TP-Link Router — DHCP Failure Error

What Does This Error Mean?

DHCP is the service your router runs to automatically give every device in your home a unique network address. Think of it as the router handing out name tags at a party. When DHCP fails, devices cannot get their name tag and cannot communicate on the network. This appears as 'No Internet Access' or 'Limited Connectivity' on your devices.

Affected Models

TP-Link Archer AX Series
TP-Link Archer C Series
TP-Link Deco Series
TP-Link TL-WR841N
Most TP-Link home routers

Common Causes

The router's DHCP server has crashed due to a firmware bug or memory issue
Another device on the network is accidentally acting as a second DHCP server
The router has run out of available IP addresses to assign
The router has been running for too long without a restart and its memory is exhausted
DHCP was accidentally turned off in the router's settings

How to Fix It

Restart your TP-Link router. Unplug the power cable, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Wait two minutes.

A restart resets the DHCP service and fixes this problem in most cases.
On the device that cannot connect, turn Wi-Fi off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. This forces it to request a fresh address.

Sometimes the device is holding onto an old, expired address. Toggling Wi-Fi forces it to request a new one.
Log into your TP-Link router at tplinkwifi.net or 192.168.0.1. Go to Advanced > DHCP Server and confirm the DHCP server is enabled.

If the DHCP server is disabled, turn it on, click Save, and restart the router.
While in DHCP settings, check the address pool range. The default is usually 192.168.0.100 to 192.168.0.199 — that supports 100 devices. Expand this if you have many devices.

If you have more than 100 devices (or smart home gadgets), you may have run out of addresses. Change the ending address to 192.168.0.254 to allow up to 155 devices.
If nothing works, press and hold the router's Reset button for six seconds to restore factory settings. Then set it up again from scratch.

A factory reset will erase your Wi-Fi name and password. You will need to reconfigure the router after the reset.

When to Call a Professional

DHCP errors are almost always fixable at home without professional help. If the issue persists after all steps including a factory reset, contact TP-Link support at tp-link.com/support. In rare cases the router's internal hardware may have failed.

Frequently Asked Questions

My laptop cannot connect but my phone can. Is that a DHCP problem?

It could be. If the router ran out of addresses, the phone (which connected first) kept its address while the laptop was refused one. Restarting the router frees up all the addresses and lets every device reconnect fresh. Also check that the laptop's Wi-Fi adapter is not set to a manual (static) IP address.

How many devices can a TP-Link router support at once?

The router hardware itself can usually handle 50 to 100 devices. However, the default DHCP address pool may only cover around 100 addresses. If you have smart home devices, phones for the whole family, tablets, laptops, and TVs, it is easy to approach this limit. Expanding the DHCP pool in the router settings provides more room.

After a factory reset, will my devices reconnect automatically?

No. A factory reset erases your Wi-Fi name and password and resets the router to its default settings. You will need to set up the Wi-Fi name and password again. After that, each device will need to reconnect using the new credentials.