A lot of Chromebook users reported that they are facing DHCP lookup failed error when they try to connect to a network. If you are facing it too then no need to worry, you have come to the right place.
Failing to connect to a network is a very common issue in Google Chromebook. Hopefully, there are plenty of solutions to fix this issue. In this article, we will see all the methods to fix the DHCP lookup failed issue in Chromebook.
But before that let us understand DHCP
Introduction to DHCP:
Google Chromebooks are laptops that run on Google Chrome OS and have built-in Google apps and it is best suited for those who mostly use Google apps on their laptops. It is lightweight, fast, and has multiple layers of security.
However, along with these great features comes the bugs. One of the most common bug is the DHCP lookup Failed error. Let us understand this issue in detail before jumping on to the solutions.
What is DHCP?
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a network management protocol used on IP networks that automatically assigns IP addresses and other network configurations to a device so it can communicate with the other devices on the network.
It is an upgraded version of on older protocol BOOTP.
When do we face the DHCP lookup failed issue?
If your device displays the DHCP lookup failed error when connecting to a wifi network, your device has not been assigned an IP address. And that is why it is not able to connect to the wifi network.
What are the causes for DHCP lookup failed error in Chromebook?
Network connection issue: You can face DHCP lookup failed error if you have a network connection issue. Most of the time the network connection error is the culprit behind the error.
Outdated OS: An Outdated OS can also be the reason for the DHCL lookup failed problem in your Chromebook. So make sure you timely download and install the OS updates.
Corrupt Firmware: A corrupt router Firmware can also cause the Chromebook DHCP lookup failed error.
How to fix the DHCP lookup failed error in Chromebook:
Now, that you have seen the causes for the DHCP failed error in your Chromebook let us see the possible methods to fix this issue.
The DHCP error can also be displayed because of some temporary network component error. So, it would be a good practice to restart the Chromebook and the network components. If the error persists then follow the below-mentioned solutions to fix the error.
Method 1: Directly connect the Chromebook to the Ethernet wire
In most cases, it is seen that the router and the wifi repeater are the main culprits behind the DHCP lookup failed error. To identify if they are the main culprit in your case, try directly connecting your Chromebook to the Ethernet.
If the DHCP error is resolved that means the wifi extenders are the causes for this error. To fix your router try resetting its settings to default. To do it follow method 2.
Related: Fixed: This Site Can’t be Reached – Google Chrome Error
Method 2: Reset the router to default settings
As we saw in the causes above, a corrupt router firmware can be the reason for the DHCP lookup failed error. This can be resolved by resetting the router. Below are the steps to do it
- Plugg-in the router cable to turn it on.
- Locate the Reset button on your router. It is usually located on the backside of the router.
- Press and hold the reset button for 30 seconds and then release it. This will fully reset the router.
You can also reset the router through the web portal. Below are the steps to do it
- Open the browser and navigate to the default gateway by entering your router’s IP address in the search box (You can find your router’s IP address on the back of the router).
- Now, log in to the admin page using the username and password.
- After you log in, click on the system tools menu
- Click on the Reset option to reset the router settings. After that restart your router and check if the DHCP error has been resolved
Method 3: Clear the DNS cache
Invalid DNS cache can also be the cause for DHCP lookup error in Chromebook. To fix it you need to flush or clear the DNS cache. Here are the steps to do it
- Open Google Chrome and type “Chrome://Net-Internals/#Dns” in the address bar and hit enter.
- Click on the DNS option on the left-hand side of the screen and then click on the clear host cache button to remove the previous DNS settings.
You can also clear the DNS cache from the command prompt. Follow the below steps to clear the previous DNS settings using the CMD
- First, Open the command prompt as Administrator. (To open CMD as administrator search CMD in the search box right click on the cmd icon and select run as administrator).
- Type the command “ipconfig /flushdns” and wait for few seconds until you receive the “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver cache” message.
- Restart the computer to apply the changes and check if the Chromebook DHCP error has been resolved or not.
Method 4: Forget the Network and reconnect
A temporary network glitch can also cause Chromebook to display DHCP lookup failed error. To overcome this you need to forget the current network you are connected to and reconnect it. After you forget the network you will be asked to enter the password (if the network is password protected) to reconnect. To do it
- Click on the Wifi icon at the bottom of the screen and then click on the network you are connected to
- Next, click on the gear icon to open the Network settings and then click on Wifi
- Now, Disconnect from the network, click on the arrow in front of it, and then click on the forget button.
- Lastly, reconnect to the network and see if the DHCP error is gone.
Method 5: Use Google Name servers
Switching to Google Name Servers can also solve the DHCP lookup failed error in Chromebook and here are the steps to do it:
- Go to settings in your chrome book and click on Network. Inside Network click on Wifi.
- Next, click on the arrow in front of the network you are having trouble with.
- Scroll down and to the Name Servers option and change it to Google Name Servers by clicking on the dropdown menu.
Method 6: Extend DHCP address range of the Network
If the DHCP range of the Network is 12 devices and you try to connect to the network as the 13th device then you can face the DHCP Lookup failed error. You can fix it by increasing the DHCP range of the address of the network. Follow the below steps to increase the DHCP address range
- Open your browser and go to the web portal of your router and log in with your admin username and password.
- Go to the DHCP option and click on it
- In that increase the DHCP IP range and click on save changes.
- Exit the portal and restart the router and check if the Chromebook is still showing DHCP Lookup failed error.
Method 7: Update the Chrome OS
An outdated OS can also be the reason for DHCP Lookup failed error in Chromebook. So, always check for the Google OS update, if available download and install it to keep your Chromebook OS up to date and to avoid annoying errors like the DHCP lookup failed error.
To check for updates in Chromebook follow the below steps:
- Go to the settings in your Chromebook
- Next, click on About Chrome OS
- Then click on Check for updates button.
- If any update is available download and installs it. After that restart, your Chromebook to apply the update.
Conclusion:
In the above article, we have successfully discussed DHCP, the causes for the DHCP Lookup failed error in Chromebook, and the possible solutions to fix the error. Also, let us know in the comment box which method helped you solve the DHCP Lookup failed error in your Chromebook.
