How to change your IP address (five methods)
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Published 8:20 a.m. UTC Dec. 12, 2023
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Why would you ever want to change your IP address? Does it even matter?
Yes, in some cases it makes sense to change your IP address – from fixing network and performance issues to gaining access to blocked features to straight up security and online privacy. And though it might sound like a tall technological task or a job for the IT guy who lives down the street, it’s actually quite simple to do on your own.
In this article, we’ll look at what an IP address is to start with, how to change your IP address and answer some other related questions.
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What is an IP address?
An IP address – or internet Protocol address – is a unique numerical label assigned to every device connected to the internet.
It’s a network address for your computer and mobile device so other devices with different IP addresses know where to send information – whether that’s an email, video or other form of data. Think of it as a street address for your computer.
Visually, IP addresses can look one of two ways.
An IPv4 address is the most often used type and includes four sets of four numbers connected by periods. Each number can range between 0 and 255. So an example might be 183.129.27.2. This structure allows for 4.3 billion possible IPv4 addresses.
An IPv6 address has eight groups of four hexadecimal digits separated by colons. This structure allows for a much larger number of IPv6 combinations than IPv4. An example would be 2001:0000:130F:0000:0000:09C0:876A:130B.
The types of IPs can vary but generally fall into one of four categories:
- Private IPs: These are addresses assigned on a private network — like a home or office.
- Public IPs: These addresses are given by an internet service provider (ISP) to identify computers on the internet.
- Dynamic IPs: These IPs are also assigned by ISPs when a computer connects online, and they can also change over time.
- Static IPs: Static IPs are just that – static. They stay the same over a long period of time.
5 ways to change your IP address
If you find yourself wanting to change your IP address, you have five options. Let’s break them down.
1. Use a VPN
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is an excellent way to change your IP address. They basically replace your IP address with another IP address that belongs to a VPN server.
The VPN also strengthens your security through encryption and hides your current location, showing the location of the VPN server instead. Here are three of the top VPN providers we recommend.
TunnelBear
This VPN standout has the fastest average download speed of the VPNs we reviewed. It also offers an affordable rate when you choose the three-year plan – just $3.33 per month for individual users and $5.75 per user per month for businesses. These plans come with unlimited data and plenty of protection features.
TunnelBear also offers a free plan to try out the VPN service with 2 GB of data every month.
NordVPN
NordVPN is another excellent VPN option with added cybersecurity features ideal for businesses.
Pricing ranges from $12.99 to $14.99 per month, with the option to pay annually and biennially. The company offers optional dedicated IP addresses and many other threat protections, such as a no-log policy — meaning it doesn’t keep records of sites visited or data collected.
It also offers other malware safeguards and a killswitch feature that ensures your data is secure if the VPN gets disconnected.
Surfshark
Surfshark is a dependable VPN choice that works well across multiple device types, such as computers, smartphones, web browsers, routers and some smart TVs.
The company offers three pricing plans:
- Surfshark Starter: $13.99 per month.
- Surfshark One: $14.99 per month.
- Surfshark One+: $21.99 per month.
Surfshark’s VPN has fast, competitive speeds, and the company offers a one-week free trial for Android, iOS and Mac computers, with immediate access to unlimited bandwidth. Each plan comes with a 30-day moneyback guarantee.
2. Use a proxy server
Outside of using a VPN to change your IP address, you also have the option of a proxy server.
Proxy servers allow internet traffic and information to move through the proxy before that information reaches its destination. You can think of it as a form of identity protection between you and the internet — so when you visit a website, that site sees your proxy server’s IP address, not yours.
Proxies are slightly different from VPNs because your information isn’t secured through encryption, making them a riskier option. However, they are typically either free or cost very little.
Search online for a dependable, highly-rated proxy server provider, or you can do it yourself through your browser.
3. Reset your modem
One quick and painless way to change your IP address is to simply reset your modem or router. Typically, a soft reset or quick reboot of your modem will not affect the IP address. Unplugging the router temporarily or doing a hard factory reset will most likely do the job, however.
A hard reboot of the modem usually requires pushing a narrow pin, such as a safety pin, into a recessed hole on the router. You’ll press the pin for a minimum of 5 seconds, which will start a hard reboot that can take several minutes.
4. Switch networks
Another easy way to change your IP address is by simply changing your networks.
For example, if you’re on a mobile device using Wi-Fi, you can turn the Wi-Fi off and access the internet through your data. Or, if you have multiple Wi-Fi connections, your IP address will change when you switch between the two. A different address is assigned to each connection.
Keep in mind that switching to a public connection could open up your device to security issues.
5. Request a new IP address from your ISP
You can request a new IP address from your ISP, and you may or may not receive your request depending on your provider. Many ISPs use dynamic IP addresses, which change occasionally anyway, but you can ask to see if they will expedite the process.
How to change your IP address on mobile devices
Just like a laptop computer, mobile devices also will carry an IP address when you are on the internet. The process for manually changing these varies slightly based on the type of device you use.
Android
To change your IP address on an Android phone, follow these steps:
- Go to settings.
- Click “networks and internet.”
- Choose a WiFi network.
- Tap and hold your WiFi network’s name.
- Choose “manage network settings.”
- Change the IP address in IP settings from DHCP to Static.
- Type in an unused IP address and click “save.”
iPhone
If you’d like your phone to automatically change your IP:
- Go to settings.
- Tap WiFi.
- Tap the information (i) icon next to your network.
- Tap “renew lease.”
If you’d like to manually change your IP address, follow the first three steps above, then:
- Tap “configure IP.”
- Tap “manual.”
- Tap “manual IP.”
- Enter the new IP address, as well as the subnet mask and router address.
Featured VPN service offers
NordVPN
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$12.99
Download speed (average)
235 Mbps
Surfshark
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$15.45
Download speed (average)
263 Mbps
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Free plan
No
Cheapest monthly plan
$11.95
Download speed (average)
124 Mbps
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Changing your IP address is definitely worth it in some situations. Examples include:
- Protect privacy: An IP address change will hide your location from potential hackers and hide your online activity.
- Bypass government regulations: In some countries, you might not be able to visit certain websites. Changing your IP address would bypass those restrictions.
- Watch regional TV events: Some sports leagues block access to their games for viewers outside of a certain region. Changing the IP address could make a website or streaming network think you are in another part of the country and so help you access such content.
- Speed up internet access: Sometimes, a quick troubleshooting session of changing the IP will speed up your online service, making games and videos easier to play and watch.
Your IP address is valuable because it shows your physical location and website activity. Here are some examples of what someone can do with your IP address:
- Send spam: Some websites will track your IP so they can send you personalized spam emails about subjects you’ve browsed on the internet.
- Learn your location: Someone can determine what city you’re in based on your IP address. With a little more digging, they might be able to locate your specific address and know when you aren’t at home.
- Restrict your access: Streaming services like YouTubeTV use your IP to know where you live. From there, they can restrict your access to shows based only in your region. Netflix will also only allow shows and movies based in your country.
There are more nefarious actions someone could take with access to your IP address, but these are the most common uses of an IP address by a third-party.
Yes. A hard reset of your router will change your IP address.
To make a hard reset, you can either unplug the router for a few minutes or you can look for a tiny recessed hole on the router. Take a narrow pin and press it into the hole for at least five seconds. This will start the reboot process, which may take several minutes before you’re back online.
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