What does a self-assigned IP address typically indicate?

A self-assigned IP address typically indicates that the device has failed to obtain an IP address from a DHCP server. When a device is configured to use DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) and it cannot connect to a DHCP server or if the server is unresponsive, the device assigns itself an IP address in a reserved range, usually starting with 169.254.x.x. This self-assigned address allows for the possibility of local network communication but indicates that the device is unable to communicate with external networks, as it does not have a valid address assigned by a DHCP server.

In scenarios where a device has a self-assigned IP address, users will often experience issues with network connectivity, and troubleshooting steps typically involve checking the physical network connection, verifying that the DHCP server is operational, or ensuring the device is correctly configured to connect to the network. Properly configured network settings would facilitate the connection to a DHCP server, while connection to a guest network generally involves different parameters that would not result in a self-assigned address.