If you’ve experienced any issues with your Xbox related to the Internet connection or online play in a game, creating a static IP address may be a solution.
Like the rest of the devices in your home, such as your mobile phone, computer or Smart TV, when your Xbox connects to your home router, it automatically receives an internal or private IP address, which helps the router identify and manage the network of devices connected to it. Normally, you would not have any need to modify this IP of your Xbox, however, there may be specific cases in which doing so will help you solve a problem you are experiencing.
Using the default IP address that your router automatically assigns can have some disadvantages: IP addresses could overlap over time and end up being overwritten, or they could interfere with the routes that some games use to use online multiplayer. On the other hand, modifying this IP can make it easier for you to use “port forwarding” or port opening. The ports are closed by default as a security measure, but opening them can prevent you from experiencing an error such as “Strict NAT”, which prevents you from using multiplayer in titles like Battlefield, Call of Duty or Overwatch. Another option to solve the strict NAT problem is to enable UPnP on the router, as we explain in this article.
That’s why, if you find yourself in any of these situations, it may be interesting to configure a static IP address. We clarify, however, that this will not affect the Internet speed on the Xbox, neither for better nor for worse, but will simply serve to solve some problems such as those mentioned above.
There are quite a few steps to follow, but doing it isn’t difficult at all. These steps work for both Xbox One and the new X and S models. On the older Xbox, the process is actually very similar as well, although the route to follow within its settings menu varies a little.
How to create a static IP on Xbox
Turn on your Xbox and perform the following steps:
- First, you navigate to your Xbox’s settings menu by pressing the guide button, moving through the menus, and then pressing settings.
- Find your network settings by going to the general tab at the top, then network settings.
- Navigate to advanced settings. Here, you will have to take note of some information.
- Write down your IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS numbers (in the format number.number.number.number). You do not need to write down IPv6 numbers. You can also take note of the wired and wireless MAC addresses, although this may not be necessary.
- Now go to your router settings. This is best done through a web browser on a Windows PC connected to the same network as the Xbox.
- Using the gateway IP address you registered earlier, type it into your web browser to access the router. It should look like this: http://192.168.1.1, although the last two numbers may vary slightly. Some routers even have a special URL that you can access to configure their systems. Check your router’s instructions if you have any questions.
- Log in to the router. The credentials are usually listed in the manual or sometimes on the bottom of the device, especially if the router belongs to your Internet operator (Movistar router, Vodafone…).
- Once you’re on your router’s configuration page, you’ll need to change your Xbox details to use the same IP address you registered earlier.
- The methodology for ensuring that a connected device retains the same IP address will vary by manufacturer. For example, a typical way to find it is in the list of Wi-Fi devices. Some routers allow you to see all devices on the network and select “always assign the same IP address.” Other routers are a bit more complicated. Look for the connected device’s settings under Wi-Fi Devices, Security, or other similarly phrased menus, or consult the manual. Just make sure the device matches the IP address you noted earlier in the Xbox Advanced Network Connection menu.
- Once you’ve assigned your Xbox to a specific IP address on the router, it’s time to head back to your Xbox’s network settings menu to make sure everything is correct.
- Select IP settings. Then select manual.
- Enter the IP address, subnet mask and gateway from the information registered above. You can use RB and LB on your controller to move the cursor and then press the hamburger menu button to move to the next section.
- Then, go to DNS settings and select manual.
- Enter the DNS addresses from the information you registered earlier.
- Your Xbox should now automatically test the connection. If it shows the message “You are connected”, you have successfully assigned it a static IP.
Try playing online on your Xbox again to see if the issue that caused you to want to create this new IP has been resolved.
