Setting Up a Static IP on a TP-Link Router: Step-by-Step

Introduction / Why This Is Needed

A static (fixed) IP address is necessary for devices that need to be accessed at a permanent address: home servers, network-attached storage (NAS), IP cameras, printers with a web interface, or game consoles for port forwarding.

Typically, a router assigns addresses via a DHCP server, and they can change after a reboot. Reserving an IP address on a TP-Link router is a simple and correct solution: you "bind" a specific IP from your local network to a particular device (by its unique MAC address). After this, the router will always assign the same address to that device.

This guide is universal for most TP-Link routers (Archer, Deco, TL-R) with a modern web interface.

Requirements / Preparation

1. Access to your TP-Link router: The device must be connected to its network (via Wi-Fi or cable).
2. Login credentials: The username and password for the router's web interface. If you haven't changed them, try admin/admin (these are listed on the sticker on the bottom of the router).
3. MAC address of the target device: You need to find this in advance on the device itself that will receive the static IP.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Determine the MAC Address of the Target Device

A MAC address (Physical Address) is the unique "serial number" of a device's network interface.

• Windows: Open the Command Prompt (Win+R → cmd) and run the command ipconfig /all. Find your network adapter (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and copy the value of Physical Address (e.g., A0-B1-C2-D3-E4-F5).
• Android: Settings → About phone → Status → Wi-Fi MAC address.
• iPhone/iPad: Settings → General → About → Wi-Fi Address.
• Camera/NAS/Other: The MAC address is usually listed on a sticker on the device or in its web interface under "Network".

Write down this address. You will need it in the next step.

Step 2: Log into the TP-Link Router's Web Interface

1. Connect to your router's network.
2. Open any browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge).
3. In the address bar, enter your router's IP address. Standard options:
   • http://192.168.1.1 (most common)
   • http://192.168.0.1
   • http://tplinkwifi.net
4. Press Enter. The login page will open.
5. Enter your Username and Password. Click Login.

💡 Tip: If you don't remember the password, there is a reset button on the router. Press it for 5-10 seconds (with a paperclip) to reset the settings to factory defaults. After this, the password will again be admin/admin, but you will have to reconfigure the entire router.

Step 3: Find the IP Address Reservation Section (DHCP Reservation)

TP-Link interfaces can vary slightly depending on the model and firmware version. Look for one of the following paths:

• For classic routers (Archer, TL-R):Advanced → Network → DHCP Server → Address Reservation.
• For newer routers with a simplified interface:Network → DHCP → Address Reservation.
• For Deco systems: Open the Deco app → Settings → Advanced → DHCP Server → Address Reservation.

On the reservation page, you will see either an empty table or a list of already reserved devices. Click the Add or Create button.

Step 4: Create a Reservation Entry

In the form that opens (usually called "Add Address Reservation"), fill in the two key fields:

1. MAC Address: Enter the MAC address of the device you determined in Step 1. You can enter it with colons (A0:B1:C2:D3:E4:F5), without them (A0B1C2D3E4F5), or with hyphens — the system usually understands any format.
2. IP Address: Specify the desired static IP address. It must:
   • Be in the same subnet as your router (e.g., if the router is 192.168.1.1, the address should be 192.168.1.xxx).
   • Not conflict with already existing devices on the network.
   • Not be in the range that the router automatically distributes via DHCP (this range, the DHCP pool, is specified in the DHCP server settings, e.g., 192.168.1.100 - 192.168.1.199). It is recommended to reserve an address outside this pool to avoid conflict if the pool is small. For example, take 192.168.1.50 or 192.168.1.10.

⚠️ Important: After creating the reservation, the device must reconnect to the network (turn Wi-Fi/ethernet off and on) for the router to assign it the new reserved IP address. This usually happens automatically within a few minutes.

3. Click Save or Apply.

Verifying the Result

1. On the target device (e.g., the laptop for which you reserved the IP), open the Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux).
2. Run the command:
   • Windows: ipconfig and look for the IPv4 Address line for your adapter.
   • macOS/Linux: ifconfig or ip addr and look for the inet address for your interface (e.g., en0 or wlan0).
3. Ensure that the IP address displayed is the one you reserved in the router.
4. (Optional) Go back to the router's web interface in the reservation section. In the list, next to your device's MAC address, a status like "Bound" or similar should be displayed.

Potential Issues

• The device received a different IP, not the reserved one.
  • Solution: Reboot the device itself (laptop, camera). If that doesn't work, reboot the router. Ensure the MAC address in the reservation is entered exactly (no extra spaces, correct case).
• I cannot find the "Address Reservation" section in the interface.
  • Solution: Look for similar names: "Static DHCP", "Fixed IP", "IP & MAC Binding". On very old models, this feature may be absent. In this case, you will have to set a static IP directly on the device itself.
• When trying to assign an IP, I get an error "IP address is already in use".
  • Solution: The IP address you selected is already occupied by another device on the network (dynamically or statically). Choose a different free address, preferably from a range not used by the router's DHCP pool (see Step 4). You can check occupied addresses via the DHCP client list in the router or with the arp -a command in Windows.
• After setting up the reservation, the device lost internet access.
  • Solution: Most likely, you specified an IP address that does not belong to your subnet. Check that the last octet of the address (the last number) is in the correct range for your network (e.g., 192.168.1.1 is a /24 network, so valid addresses are from 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254). Also check that the subnet mask (Subnet Mask) on the device is set to automatic (usually 255.255.255.0).