is protected by a firewall and not open to the public.
7. Duplicate Address Assignment
Some of these addresses are reserved for special purposes, such as to use by routers in a network or local loopback devices that aren’t connected directly to another computer.
Other addresses may be used by an ISP’s customer base, but when these addresses are reassigned 