Changing IP address on Macbook Air

There may be a conflict with your computer’s IP address

If you’re connected to a network using TCP/IP, and you are having problems connecting to other computers or services, there may be a conflict with your computer’s IP address and the IP address of another device on the network.

Depending on the way your IP address is provided, there are several things you can try to resolve the conflict.

• If you receive an IP address automatically using DHCP, there could be another device on the network that is already using that IP address. In most cases, the DHCP server will provide your Mac with another IP address in a few minutes. Try connecting again.
• Close the app that is using the connection (such as Safari or Messages), then open the app again.
• Put your computer to sleep, wait a few minutes, then wake it from sleep. Try connecting again.
• Close all open apps and restart your computer.
• If you entered your IP address manually, you need to enter a different IP address in the Advanced pane of Network preferences. If you’re connecting to a network that’s managed by an administrator, check with the administrator.

If you’re on a home network, and none of these suggestions fix the problem, try disconnecting from the network and turning off all the devices that are connected to it (for example, your router and modem). Wait a few minutes, then turn the devices back on.

1) when you go to the network preferences to look at your IP address there's a pop up menu that has several choices including "using DHCP" and "Manually" In most cases it should be "using DHCP". Is that what you see?

2) Do you have several other devices that would have IP addresses? Other computers, iPads, game consoles?

If the answer to both my questions above is Yes then probably one of the other devices is somehow locked in on an IP. Shut down your router and restart it. Then wait a couple minutes to let it power up. Then shut down and restart each of the other computer devices and see what happens.

I don't know how to do it the technical way, but if you install something called Betternet from the Mac App Store, there is a free version that will change your IP address. I use it because I worry about the government or my ISP (Comcast) peeping in on my computer. It isn't a permanent fix but it might help you temporarily until you figure it out, that is if you can get online to download it. If you can't, you could always use a phone tether to get the app. Phone tether would change your IP as well but it's not recommended for long use because it will heat up your phone really fast.

Hope this helps at least a little. If nothing works that the above posters said, or if you don't know how to do it yourself, you could ask a Genius Bar or wherever you got your laptop from. Do you have a warranty? My old MacBook Pro got diagnosed for free even though I didn't have a warranty and they reset my OS for free too. Depending on where you live, the Apple geniuses might or might be willing to service you as long as they don't need to buy parts. 🙂