hardMultiple Choice
APIPA Address 169.254.x.x: Diagnosing DHCP Failure
A user’s laptop connects to the corporate Wi-Fi but cannot access the internet. Other devices on the same SSID work fine. The technician checks the laptop’s IP configuration and sees an IPv4 address of 169.254.12.34. What is the most likely cause of this issue?
Quick Answer
The answer is that the laptop’s DHCP client is disabled or malfunctioning. When a Windows device cannot reach a DHCP server, it self-assigns an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address in the 169.254.x.x range, which provides local link-only connectivity but no default gateway or DNS, blocking internet access. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between network-layer issues and DHCP failures—a common trap is assuming the router or DHCP server is down when other devices on the same SSID work fine, which points instead to a client-side problem like a disabled DHCP client service, a misconfigured firewall, or a corrupted network stack. Remember the memory tip: “169.254 means DHCP is seen, but not heard”—the laptop sees the Wi-Fi signal but never got a proper IP lease, so always check the client’s DHCP service first.
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA A+ often tests the misconception that a 169.254.x.x address always indicates a DHCP server problem, but the key detail here is that other devices work, which shifts the fault to the client's DHCP client service rather than the server.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The laptop’s DHCP client is disabled or malfunctioning
The 169.254.x.x address is an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address, assigned by Windows when the DHCP client fails to obtain a lease from a DHCP server. Since other devices on the same SSID work fine, the DHCP server is functional and has available addresses, isolating the issue to the laptop's DHCP client service being disabled or malfunctioning, which prevents it from requesting or renewing an IP address.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The laptop is connected to the wrong SSID
Why it's wrong here
The 169.254 address is an APIPA self-assigned address, which appears when DHCP fails; joining a different SSID would not produce that address on this adapter. It is tempting because SSID mismatches do cause connectivity loss, but that would be correct when the laptop associates to a guest network with no route.
- ✗
The DHCP server is out of addresses
Why it's wrong here
Other devices on the same SSID obtained valid leases, so the DHCP scope is not exhausted; the fault is specific to this laptop's DHCP exchange. It is tempting because scope exhaustion does yield APIPA addresses, but that would be correct when multiple clients across the subnet show 169.254 addresses simultaneously.
- ✗
The laptop’s wireless adapter is faulty
Why it's wrong here
A faulty wireless adapter would prevent association with the SSID entirely, yet the laptop connected successfully and received an APIPA address, indicating DHCP failure rather than hardware failure. It is tempting because adapter faults do cause no connectivity, but that would be correct when the device cannot see or join any wireless network.
- ✓
The laptop’s DHCP client is disabled or malfunctioning
Why this is correct
The 169.254.12.34 address is APIPA, assigned when the laptop's DHCP client fails to obtain a lease. Other devices on the same SSID received valid addresses, so the DHCP server is working; the fault is local to this laptop's disabled or malfunctioning DHCP client service.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on 220-1201
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A user's laptop connects to the office Wi-Fi but cannot access the internet. Other devices on the same network work fine. The laptop's IP address is 169.254.25.14. What is the most likely cause?
medium- A.The DNS server is unreachable.
- B.The laptop's wireless adapter driver is corrupted.
- ✓ C.The DHCP server is not responding or the laptop cannot reach it.
- D.The SSID is hidden and requires manual entry.
Why C: The IP address 169.254.25.14 falls within the Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) range (169.254.0.0/16), which Windows assigns when a DHCP client fails to receive an IP lease from a DHCP server. Since other devices on the same network work fine, the issue is isolated to this laptop's inability to communicate with the DHCP server, not a network-wide outage. This makes option C correct.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.