How to change your IP address (6 ways, 5 are free)
Want to change your IP address? Whether you’re conscious about online security or trying to access blocked content from abroad, a new IP address is very useful. We explain, step-by-step 6 ways you can change your IP address online, 5 of which are free!
@pabischoff UPDATED: March 30, 2021
Most devices on the internet use IPv4 addresses to communicate, and the world is slowly adopting IPv4’s replacement, IPv6. Every device connected to the internet needs a unique IP address in order to connect and communicate with other devices online.
An IPv4 address looks like this:
123. 45. 67. 89
And an IPv6 address looks like this:
2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334
If you’re connected to wifi right now, you probably share a public IP address with everyone else connected to the same wifi network, but each device has its own local IP address. However, if you’re on a smartphone and using a mobile data connection, you might well have your very own public IP address.
When most people talk about changing their IP address, they’re referring to their public IPv4 address. This is the address seen and used by most websites, servers, online games, and other devices on the internet.
This article, however, will cover changing your IP address whether it be IPv4 or IPv6, public or private.
How to change your public IP address
Here are a few ways to change your public IP address(es):
1. Connect to a VPN to change your IP address
Short for Virtual Private Network, a VPN encrypts your internet connection and routes it through a server in a location of your choosing. Websites, online services, and other devices on the web will only see the VPN server’s IP address and not your real IP address.
VPNs are useful for torrenting, unblocking region-locked content like that from Netflix and BBC iPlayer, and bypassing censorship at schools, in offices, and in countries like China.
Most VPNs can easily hide your IPv4 address, but many VPNs can leak your IP address through various security vulnerabilities. Furthermore, not all VPNs hide your IPv6 address. Choose a VPN that either disables IPv6 or can prevent IPv6 leaks by default.
If you’re not sure how to set up a VPN just follow the simple steps below.
Here’s how to change your IP address with a VPN:
Sign up for a suitable VPN provider (we recommend NordVPN).
Download the appropriate VPN app for your device.
Open the VPN app and select a server, within your own country is fine although if you want to access a specific service make sure to choose a server in a country where it’s unblocked.
That’s it! You should now have a different IP address.
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2. Use a proxy to change your IP address
Proxies work similarly to VPNs but with far less versatility and security. Your internet connection goes through a middleman server so that websites and other online resources see the proxy server’s IP address and not your own. Unlike VPNs, proxies often lack encryption, only affect certain apps, and can leak your IP address through other means.
A few different types of proxies can be used to change your IP address:
HTTP/S proxies – Usually either browser extensions or special websites that work like a browser within your browser. They only change the IP address on data sent to and from your browser, but do not affect other apps or even DNS traffic. If encryption is included, these are sometimes called SSL proxies.
SOCKS proxies – General purpose proxy servers that can be configured for specific apps including most web browsers. SOCKS5, the latest version, includes support for encryption.
SSH proxies – SSH proxies forward internet traffic from apps like your web browser through a Secure Shell (SSH) connection to a server, so your IP address is changed to that of the server. Although encryption is included, SSH is not a particularly fast protocol, and many websites and apps might not function properly when connected.
3. Use Tor to change your IP address for free
Tor, short for The Onion Router, is a volunteer-run anonymity network. The easiest way to get started with Tor is to download and install the Tor Browser, a barebones web browser that routes all web traffic through the Tor network. Tor encrypts your connection several times and then sends data through multiple nodes—servers operated by volunteer Tor supporters. Each node strips away one layer of encryption, and the sequence of nodes used changes every time you access a different website. This makes it nearly impossible to trace Tor traffic back to the source.
Websites will see the IP address of the last node in the chain, called the Exit Node.
Tor is free, but has its drawbacks. It’s relatively slow and only really suited for basic web browsing. Tor’s anonymity means it is often associated with illicit activity and the dark web, so even though it’s not illegal, using it might draw unwanted attention from your ISP and possibly even law enforcement. Those entities can’t see what you do while connected to Tor, but they can see that you are connected to Tor nodes.
4. Change IP addresses by unplugging your modem
You might be able to get a new IP address by unplugging your internet modem, waiting a few minutes, and then plugging it back in again. When this happens, you release your existing IP address so that your ISP can recycle it. When you reconnect, your ISP assigns you a new IP address.
This method isn’t guaranteed to work because your ISP might just give you the same IP address again. The longer you leave your modem unplugged, however, the higher the chance your IP address changes. If unplugging for a few minutes doesn’t get the job done, consider leaving it unplugged overnight.
Your ISP must use dynamic IP addresses in order for this to work. Most do.
5. Ask your ISP to change your IP address
Another option is to ask your ISP for a new IP address. Every ISP has different policies about how they handle such requests, so responses may vary. At minimum, you’ll need your account information and current IP address on hand.
Most ISPs use dynamic IP address systems, meaning IP addresses occasionally change and get recycled as devices connect and disconnect from the internet. With that in mind, note that your new IP address might not stay the same forever.
In some cases, you can request a static IP address from your ISP, though this might require paying an extra fee and/or going through an application process. Once provided with a static IP address, you can enter it into your device’s network settings. Static IP addresses never change unless you manually change them.
6. Change networks to get a different IP address
This might seem obvious, but you can get a different IP address by disconnecting from whatever network you’re currently connected to and connecting to a different one. You can switch to a different wifi network, for example, or switch from wifi to a mobile data connection if you’re on a smartphone.
Remember that public and open wifi hotspots are often prime hunting grounds for hackers. Try to stick with a wifi network that requires a password and is encrypted with WPA2.
How to change your private IP address
If you’re connected to a wifi router, then you probably share a public IP address with all the other devices connected to the same network. Each device, however, has its own private, or local IP address.
Changing your local IP address won’t really affect how your device communicates with other devices and servers over the internet, but there might be instances in which you need a different private IP address. These include troubleshooting a malfunctioning router or configuring how local devices, such as printers and IoT devices, function on your home network.
Renew your local IP address
If you’re connected to wifi or some other type of local network, you can change your private IP address from the router admin panel or from the device itself. I’ll show you how to do it on Windows and MacOS.
Here’s how to renew your IP address on Windows:
Search for the Command Prompt and right click it to Run as administrator
Enter ipconfig /release
Enter ipconfig /renew
You should now see a new local IP address.
Here’s how to renew your IP address on Mac:
Click the Apple menu and open System Preferences
Select Network
Highlight the network that you’re connected to in the left pane
Click Advanced…
Select the TCP/IP tab
Click Renew DHCP Lease
You Mac should now be assigned a new local IP address.
The process for changing local IP addresses on the router varies depending on your router manufacturer and firmware. You can usually access your router’s admin dashboard by opening a web browser and entering 192. 168. 0. 1 or 192. 1. 1 in the address bar.
Your ISP always knows your IP address
No matter what methods you use to change or hide an IP address, public IP addresses are always known by the internet service provider. This is inevitable because in order to connect to the internet at all, your ISP must assign you an IP address, and it must know what that IP address is in order to transmit communication and data from the internet to your device.
So even if you used one of the above methods to mask your IP address from websites, services, and other devices on the internet, your ISP is an exception that can see behind the mask.
Even if your ISP can identify you by your IP address, however, you can hide your online activity through encryption. A VPN or Tor will encrypt all data before it ever leaves your device, so even though your ISP can see that you are communicating, it cannot see the contents of those communications.
If you need an easy way to change your IP address to that of a different ISP, try switching between wifi and your smartphone’s mobile data connection. Chances are, your phone carrier and home internet use different ISPs.
5 Easy Ways to Change Your IP Address | Allconnect.com®
At Allconnect, we work to present quality information with editorial integrity. While this post may contain offers from our partners, our opinions are our own. Here’s how we make you access the internet, it involves a series of private and public connections between networks and in a world where there are more than FOUR BILLION internet users, that’s a lot of do the wires keep from getting crossed, so to speak? The secret to an organized global network is the IP anging yours can help you do everything from troubleshoot your Wi-Fi to letting you stream your favorite shows while you’re on is your IP address? An IP address, or Internet Protocol address, is a unique series of numbers which contain information about the corresponding device’s a device, such as a computer, phone, or router, connects to the internet it’s assigned an IP address, or identification, which allows it to communicate with other you visit a website, your device gives the website your IP address. The IP address contains information about the country, state (or province), city and ZIP code of the device. This allows that website to send the information you’re requesting to the right of IP addressesPublic IP address: Also referred to as an external IP address, this is the address assigned to your device. It typically changes each time you establish a new network connection. This is how your device communicates with networks outside of your ivate IP address: This isn’t shared with external networks; instead, a private IP address is what your devices use to connect to one another on private networks. One common example is the connection between your computer and printer — they’d use a private IP address. Each device on your private network is assigned its own private IP IP address: Like a private IP address, your local IP address is used in private networks to connect devices. Your router assigns a local IP address to each device via the DHCP server. Dynamic IP address: Also generated by a DHCP server, a dynamic IP address is established each time a device connects to the network. This is a temporary IP address shared with external IP address: Rather than an address assigned by a DHCP server, static IP addresses are manually set. This is also called fixed IP address or dedicated IP address, and it’s less common than a dynamic IP Version 4 IP address: The IPv4 is an IP address which uses 32 bits in its number. There’s a total of 4 billion available Version 6 IP address: The successor of IPv4, IPv6 uses 128 bits, so there are more available addresses. This IP address was created largely because of the limited number of 32-bit IP addresses is my IP address location? If you want to find out what your IP address is, there are several ways to do that. A simple Google search for “IP checker” or “check IP” will turn up tons of websites you can visit which will tell you what your device’s public IP address is. These tools will also typically tell you an approximate geographical find out private IP addresses, there are a few more steps involved:Windows users:Click Enter. A command prompt should pop up; type private IP address will be users:Go to System private IP address will display like the screenshot below; for this example, the private IP address is can also click on the connected devices to the left to find out their private IP change your IP addressThere may be some instances where you’ll want to change your IP address. The reasons for this include:Access content online which is otherwise restricted in your physical location (for example, accessing Netflix’s U. S. library while on a trip abroad)You can’t connect to Wi-Fi and you don’t know whyPrevent tracking and leave no digital footprintAvoid throttling from your internet service provider (ISP)Encrypt data for increased security and data protectionBypass firewallsFix an incorrectly configured IP addressUse a router which is providing unusable IP addressesTwo devices on your network share the same IP address5 ways to change your IP addressThere are some simple ways to change your IP address, which we’ll go over first before diving into device-specific networks. The simplest way to change the IP address of your device is to switch to a different network. For example, if you’re browsing on your home Wi-Fi connection on your smartphone, you can turn the Wi-Fi setting off and use mobile data. This will change the IP address because a different one is assigned for each network your modem. When you reset your modem, this will also reset the IP address. Simply unplug the modem for at least 30 seconds, plug it back in, and connect as you normally nnect via Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN will keep your public IP address private and signal to the network that you’re connecting via a different location, thus changing your IP address. This happens through an encrypted tunnel, and your ISP won’t even be able to see your activity. Check out options like TunnelBear, ExpressVPN and a proxy server. Change the proxy settings in your web browser settings so that it automatically configures. The Web Proxy (HTTP) setting is good for basic web browsing, though you might need more specific settings depending on your ntact your ISP. Your ISP should be able to change your IP address for to change a local IP addressWindows users:Go to your Control vigate to Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings > Network ’ll see a list of Ethernet and Wi-Fi connections. Right-click the one you want to change and select to This connection uses the following items > InterInternet Protocol Version 4 (TCP / IPv4) Use the following IP the IP address to what you want it to users:Go to System Network. Highlight the device/IP address in the list on the left that you want to change and click vigate to TCP/ your IP address and settings according to your desired to change a router IP addressYou can change the IP address on a router by logging in to the router as an administrator account holder. The exact steps vary depending on the router you’re using. Once you log in as an admin, you have the permissions to change the IP to change a phone IP addressOn your phone, you’ll navigate to the Wi-Fi settings. This varies depending on the type of phone and operating system you have. Tap on the Wi-Fi network you’re connected to and go to the advanced settings. From there, you should be able to find IP settings which you can use to configure a new IP nclusionThere are lots of reasons why you’d want to change your IP address. Before you do, understand the type of IP address you’re changing and the easiest way to do if you’re looking to change your IP address to fix a connectivity issue, learn how to properly set up your internet and fix a broken the AuthorAlexandra is a copywriter and content strategist whose work has earned awards from the Content Marketing Institute for brands like Verizon, Four Seasons, Lyft and Walmart. Learn more about Alex’s work. 30% of Americans say their internet is too slow. Here’s how to fix it Joe Supan — 4 min read The five best wireless routers of 2021 Joe Supan — 6 min read What a 404 ‘page not found’ error is and ways to fix it Maria LeLaurin — 3 min read Latest Saturday, October 2, 2021 Elon Musk’s Starlink is not the lone solution to the digital divide Ari Howard — 4 min read Monday, September 27, 2021 Trust in technology fell to an all-time low in 2021. Here’s why we’re losing faith. Joe Supan — 6 min read Saturday, September 25, 2021 What is a Comcast lift zone? Ari Howard — 2 min read
How to Change Your IP Address on an Android Phone – PureVPN Blog
How To GuidesHow to Change Your IP Address on Any Device
How to Change Your IP Address to Another Country1. Use a VPN or Virtual Private Network 2. Use Tor Browser3. Use a Proxy ServerHow to Change Your IP Address of iPhoneHow to Change Your IP Address of Android PhoneHow to Find Your Android Device’s IP Address (Local IP):How to Change IP Address and Location on Android with VPN? What is an IP Address? Types of IP AddressStatic IP AddressDynamic IP AddressWhy do you need to Change an IP Address? 1) Get Past Blocked Websites2) Protect Your Data3) Become Anonymous4) Create Different Accounts on a Single WebsiteWhy Does Your Android Device Need an IP Address? Why Should You Care About the IP Address? Conclusion
In this day and age, tracking a person’s whereabouts is not difficult at all. You can also track the complete history of where a person went today, what he did today, or what his daily routine has been over the past few days.
You only need to be a bit skilled at unethical hacking and know how to find a phone’s IP address or ways to change an IP address.
Not interested in hacking or basic ethics don’t allow you to indulge in hacking and making other people’s life miserable? Well, that’s awesome, and we need more people like you in the world!
Unfortunately, not all people think like that, especially hackers. These cybercriminals can do a lot of damage to your privacy or sensitive data than you can handle. They can do all that and much more by tracking your IP address.
To get around such problems, you need to learn how to change the IP address on your Android devices. But, let’s first learn what an IP address is and why you need to change the IP location of your Android device.
How to Change Your IP Address to Another Country
You don’t need to bug your geeky friends or learn how to code when it comes to changing your IP address, whether you are using an iPhone, Android, Mac, computer, or laptop. There are three different ways to change your IP address even if you are using your home network.
Here are the top three ways you can change your IP address:
1. Use a VPN or Virtual Private Network
A VPN app can be your best and absolutely safest bet at hiding your IP address from your internet service provider and surveillance agencies. All you have to do is turn on the VPN app, choose a country server, and you are virtually transported to another location (city, country, or continent). Just a laptop click away. Using a VPN is like signing into your Gmail or Facebook account. Click and you’re online. Even though your ISP doesn’t see your activities once you’re connected to a VPN, in most countries with a few rare exceptions, using a VPN is completely allowed by any ISP’s Terms of Service. Easy peasy.
2. Use Tor Browser
The Tor Browser is just like your Google Chrome or Opera browser but with high-grade anonymity. Some privacy experts in our company are not a big fan of the Tor browser and say that it derails your privacy and is breakable. But all in all, you can use the Tor browser, also known as Onion Router, to remain anonymous online as long as you want. Be mindful that Tor is so anonymous that your access may be limited (not all external sites are fond of Tor either), but it is a good option if you need to change your IP address, assuming your destination lets you in.
3. Use a Proxy Server
A proxy server is like a gateway that is specifically designed to help you access region-locked websites and services (just what a VPN does). You can also use a proxy server to install P2P files. There are two types of proxy servers that help you regulate outbound and inbound internet traffic: a Forward proxy and a Reverse proxy. However, unlike a VPN, a proxy server doesn’t encrypt your internet traffic or offer any multi-device compatibility.
Protect your IP address from being exposed, hide your IP and location with anonymous IP
How to Change Your IP Address of iPhone
Go to Settings
Now to the Wi-Fi
Tap the info icon beside the name of the Wi-Fi network that you want to change the IP address for
Go to the Static tab.
Enter the desired IP address in the IP Address bar
Click the Wi-Fi icon to save these changes.
How to Change Your IP Address of Android Phone
Go to your Android Settings
Tap Wireless & Networks
Go to the Wi-Fi section
Tap & hold the Wi-Fi network that you are connected to right now
Tap Modify Network
Expand or Go to Advanced options
Change your android’s IP Address DHCP to Static.
How to Find Your Android Device’s IP Address (Local IP):
Go to the Settings
Scroll down and tap About Phone
Now, tap Status
Scroll down, and you will see both the local IP and Mac address of your Android device.
With the above steps, you can find out the local IP address of your Android. However, if you want to learn about your public IP address, check it on or. You can also learn multiple ways to find your IP address or different operating systems.
How to Change IP Address and Location on Android with VPN?
First of all, sign up for PureVPN.
Visit the PureVPN Android app page to download the Android version.
Once you have installed the app on your Android device, open the app, and use your PureVPN credentials to log in.
Choose the destination of your choice and hit connect.
Now visit the or to check your new IP and location.
What is an IP Address?
IP address follows a 32-bit numeral format. It is an identity that a device receives when it connects to the Internet. The same ID is used on the network to communicate amongst devices on a network.
The website addresses you remember easily are based on IP addresses. IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) is currently the most common IP format used around the globe. However, in the coming years, IPv6 will become the standard IP format globally, which uses the 128-bit numerical system.
Note: Read a brief guide on What is an IP Address?
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Types of IP Address
When you join a network, you are assigned an IP address by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Depending on the type of connection or your ISP’s preference, you may be assigned either a static IP address or a dynamic IP address.
Static IP Address
As the name suggests, it is the IP address that never changes. You may also call it a dedicated IP address or a personal IP address.
ISPs don’t usually assign a static IP address unless the user requests it. It is frequently used by gamers, remote workers as well as website owners.
The IP address serves as a personal key to unlock access to certain web services and applications. For instance, users would allow (Whitelist) an IP address on their website CMS so that only they can access the system using a static IP from any network.
Pros
It is reliable for gaming as well as VoIP applications.
It is ideal for accessing remote networks or connections securely.
It is great for apps and services that use geolocation.
It experiences less downtime.
It allows devices to communicate with remote devices reliably.
Cons
It can be tracked easily since it doesn’t change when the connection resets.
It is expensive than its counterpart.
If a service blocks the IP, the user would have to change the IP to regain access.
It poses a potential security risk.
It is set up manually by the user.
Note: Learn more about Static vs. Dynamic IP Address
Dynamic IP Address
Unlike a static IP address, a dynamic IP address changes at every new connection or when the connection resets.
It is one of the most commonly used IP address type by an ISP. After all, it is way more cost-effective than its counterpart, the static IP. Moreover, the IP address is used by all types of internet users.
One of the best aspects of using a dynamic IP is that a user wouldn’t need to go through complicated steps to setup it up since it is configured automatically.
It is cheaper than static IP addresses.
It offers a user better privacy since it changes with every new connection.
It can be changed at any time by restarting the router.
It doesn’t require any manual setup process.
It cannot be whitelisted because whitelisting requires a fixed IP.
It is shared with multiple users at any given time.
It may experience extended downtime.
It may lack remote access functionality.
Why do you need to Change an IP Address?
Only a VPN such as PureVPN can help you hide your IP and location with an anonymous IP. Here are the benefits you get to experience with a VPN.
1) Get Past Blocked Websites
The best advantage of using a VPN service is that you can circumvent the content restrictions usually placed by the government or an ISP. As a result, you can enjoy all your favorite applications or websites that don’t work in your country.
2) Protect Your Data
A VPN enables a user to mask the IP and protects the data transmission using 256-bit encryption. The military-grade encryption keeps all types of data hacks at bay, thereby keeping your data secure.
3) Become Anonymous
Internet freedom is becoming a significant concern these days. Anyone can identify your real identity through the IPs, even if you use pseudo profiles. With a VPN, you can maintain the strict anonymity of your identity by changing your IP as well as location.
4) Create Different Accounts on a Single Website
Another benefit of using a VPN is that you can create multiple profiles on a single website. Certain websites allow only one account per IP. If you come across such websites, you no longer need to worry about their account restrictions.
Why Does Your Android Device Need an IP Address?
You might be wondering why an Android device would need an IP address?
Well, when you connect to the Internet at your home, office, or any public place, your device is among millions of other devices connected to the network. To communicate with other devices on the network, your device has to have an identity. An IP address is an identity that your device receives on a local or public network.
The communication flow on the Internet works in terms of packet flows. You send a packet (information) to another device so it can receive it. And, you do it back and forth. Unless you know the other person’s identity (IP address), you won’t be able to connect and thus send any packets.
Likewise, your Android is also a device, and thus to work on the Internet, it needs to have an IP address so that it can start sending and receiving data packets.
Why Should You Care About the IP Address?
Before we teach you how you can change or hide the IP Address on Android devices, let’s take a quick look at the dangers associated with having your real IP exposed.
You Can’t Access Region-Locked Content: There are many reasons why a country would restrict particular online material. Regardless of the reason, they limit the content by blocking it on the IP your ISP assigns.
You are Prone to Cyberattacks: When you use your real IP on a network, anyone who knows your IP can quickly launch a cyberattack on your device. These cyberattacks may range from security exploits to privacy breaches to full-blown DDoS attacks.
You Can’t Use Your Rights to Free Speech: Freedom of speech is becoming a difficult thing to exercise these days. For instance, if you make any controversial comment against authority, you can be tracked through your real IP even if you use a pseudo profile.
Conclusion
If you are worried about your data security, online privacy, or getting past the dreaded location-blocks, change your Android device’s IP address with the steps mentioned above. Enjoy an anonymous Internet browsing experience with PureVPN like never before.
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PureVPN is a leading VPN service provider that excels in providing easy solutions for online privacy and security. With 6500+ servers in 141+ countries, It helps consumers and businesses in keeping their online identity secured.
Frequently Asked Questions about change your ip address for free
How can I change my IP address location?
5 ways to change your IP addressSwitch networks. The simplest way to change the IP address of your device is to switch to a different network. … Reset your modem. When you reset your modem, this will also reset the IP address. … Connect via Virtual Private Network (VPN). … Use a proxy server. … Contact your ISP.May 1, 2019
How can I change my phone IP address for free?
How to Change Your IP Address of Android PhoneGo to your Android Settings.Tap Wireless & Networks.Go to the Wi-Fi section.Tap & hold the Wi-Fi network that you are connected to right now.Tap Modify Network.Expand or Go to Advanced options.Change your android’s IP Address DHCP to Static.Sep 13, 2021
How can I change my IP address without VPN?
Use a proxy to hide your IP address. … Use Tor to hide your IP address for free. … Connect to a different network to change your IP address. … Ask your ISP to change your IP address. … Unplug your modem to change your IP address. … Use a NAT Firewall to hide your private IP address.More items…•Mar 31, 2021