If you're studying for the CompTIA A+ exam, you've likely seen the term APIPA and wondered:
“Why does my computer show a 169.254 address?”
Let’s break it down clearly and practically.
APIPA stands for Automatic Private IP Addressing.
It is a Windows feature that automatically assigns an IP address when a DHCP server cannot be reached.
Instead of leaving the device without an IP address, Windows assigns one temporarily.
APIPA activates when:
This usually indicates a network connectivity problem.
APIPA addresses always fall within:
169.254.x.x
Example:
169.254.12.45
If you run:
ipconfig
and see a 169.254 address, your system failed to contact a DHCP server.
On the A+ exam, APIPA usually signals:
Memory Trick:
APIPA = “Automatic Problem IP Address.”
If you see 169.254, think: DHCP problem.
ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew
This troubleshooting flow is common on the CompTIA A+ exam.
The 169.254.0.0 range is reserved for link-local addressing.
It allows devices on the same local network to communicate, but they cannot access the internet.
APIPA is a fallback safety mechanism.
You power on a classroom PC. Students say:
“The internet isn’t working.”
You run:
ipconfig
It shows:
169.254.88.12
You now know: the router isn’t assigning IP addresses.
That’s real troubleshooting — and exam-ready thinking.
Want to drill this topic quickly? Use the practice exams, then come back and re-read the troubleshooting section.
If you see 169.254 — think DHCP.