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An IP address reservation is a rule on a router or other DHCP server that gives a recognized device the same local IP address whenever it requests network settings. The device stays set to obtain an address automatically; you make the reservation on the network, not on the device.
How an IP address reservation works
When a device joins a network, it asks a DHCP server for configuration, including an IP address. The server checks the device’s identity against its reservation rules and, if there is a match, assigns the address set aside for it. Microsoft defines a reservation as a preset address provided by a DHCP server to a network interface when it requests an address (Microsoft Learn: DHCP scopes in Windows Server).
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The server needs a way to identify the client. Many home routers use the device’s MAC address, but some DHCP implementations can use a client identifier instead. MikroTik documents DHCP option 61 as the identifier when a client supplies one, falling back to the hardware address otherwise (MikroTik: DHCP). If a device’s network identity changes—for example, because it uses a different interface or identifier—the reservation may need to be updated.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThis is a local-network setting. A reservation does not assign a public internet address or guarantee that a device can be reached from outside your home network.
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DHCP reservation versus static IP
| Question | DHCP reservation | Static IP configured on the device |
|---|---|---|
| Where is it set? | On the router or DHCP server. | In the device’s network settings. |
| Does the device use DHCP? | Yes. It requests an address, and the server assigns the reserved one. | No DHCP assignment is needed for the manually configured address. |
| What keeps the address predictable? | The server’s reservation and its ability to recognize the client. | The device’s own network configuration. |
| What needs planning? | The reservation, client identifier, subnet, and DHCP-pool rules must agree. | The chosen address must not conflict with an address the DHCP server gives another device. |
Router makers sometimes use “fixed IP” or “static” for a reservation feature. Check where the setting is applied: if it is on the router and the device remains set to obtain an address automatically, it is a DHCP reservation. Google describes its reservation feature as assigning the same address to a specific device when it connects (Google Home and Nest Help: Set DHCP IP reservation or a static IP address for a device).
What a reservation does—and does not—guarantee
A reservation makes a device’s local address predictable, which helps when other devices or services need to find it at a stable address. A printer is a common example. But the client still relies on DHCP: leases have durations and are renewed, and a reservation is not a permanently configured address that works independently of the server. Microsoft notes that devices relying on a DHCP server’s reservation can become unavailable if that server is unavailable.
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How to reserve an address on a router
The exact controls and menu names depend on the router. TP-Link Deco, for example, provides an Address Reservation page in its app, where a user can select a connected device or enter its MAC and IP addresses (TP-Link: How to set up Address Reservation on Deco). NETGEAR’s instructions use an Address Reservation section in the router settings and the device’s MAC address (NETGEAR: How do I reserve an IP address on my Nighthawk router?).
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →- Open the router’s app or administration page and look for Address Reservation, DHCP Reservation, or a similarly named DHCP setting.
- Select the connected device if the router lists it, or enter the client identifier it requires—often the device’s MAC address.
- Choose an unused address in the correct local subnet, following the router’s rules for its DHCP pool and reservations.
- Save the rule. If needed, reconnect the device or renew its DHCP lease so it requests configuration again; confirm the device receives the reserved local address.
Avoid address conflicts
Plan the subnet, DHCP range, and reservations together. A manually configured address inside the DHCP server’s range may also be handed to another client, causing a conflict. Microsoft recommends exclusions when manually configured addresses share a DHCP range (Microsoft Learn: DHCP scopes in Windows Server). Reservations placed inside a pool can also cause conflicts in some server configurations, as Netgate notes (Netgate: DHCPv4 Server). Follow the specific server’s rules, and do not assign the same address independently to another device.
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