Should a copier have a static IP address?

Yes, or a DHCP reservation that always issues the same address. A copier on a plain dynamic lease will eventually change address, which breaks every print driver and any scan destination that references it by number.

How do I find my copier's IP address?

Print the configuration or network settings page from the device's own control panel, usually under machine status or device settings. The page lists the IP address, subnet mask, gateway and MAC address.

Our copier's IP address changed and nothing prints

What's actually going on

If the copier is on a plain DHCP lease, its address can change whenever the lease expires or the network restarts. Every print driver on every workstation is pointed at the old number.

Some devices also lose their scan destinations when the address changes, because destinations are stored by IP rather than by name.

Nothing is broken on the machine. It is an addressing problem.

What to do in the next 48 hours

1Print the configuration page from the device panel to read its current IP address.
2Set a DHCP reservation on your router or server so that MAC address always receives the same IP, or assign a static address outside the DHCP pool.
3Repoint the shared print queue at the new address, or better, at a DNS hostname so future changes do not matter.
4Recheck scan destinations that reference the device or a server by IP and switch them to hostnames where possible.

The honest tradeoffs

A DHCP reservation is centrally managed and survives device replacement badly. A static IP survives everything and is invisible to your DHCP records. Pick one and document it.
Using hostnames rather than IPs is the durable fix and depends on your DNS being reliable.

Your next step

Rather just talk it through with someone local?

203-777-0011 Or request service

Questions people ask next

Should a copier have a static IP address?: Yes, or a DHCP reservation that always issues the same address. A copier on a plain dynamic lease will eventually change address, which breaks every print driver and any scan destination that references it by number.
How do I find my copier's IP address?: Print the configuration or network settings page from the device's own control panel, usually under machine status or device settings. The page lists the IP address, subnet mask, gateway and MAC address.

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