220-1201 Exam Overview
Prepare for the Comptia 220-1201 certification exam
with our comprehensive study guide. This study material contains 177 practice questions
sourced from real exams and expert-verified for accuracy. Each question includes the correct answer
and a detailed explanation to help you understand the material thoroughly.
The 220-1201 exam — A+ Core 1 — is offered by Comptia.
Passing this exam earns you the CompTIA A+ credential,
an industry-recognized certification that validates your expertise.
Our study materials were last updated on 2026-02-18 to reflect the
most recent exam objectives and content.
About the CompTIA A+
The CompTIA A+ is awarded by Comptia
to professionals who demonstrate competence in the skills measured by the 220-1201 exam.
According to the
official Comptia certification page,
this certification validates your ability to work with the technologies covered in the exam objectives.
According to the
Global Knowledge IT Skills and Salary Report,
certified IT professionals earn 15-25% more than their non-certified peers.
Certifications from Comptia are among the most recognized credentials in the IT industry,
with strong demand across enterprise organizations worldwide.
Free Sample — 15 Practice Questions
Preview 15 of 177 questions from the 220-1201 exam.
Try before you buy — purchase the full study guide for all 177 questions with answers and explanations.
Question 144
A technician is troubleshooting internet connectivity issues after a firewall update. Users report that they can access local network resources, such as printers and shares, but cannot access the internet. Which of the following settings is most likely causing the issue?
A. Static IP assignments
B. Default gateway
C. Subnet mask
D. VLANs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
If users can still access local resources, their IP address, subnet mask, and VLAN configuration are working correctly within the local network. Inability to reach the internet points to a problem with routing traffic outside the LAN. The default gateway is responsible for forwarding traffic to external networks, and a firewall update could misconfigure or block it, preventing internet access.
Question 52
Which of the following should a company use to implement automatic time synchronization?
A. DHCP
B. UTM
C. NTP
D. AAA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
Automatic time synchronization across networked systems is provided by NTP (Network Time Protocol), which synchronizes device clocks with a reliable time source. DHCP assigns IP configuration, UTM is a security appliance, and AAA handles authentication, authorization, and accounting—not timekeeping.
Question 169
Which of the following servers is used to collect data and information about events from a network-connected host?
A. DNS
B. Mail
C. Print
D. Syslog
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
A Syslog server is specifically designed to collect, receive, and store log messages and event data from network-connected hosts and devices. DNS resolves names, Mail handles email, and Print manages printing, none of which are intended for centralized event logging.
Question 32
A technician is setting up a workstation. Which of the following settings should the technician configure to ensure that users can connect to the network? (Choose three.)
A. APIРА
B. Gateway
C. IP address
D. Subnet mask
E. Static routes
F. UPnP settings
G. NAT rules
H. MAC filters
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B, C, D
Explanation:
A workstation needs basic TCP/IP configuration to communicate on a network: an IP address to identify the host, a subnet mask to determine the local network, and a default gateway to reach other networks. The other options are advanced or optional and not required for basic connectivity.
Question 153
A user is traveling internationally. They can make and receive phone calls but cannot send or receive email. Which of the following would most likely resolve this issue?
A. Disabling the GPS
B. Enabling data roaming
C. Configuring 4G usage only
D. Connecting using a hotspot
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
The user can make and receive phone calls, which indicates the voice roaming service is working. Email requires mobile data access, which is often disabled by default when roaming internationally to avoid extra charges. Enabling data roaming allows the device to use cellular data on foreign networks, restoring email functionality.
Question 26
A technician receives a notification after a network outage that indicates the printer is not reachable. Which of the following printer settings should the technician implement to prevent this issue in the future?
A. Gateway
B. Static IP
C. APIPA
D. DHCP
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Assigning a static IP ensures the printer’s address does not change after outages or DHCP lease renewals, keeping it consistently reachable on the network.
Question 128
Which of the following would prevent a virtual machine from communicating with any endpoints on a network or the internet?
A. VDI
B. Private cloud
C. Sandbox
D. Type 1 hypervisor
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
A sandbox is designed to be an isolated environment where execution and testing occur without network access unless explicitly allowed, preventing communication with internal networks or the internet. VDI, private clouds, and Type 1 hypervisors can all support normal network connectivity.
Question 58
A company provides cell phones to employees who travel internationally. An employee brings their phone to the help desk so the necessary equipment can be installed. However, the technician cannot install any new hardware on the phone. Which of the following will the technician require so the phone can connect to a different provider?
A. USB-C
B. SD card
C. eSIM
D. MDM
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
An eSIM is embedded in the phone and can be provisioned via software, allowing connection to a different carrier without installing new hardware. USB-C and SD cards are not used for carrier provisioning, and MDM manages devices but does not provide carrier connectivity.
Question 4
A user's wireless headset shows a "connected" status when turned on, but the Bluetooth list on the user's phone shows that the headset is "not connected." Which of the following should the technician do?
A. Enter the PIN.
B. Turn off Wi-Fi.
C. Re-pair the devices.
D. Enable Bluetooth.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
If the headset indicates it is connected but the phone shows it as not connected, the Bluetooth pairing state between the two devices is likely out of sync. Re-pairing clears the existing pairing information and establishes a fresh, correct connection. Bluetooth must already be enabled to see the device, Wi‑Fi is unrelated, and entering a PIN is only required during pairing if prompted.
Question 98
Which of the following ports is commonly used for remote desktop connections?
A. 137
B. 445
C. 3389
D. 4443
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
Port 3389 is the well-known default port used by Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) for remote desktop connections. The other options correspond to different services: 137 is NetBIOS, 445 is SMB, and 4443 is sometimes used as an alternative HTTPS port but is not standard for remote desktop.
Question 35
Which of the following connector types is associated with coaxial terminations serving cable internet deployments?
A. DB9
B. ST
C. F-type
D. RJ45
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
Cable internet deployments use coaxial cable terminated with F-type connectors, the threaded coax connectors commonly found on cable modems and CATV equipment. The other options correspond to serial (DB9), fiber (ST), and Ethernet twisted-pair (RJ45).
Question 66
A technician needs to figure out why a laser printer is intermittently not feeding paper to print. The technician verifies the issue by running several copy-and-print tests. Which of the following should the technician do next?
A. Update the printer drivers.
B. Select the correct paper size.
C. Clean the pickup rollers.
D. Replace the toner cartridge.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
Intermittent paper feed issues are most commonly caused by worn or dirty pickup rollers losing traction on the paper. After verifying the problem through testing, the next troubleshooting step is to clean the pickup rollers. Driver updates, paper size selection, or toner replacement do not address paper feeding mechanics.
Question 50
A technician is setting up a new SOHO wireless router. According to security best practices, which of the following should the technician do first?
A. Enable encryption.
B. Assign a static IP.
C. Change the default password.
D. Reset the router.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
Changing the default administrative password should be done first because default credentials are widely known and easily exploited. Securing access to the router’s management interface prevents unauthorized users from altering settings or disabling other security controls, making it the foundational step before configuring encryption or other options.
Question 15
A user reports that a laptop runs very slowly when documents are opened and saved. The user got the laptop within the past year. A technician finds the following specifications for the laptop:
Intel Core i5-1235U -
Windows 11 Home -
Intel Iris Xe Graphics -
1TB 7200RPM
16GB: 2 x 8GB DDR4 2666
The technician thinks a minor upgrade should solve the slow performance issue. Which of the following components should the technician install?
A. Gaming GPU
B. i7 CPU
C. 64GB RAM
D. 2.5 SATA SSD
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
The laptop already has a modern i5 CPU and sufficient RAM for normal document work. The major performance bottleneck is the 1TB 7200RPM mechanical hard drive, which causes slow opening and saving of files. Replacing it with a 2.5-inch SATA SSD would significantly improve boot times, file access, and overall system responsiveness with a minor upgrade.
Question 7
An office is experiencing frequent wireless outages and slow network speeds. A technician confirms that all wireless devices are experiencing the same symptoms. Which of the following should the technician do to determine whether the issue is external or internal?
A. Restart all devices and ensure they join the workgroup.
B. Check the DNS configuration to make sure it is correct.
C. Connect a machine using Ethernet and test connectivity.
D. Perform a policy update on Active Directory and reset network settings.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
Connecting a machine via Ethernet isolates the wireless network from the rest of the infrastructure. If the wired connection is stable and fast, the problem is internal to the wireless network (APs, interference, configuration). If issues persist on wired, the problem is likely external or upstream. This is the fastest way to distinguish internal vs. external causes.