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To change your router’s LAN subnet safely, update its local router address and subnet mask, then set the DHCP pool to fit that same new range. First check that the new LAN range does not overlap the network connected to the router’s WAN side, and record reservations, static client addresses, and forwarding rules. Expect a brief interruption while devices reconnect.
What changes when you change your router’s subnet?
Your LAN subnet is the local IPv4 address range used by devices connected behind your router. Changing it usually involves changing the router’s LAN address and subnet mask, along with the DHCP address pool that assigns addresses to clients. Make these changes in the router’s LAN or local network settings—not its ISP-facing WAN settings. The exact labels and behavior depend on the router model and firmware.
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The LAN range must not overlap the network on the router’s upstream/WAN side. Google documents an example in which an overlapping upstream network leads to a local range change; its guidance distinguishes the WAN address from the LAN subnet. Google’s explanation of a changed local IP network covers that case.
Before you change the LAN subnet
- Record the current configuration: router LAN address and mask or prefix, DHCP pool start and end, DHCP reservations, manually configured static client addresses, port-forwarding rules, and any virtual-server or DMZ settings.
- Check fixed client addresses: devices with a static IP configured on the device do not automatically move to the new subnet. Note their current address, gateway, and DNS settings so you can update them if needed. A DHCP reservation is different: the router assigns that address when the device connects. Google’s guide to DHCP reservations and static IP addresses explains the distinction.
- Choose a non-overlapping range: compare the proposed LAN subnet with the upstream network, including any modem-router or other router connected to the WAN port.
- Check rules tied to the old range: reservations and forwarding rules may need attention. Migration behavior differs by router. For example, the TP-Link TL-MR3420 EU V5 user guide says virtual-server, DMZ, or DHCP-reservation settings should be reconfigured when the LAN IP moves to a different subnet. Follow the documentation for your exact model.
How do I change my router’s subnet?
- Open the router’s LAN settings. Use the router’s app or web-admin page and find LAN, local network, or equivalent settings. Do not change WAN settings for a routine LAN subnet change.
- Enter the new router LAN address and mask. Choose an address within the new subnet and a mask or prefix that describes the intended range.
- Set the DHCP pool to match. The pool’s start and end addresses must be within the new subnet. Keep addresses used for manually configured static clients out of the pool, or manage those clients so their addresses do not conflict with DHCP-assigned addresses.
- Review dependent settings. Check reservations, port forwarding, virtual-server rules, and DMZ settings. Do not assume these will migrate automatically unless the documentation for your router says they will.
- Save and wait for reconnection. Saving can briefly disconnect clients. Allow the router to apply the change; a device restart or reconnect may be needed for it to obtain an address in the new range.
Google Nest Wifi and Google Wifi example
For Nest Wifi and Google Wifi, Google’s documented path is Google Home → Wi-Fi settings → Advanced networking → LAN. Edit “Router LAN IP,” the subnet mask, and “DHCP address pool,” then save. Google says connected devices will briefly disconnect and may need to be restarted to reconnect. It also says these products automatically migrate existing DHCP reservations and port-forwarding rules to the new subnet; treat that as a product-specific behavior, not a promise for other routers. See Google’s Set a custom LAN IP instructions.
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Will changing my router IP disconnect my devices?
It can briefly disconnect them while the router applies the new LAN settings. Most DHCP clients can reconnect and request an address in the new range, but the exact interruption and reconnection behavior varies by router and client. Google’s Nest Wifi and Google Wifi instructions specifically warn that connected devices will briefly disconnect and may need a restart. Devices with manually configured addresses may remain unreachable until their IP settings are updated to match the new subnet.
How do I avoid an IP address conflict?
- Choose a LAN subnet that does not overlap the router’s upstream/WAN network.
- Keep the DHCP pool inside the new LAN subnet.
- Check manually assigned client addresses and ensure they are compatible with the new subnet and do not collide with addresses handed out by DHCP.
- Review DHCP reservations and address-dependent rules, using your router’s model-specific instructions to determine whether they migrate or must be recreated.
Do I need to change DHCP settings too?
Usually, yes: if you change the LAN subnet, the DHCP pool should also fit the new subnet. Otherwise, clients may receive addresses that do not belong to the router’s new LAN range. Keep any reserved or manually assigned addresses in mind when setting the pool. A reservation is managed by the router; a static IP is configured on the client and must be changed on that device if it no longer fits the new range.
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Reconnect and verify the network
- Reconnect a phone or computer to the network, or restart it if it does not obtain a new address.
- Check that it has an address in the new subnet and can reach the router’s new LAN address.
- Confirm internet access.
- Test devices and services that depend on fixed addresses or inbound rules, including printers, reservations, port forwarding, virtual servers, and DMZ configuration.
- If clients do not reconnect, restart the affected device or the network as appropriate, then recheck its IP settings and the router’s DHCP pool.
Changing the LAN subnet does not normally require changing ISP service settings. WAN settings can require separate attention if your ISP uses PPPoE credentials or a static public IP; Google’s Nest and Home device network guidance describes those WAN-specific cases. Do not alter WAN configuration unless it is relevant to your connection.
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