---
title: How to activate DHCP on a legacy Private Network
description: Learn how to activate DHCP for your Scaleway VPC with this step-by-step guide. Ensure seamless IP address management and efficient network configuration.
tags: regional-private-network private-network vpc virtual-private-cloud dhcp activate old migrate migration
dates:
  validation: 2025-08-07
  posted: 2023-07-06
---
import Requirements from '@macros/iam/requirements.mdx'

import image from './assets/scaleway-default-vpc.webp'
import image2 from './assets/scaleway-pns.webp'
import image3 from './assets/scaleway-activate-dhcp.webp'
import image4 from './assets/scaleway-activate-dhcp-modal.webp'


All Private Networks created after July 12 2023 have **DHCP built into them**. A CIDR block is defined when you create the Private Network. When a resource is attached to the Private Network, an IPv4 and IPv6 address is statically allocated to them from this block. This is all managed by our internal [IPAM](/vpc/concepts/#ipam) and removes the need for manual configuration of your IP addresses.

However, while DHCP is built into all new Private Networks, it may not be automatically activated for older Private Networks. Previously, DHCP was a function of Public Gateways. Only legacy Private Networks that were previously attached to a Public Gateway with DHCP, have DHCP automatically activated on them. On all other Private Networks created prior to July 12 2023, DHCP remains deactivated by default.

<Message type="tip">
Check out our [migration](/vpc/reference-content/vpc-migration/) documentation for full information about how "old" Private Networks were migrated when VPC went into General Availability, and for more information about DHCP.
</Message>

We highly recommend activating DHCP on all of your Private Networks, to let us take care of IP address management in our fully-integrated ecosystem. This page explains how to activate DHCP on Private Networks where it has not been automatically activated.

<Message type="important">
**Activating DHCP is permanent, and there is no way to undo the activation.** <br/><br/>

Activating DHCP will overwrite any existing manually configured static IP addresses for resources attached to the network. Attached resources will receive new dynamically assigned private IP addresses (one IPv4 and one IPv6) from the network's pre-defined CIDR block. The CIDR block will be displayed at the time of activation (see step 5 below), and you will be able to [view your resources' newly assigned IP addresses](/vpc/how-to/attach-resources-to-pn/#how-to-view-the-resources-ip-address) after activation. These IP addresses do not risk changing unless you detach your resource from the Private Network. You can also use IPAM's [reserve an IP](/ipam/how-to/reserve-ip/) function to reserve a specific IP address, and use that when attaching your resource.
</Message>

<Requirements />

- A Scaleway account logged into the [console](https://console.scaleway.com)
- [Owner](/iam/concepts/#owner) status or [IAM permissions](/iam/concepts/#permission) allowing you to perform actions in the intended Organization
- Created a Private Network in which DHCP is not yet activated, before July 12, 2023

## How to activate DHCP on a Private Network

1. Click **VPC** in the **Network** section of the [Scaleway console](https://console.scaleway.com/organization) side menu. A listing of your VPCs displays.

2. Use the **region selector** at the top of the page to filter for the region of the VPC containing the Private Network you want to configure, then click the VPC in the listing. A listing of Private Networks in the VPC displays.

    Private Networks that do not have DHCP activated have an **!** icon next to them.

    <Lightbox image={image2} alt="" />

3. Click the Private Network you want to activate DHCP on. The following banner displays:

    <Lightbox image={image3} alt="A banner displays the text: 'DHCP activation is recommended for this Private Network. DHCP automatically allocates private IP addresses to attached resources. It is activated on all new Private Networks, and we strongly recommend activating it on pre-existing Private Networks'. A button at the bottom of the banner displays the text 'Activate DHCP'." />

4. Click **Activate DHCP** on the banner. The following screen displays:

    <Lightbox image={image4} alt="A modal displays the text: 'Activate DHCP? Resources attached to this Private Network will receive dynamically-assigned private IP addresses no later than one hour from now. IP addresses will be assigned from the following CIDR blocks' (and an example IPv4 and IPv6 block). 'Warning: resource IP addresses will be modified. This will overwrite any existing manually configured static IP addresses. This action is irreversible.' A button at the bottom of the modal displays the text 'Activate DHCP'." />

5. Read the warning message carefully, and click **Activate DHCP** when you are ready.

DHCP is activated on your network, and attached resources will receive dynamically assigned static IP addresses no later than one hour from the time of activation. You can view their IP addresses by [following this procedure](/vpc/how-to/attach-resources-to-pn/#how-to-view-the-resources-ip-address).