Why Does Your ISP’s DHCP Does Not Function Properly? (8 Easy Solutions)

There is no doubt that we are all at least somewhat reliant on the internet to improve the quality of our daily lives these days. We require it to manage our incomings and outgoings, to order goods and supplies, to work from home, and to entertain us at the end of the day.

So, when something goes wrong and we lose this vital service, it can feel like we’ve lost a limb. In fact, even if an area is only a few minutes without a solid connection, the phones of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) start ringing furiously.

So, when your DHCP does not function properly, it’s natural for frustration to set in. However, if you know how to do it, this is a simple enough problem to solve at home.

Troubleshooting: Issues on ISP’s DHCP Does Not Function Properly

Issue	Solution
Your ISP’s DHCP server is down.	Check with your ISP to see if there is an outage. If there is, you will need to wait for the outage to be resolved.
Your router is not configured properly.	Make sure that your router is configured to obtain an IP address from the DHCP server. You can check your router’s manual for instructions on how to do this.
Your network cable is damaged.	Check the network cable that connects your router to your modem. If the cable is damaged, you will need to replace it.
Your modem is not working properly.	Try restarting your modem. If that does not work, you may need to replace your modem.
Your ISP’s DHCP settings are incorrect.	Contact your ISP to see if their DHCP settings are incorrect. If they are, they will need to correct them.

WHAT IS A DHCP?

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is an acronym that stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. To be sure, this sounds like an extremely complex device that might be difficult to grasp.

However, once you understand what it does, it is much easier to troubleshoot it and get it working again. It essentially manages your network and automates the process of configuring devices on IP networks.

It is the default protocol used by nearly all routers worldwide because it is widely supported and relatively simple to use (and diagnose problems with).

A network administrator must assign a static IP address to any device that requires an IP address to connect to the internet in the absence of DHCP.

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HOW TO FIX IF ISP’S DHCP DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY?

1. CHANGE DHCP QUERY FREQUENCY

Because DHCPs assign IP addresses to your router, you can instruct it to send DHCP queries all the time in order to keep your router up to date.

• The query frequency is set to normal by default, but you can change it to aggressive to avoid this issue.
• By logging into your router’s admin tool, you can change the DHCP querying mode to aggressive.
• Go to the WAN settings and change the DHCP Query Frequency to Aggressive.
• Save the changes and restart the router.
• Check the network status page again to see if the problem persists.

2. CHECK FOR SERVICE OUTAGES

One of the reasons your router believes your ISP’s DHCP server is down is that it has gone offline.

• If the router is unable to obtain an IP address because the DHCP server fails to respond, there may have been a service-related outage on your ISP’s end.
• Spectrum and Verizon, for example, allow you to check their website to see if they are experiencing an outage.
• However, contacting your ISP is the simplest way to find out if there was an outage.
• If they are experiencing an outage, they will also tell you how long it will take to resolve the problem.
• The best thing you can do at this point is to wait until the services are restored.

3. CHECK YOUR CABLES

After a long period of use, the cables connecting your modem to your router or the ISP’s internet line can become frayed or damaged.

• Examine the cables as well as the ports into which they are plugged.
• To clean the ports and end connectors, use a small cloth and isopropyl alcohol; do not use water.
• Examine the ethernet cables’ end connectors as well.
• Replace the cable if the plastic clip on the connector has been broken.
• The clip holds the ethernet cable in place in the port, and if it is broken off, it can cause loose connections, resulting in internet disconnects.

4. UPDATE YOUR ROUTER FIRMWARE

Some of the people I spoke with said they tried everything but nothing worked, but when they updated the firmware on their router, the problem was resolved.

• New firmware updates that fix issues with your router are released on a regular basis, so installing them once in a while can help fix any potential issues.
• To update your router’s firmware, read the section of your router’s manual that describes how to do so.
• You can get the most up-to-date firmware from the website of your router’s manufacturer.
• Check the connection status again after updating the firmware to see if the DHCP error has been resolved.

5. RESTART YOUR ROUTER

You can also restart your router to see if your ISP assigns a different DHCP server to you. This will resolve the DHCP issue and assign an IP address to your router.

Restart your router as follows:

1. Turn off the router.
2. Unplug the router from the power source.
3. Wait at least 1-2 minutes before reconnecting the router.
4. Turn on the router.

When the router has finished booting up, check your network status to see if you have resolved the DHCP issue.

6. RESET YOUR ROUTER

If restarting your router did not solve the problem, you can try resetting it to factory settings. Keep in mind that performing a factory reset will erase all of your router’s custom settings.

• The router would be reset to the state it was in when you first set it up, so you’d have to do it all over again.
• Most routers have a reset button on the back that you must press and hold for a few seconds in order for the router to begin a reset.
• Read your router’s manual to learn how to reset it and how to re-configure it afterward.
• Check the connection status page after resetting your router to see if the DHCP issue persists.

7. Replace Your Router

If the problem was caused by a software bug, resetting may help, but if the problem persists after resetting, there may be a problem with your hardware.

• At this point, upgrading or replacing your router is your best bet.
• I’d recommend getting a mesh router that supports Wi-Fi 6, but a regular router, such as the TP-Link Archer C6, is also a good option.
• Set up your new router for your network and check to see if the DHCP problem persists.

8. CONTACT SUPPORT

If none of these troubleshooting tips helped, don’t be afraid to contact your ISP’s technical support. They may advise you to try something else that is more suitable for your hardware and internet plan. If customer service is unable to resolve the problem over the phone, the issue can be escalated.

CONCLUSION

After you’ve fixed your router, run some speed tests to see if you’re getting full Ethernet and Wi-Fi speeds. If you aren’t getting full speeds from your router, check to see if your plan hasn’t been changed and restart the router.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
What is DHCP?	Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a service that automatically assigns IP addresses to devices on a network.
What are the symptoms of a DHCP problem?	Some common symptoms of a DHCP problem include: * Devices cannot connect to the internet. * Devices receive an incorrect IP address. * Devices receive an IP address that is already in use.

References:

• Your ISP’s DHCP Does Not Function Properly: How To Fix 
• Asus router: “Your ISP’s DHCP does not function properly” 
• ASUS router won’t connect to the internet: DHCP is not functioning properly