How to Change Your IP Address (and Why You’d Want To)
What To Know
Windows: Open Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings and follow the directions in this Go to System Preferences > Network. Select a network and choose Advanced. Go to the TCP/IP tab, select Manually. Enter Open Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the circled i next to the network, select Configure IP > Manual. Set up the new IP.
This article explains how to change your IP address manually by switching from the router’s assigned DHCP address to a static one on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. It also covers how to change your router’s public IP address, which appears as the public IP address of every device on the network unless you use a VPN. You can also get a new IP by releasing and renewing your IP.
Change a Windows Computer’s IP Address
If your Windows computer has the IP address set up as a static one, change the IP address as follows:
Open Control Panel and select Network and Sharing Center. If you don’t see it, first select Network and Internet.
Choose Change adapter settings.
Double-click the connection that you want to change the IP address on. For example, to change the wireless adapter’s IP address, double-click the one that mentions Wi-Fi.
Select Properties.
Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
Either alter the IP address or select Obtain an IP address automatically to have the router control the IP address.
If you leave the setting to obtain an IP address automatically, the router automatically assigns an IP address to the computer. However, when you enter the IP address information, the computer’s IP address stays static.
Leave Obtain DNS server address automatically selected. Otherwise, your DNS server settings remain empty, which may cause other connection issues.
Change a Mac Computer’s IP Address
Here’s how to change the IP address on a Mac.
Open the System Preferences app on the Mac and select Network.
Select your Wi-Fi network in the left panel and click Advanced.
Select the TCP/IP tab.
Select Manually in the drop-down menu next to Configure IPv6 (or iPv4) and enter the information for the new IP.
Change a Phone’s IP Address on iPhone
You can also change the IP address on a mobile device such as the Apple iPhone as follows:
Open the Settings app and select Wi-Fi.
Tap the small (i) next to the network and select Configure IP.
Choose Manual. Enter the network details manually, such as your IP address and DNS information.
The choice of a specific local IP address does not affect the network performance in any meaningful way.
Change a Phone’s IP Address on Android
It’s also possible to change an Android device’s IP to a static IP on your network.
Android phones can vary depending on the manufacturer of the device. Some manufacturers alter the Android OS to meet their specifications, which means the steps you need to follow may differ slightly from those listed here. These steps should apply to most Android devices.
Go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi.
Tap the network that you want to change the IP address for.
Select Forget.
Tap the network from the list of available Wi-Fi networks.
Select Advanced options.
Tap DHCP.
Choose Static.
Scroll down and fill out the IP address fields.
Enter the Wi-Fi password at the top of the screen.
Select Connect.
Change a Router’s IP Address
To change the router’s IP address, log in to the router as an administrator. From the control panel, change the IP address to whatever you like. However, this IP address is usually changed when there’s a problem with it. The default IP address should suffice for most situations.
How to Change Your Public IP Address
An external public IP address is the address used to communicate with networks outside of your own, such as those on the internet. Use a VPN to mask or hide your real IP address. You can also use a web proxy to mask your public IP.
How to Change Your IP Address
Why Change Your IP Address?
Some ISPs assign static IP addresses to their subscribers. Home users are commonly configured with a dynamic IP address. Either way, you may be able to contact your ISP to request a new static IP or a dynamic IP change. You can’t change your external internet IP address on your own.
Some people change their public external IP address to avoid online bans or bypass country location restrictions that some sites impose on video content.
Changing the IP address of a client computer, phone, or router is useful when:
An invalid address is accidentally configured, such as a static IP address in the wrong numeric range.
A malfunctioning router provides bad addresses, such as an address used by another computer on the network.
Installing a new router and reconfiguring a home network to use its default IP address range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is changing an IP address dangerous or illegal? Nope! There are many reasons someone may want to change their IP address. However, if you’re on a work setup or have a home network running, messing with IP addresses can sometimes cause headaches, so make sure you know what you’re resetting your router change your IP address? It’s possible but not probable. If you’re power-cycling the device, it’s likely the address won’t change. Still, if you reset your router to factory defaults, it’s more likely the device will assign new you change your IP address location? Yes, you can. However, you need third-party software. A VPN, or virtual private network, gives you unique IP addresses in locations anywhere on earth.
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How do I change my IP address in Android OS? – StarTech
Tap the Settings app.
Tap Wi-Fi.
Touch and hold the network that you want to set the IP address for.
Tap Manage network settings.
Note: Depending on the type of smartphone you are using and the version of the Android OS you are running, the text you see in step 4 might differ from Manage network settings.
Select the Show advanced options check box.
Under IP settings, tap the drop-down box.
Tap Static.
Enter the new IP address.
If necessary, repeat step 8 for the gateway.
Tap Save.
To change your IP address so that you can access a specific device, complete steps 1 to 6, then tap DHCP to access the Internet again.
How to change your IP address: 4 easy ways – CNET
Changing your IP address is easy, safe and legal.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Don’t worry. Changing your IP address is easy, even if you’ve never done it before. It’s also perfectly safe and — as long as you’re not using it to break other laws — it’s legal. Your computer and phone have several types of IP addresses (short for internet protocol, a unique series of numbers that identify your specific device with your online browsing), but we’ll focus on the type normally changed to protect your privacy as you browse, and those which make you appear like you’re in a different country. There are four simple ways to change your IP address in under 5 minutes. Jumping behind a proxy server or a VPN is the best way to not only temporarily change your IP address, but also protect your privacy. If you just want to change your IP address without the additional privacy boost, you can either enter your preferred IP manually, or you can just force your device to retrieve a new one automatically. Read more: Best VPN service of 2021 Keep in mind, changing your IP address will temporarily disrupt whatever internet-connected services or programs you’re using on your device. There’s no harm done, but it’s going to have the same effect as if you’d momentarily lost your Wi-Fi. Your Spotify might hiccup. Media streaming services will have a momentary brain freeze. If you’re sending or receiving files, you may need to start over. And you might have to log back in to whatever secure site you’re currently using. If you’re tooling around with IP address changes, you might have some other questions. Here are two of the most common questions I’ve been asked.
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Why should I consider changing my IP address?
Routinely changing your external, or public IP address, can help you improve your overall security and browsing privacy. There are other reasons, too. If you’ve just installed a new home router, you may need to reconfigure your network with a quick IP change. One common problem among home routers is that they sometimes give devices the wrong IP address, so changing your IP manually can solve those glitches. If you want to access a country’s catalog of streaming media services when you’re outside of that country for whatever reason, changing your IP to one based in the right country can get you the catalog you’re looking for. Likewise, if you’re a gamer looking to lower your lag, changing your IP via a gaming proxy server can help improve performance. One neat tech trick for second-language learners is to use an IP address based in another country to generate search results and local publications written in the local language.
Is it even legal to change your IP address?
Yes, it’s legal to change your IP address in the US. People change their IP addresses routinely when facing direct attacks on their online security, when testing a website before it goes live, or when they simply prefer to protect their privacy. Obviously, this FAQ is in no way offering legal advice and you should consult a licensed attorney for specific questions, but the legal boundaries on IP address changes usually start with what you change your IP to, and what you do with that new IP address. If you’ve changed your IP to impersonate an individual or a business — often called IP spoofing — you could be running afoul of the US Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. You might also run into trouble if you’re changing your IP address to access a website you’ve been banned from. IP spoofing is also a tool used by some cybercriminals to perform a handful of well-known attacks, most commonly those related to identity theft and those aimed at crippling websites with organized distributed denial of service bombardment.
Option 1: Change your IP address with a VPN or proxy server You can use a VPN to change your IP address.
When you use any of the virtual private networks we’ve reviewed in our directory, the service will automatically make you appear as though you have a different IP address originating from whatever country you select. Literally just open your VPN app and connect to any city other than your current one — in less than 30 seconds, you’ve changed your IP so it appears to be from wherever you chose. Browser-based VPNs and proxies are much more lightweight than standalone VPN apps. There are some key privacy differences that I’ve detailed elsewhere, but when you use a proxy, it also changes your visible IP address. Chrome, Firefox and Brave Browser all have their own versions of proxies and browser-based VPNs that you can try for yourself. Setting up a VPN on your iPhone or Android device is as easy as installing any other app on your phone, and I’ve got a step-by-step guide in case you’d like to see how to do it. If you’re gaming from a console, I’ve also got a quick walkthrough for you on setting up a VPN on an Xbox along with a list of the ones that performed best in my tests. If you’ve never toyed with VPNs but are considering one, I’ve got the Cliff’s Notes version of how to pick the right one, which you might find helpful. Whatever you do, just avoid free VPNs. Seriously not worth the malware risk. Instead, pivot to the cheapest ones that I’ve test-driven for you. Option 2: Change your IP address by unplugging the router Changing your IP address is as easy as unplugging your router.
Ry Crist/CNET
The easiest and quickest way to get a new IP address is to see what your IP address is via an IP-checking site, then walk over to your router and unplug it for at least five minutes. It may take several minutes longer, depending on how long your ISP normally takes to renew IP addresses in general. Once you plug it back in, refresh the website to make sure your IP address has changed. Essentially, what you’re trying to do is make the IP-assigning part of your router “forget” your device so that it treats your device like a newcomer and gives it a new address. This isn’t foolproof, however. Sometimes it takes multiple tries, and in some cases you may have to leave the router off overnight. If you have a router that’s separate from your modem (most are a combination device these days) you may need to unplug the modem and router, leave them off for 5 minutes or so, then first power the modem on, followed by the router. But getting off the couch is overrated. Option 3: Automatically update your IP address on Mac, iOS, Windows and Android Changing your IP address will better protect your browsing.
Patrick Holland/CNET
Here’s how to do this on Mac, iOS, Windows and Android: MacOS: Click your Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen, and click System Preferences then Network then Advanced. At the top of the next screen, click TCP/IP, then click the Renew DHCP Lease button on the right side of the window. iOS: Go to Settings, tap Network and choose the wireless network you’re currently on. Under the IPv4 address section, tap Configure IP then Automatic. Windows 10: Press the Win+R keys at the same time. This opens the Run box dialog. Type cmd, then hit Enter on your keyboard. This opens the command prompt. For those who’ve never seen a Windows command prompt before: This is the part where you will either be immediately terrified something is about to get broken, or you will suddenly feel like you’re about to do something extremely cool. Do not panic; neither of those things is going to happen. The magic black box has that effect on everyone their first time. Type ipconfig /release (including the space) into the command prompt and hit Enter. Some text will zoom by. When it stops, type ipconfig /renew and hit Enter again. Then close your command prompt. You’re done. Android: Go to Settings, tap Connections then tap Wi-Fi. From here, tap on the network you’re currently connected to. Tap the gear-shaped icon to the right of the network. Your IP address will be displayed here, but go to the bottom of the screen and — after making sure you’ve got your Wi-Fi password handy — tap Forget (it’s the trash icon in the bottom-right corner). Your phone will forget the Wi-Fi network and be disconnected. Just reconnect to your network, and you should be issued a new IP address.
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Option 4: Manually change your IP address Here’s what to do if you’ve already got a new IP address that you know you want to use. MacOS: Go to System Preferences and click Network. Click Network Connection, then click Configure IPv4. Select Manually and type in whatever IP you’ve chosen. iOS: Go to Settings, tap Wi-Fi, then Network. Under the IPv4 address section, tap Configure IP. Manually type in whatever IP address you’re trying to use. Windows: Make sure you’re working from your Administrator account and click Start, then go to Control Panel. From here, click Network Connection, and then click on your local area connection. Next, click Properties, then click TCP/IP. From here, you can type your new IP address in manually. Your IP address will be displayed here, but go to the bottom of the screen and tap Advanced, then tap IP Settings. Select Static. The next screen will let you manually type in whatever IP address you’ve chosen. For more, check out everything to know about the Tor browser, three browser-based VPNs to try, and the browser privacy settings you should change right away.
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Frequently Asked Questions about can i change my phone ip address
How do I manually change my IP address on my phone?
Tap the Settings app. Tap Wi-Fi. Touch and hold the network that you want to set the IP address for. Tap Manage network settings….Select the Show advanced options check box.Under IP settings, tap the drop-down box.Tap Static.Enter the new IP address.If necessary, repeat step 8 for the gateway.Tap Save.
Is changing your IP address illegal?
Is it even legal to change your IP address? Yes, it’s legal to change your IP address in the US. People change their IP addresses routinely when facing direct attacks on their online security, when testing a website before it goes live, or when they simply prefer to protect their privacy.Jul 18, 2021
How can I change my phone IP address for free?
How to change your public IP addressConnect to a VPN to change your IP address. … Use a proxy to change your IP address. … Use Tor to change your IP address for free. … Change IP addresses by unplugging your modem. … Ask your ISP to change your IP address. … Change networks to get a different IP address.Mar 30, 2021