How to Change Your IP Address: Guides for iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and More

Whether you want to change your IP address to improve privacy, access a website, or fix network issues, there are several reliable methods, each suited to different needs.

In this article, you’ll find step-by-step guides for changing your public and private IP on any device based on what you’re trying to accomplish and the type of network you’re on.

Public vs. Private IP: Which One Should You Change and Why?

Every internet-connected device has an IP address, but there are two main types: public and private. Understanding the difference is crucial because the one you need to change depends on your goal. Here’s an overview of each type.

Public IP Address (Internet-Facing)

Your public IP address is assigned by your internet service provider (ISP) and identifies your entire network on the internet. It’s usually tied to your router, and it’s what websites and online services see when you connect.

You might want to change your public IP address when:

• You want to hide your location: Websites can use your public IP to estimate your location or track your activity across the web.
• You want to access certain content: Some services restrict access to their platforms or some types of content based on location.
• You’ve been banned, blocked, or throttled: If a service limits or bans your current IP, changing it can help you get around the restriction.

Private IP Address (Local Network)

A private IP address is the internal address your router assigns to each device on your home network, like your phone, laptop, or printer. Devices use private IPs to talk to each other locally, without involving the internet. For example, when your laptop sends a file to your printer, it uses the printer’s private IP to reach it with its own private IP.

You may want to change your private IP address when:

• Two devices have the same IP: This can cause both devices to lose connectivity, fail to communicate with each other, or receive data meant for the other.
• You want to assign a static IP: This is useful when you want your router to always know where to find a device, like if you’re forwarding ports to a gaming console, hosting a media server on a PC, or connecting to a network printer.

Dynamic vs. Static IPs: Which One Do You Need?

Both public and private IPs can be static or dynamic, depending on how they’re assigned.

Dynamic IP Address

A dynamic IP address changes over time and is assigned automatically by DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). This is the default configuration for most home networks and internet providers.

• Public dynamic IPs are ideal for everyday use, such as browsing, streaming, and gaming. They work well if you don’t need external devices or users to connect to your network.
• Private dynamic IPs are suitable for devices like phones, laptops, and tablets that don’t require a consistent address within your local network.

Static IP Address

A static IP address doesn’t change. You assign it manually, and it stays the same until you update it.

• Public static IPs are best if you need consistent remote access, host a website or server, or run services that need to be reachable from anywhere. 
• Private static IPs are used for local devices, like printers or smart home hubs, that need to always have the same internal address. Learn how to set up and use a private static IP address here.

How to Change Your Public IP Address: 4 Methods

You typically get your public IP address from your ISP. To permanently change it, you’ll need to contact your ISP and pay a fee. 

However, if you’re just looking to temporarily change your public IP, there are a few methods you can try without paying extra.

Method 1: Router Reset

If you turn off your router, wait for around 5–10 minutes, and turn it back on, your ISP might assign you a new public IP address. This can happen because many ISPs use dynamic IPs assigned by DHCP. Once done, you can check your public IP address here to confirm whether it has changed. 

However, this method isn’t guaranteed to work. Your ISP may lease the same IP back to you if it hasn’t been reassigned, especially if the DHCP lease hasn’t expired yet. In some cases, the lease can last hours or even days, meaning a simple restart won’t force a change. And if your ISP uses carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT), you’re actually sharing a public IP with other users, so there’s no way to control or change it from your end.

Method 2: VPN

A VPN (virtual private network) is the easiest way to change your public IP address, especially if you want your internet traffic to appear as though it’s coming from a specific country or region. 

A VPN routes your internet connection through a secure server in another location. When you connect, your IP address is replaced with the VPN server’s IP, effectively masking your real location. In addition to changing your IP, a VPN encrypts your traffic, adding a layer of privacy that makes it harder for third parties to monitor or intercept your data.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Choose a reliable VPN that has servers in the countries you need. Private Internet Access has VPN servers in 90+ countries, so there are plenty of locations to choose from for your new IP address. 
2. Go to the VPN’s official website or open your app store, install the appropriate app for your device, and sign in. PIA has apps for all major operating systems, so you can change your IP on almost any device.

3. After launching the app, you can either let it automatically connect to the fastest server (usually nearby) or manually select a country from the server list. PIA automatically selects the fastest server for you, but if you want an IP in a specific country, just pick a location on the server list and tap on it. To connect, just click the power button.

Once connected, PIA shows your real IP and your VPN IP directly in the app, so you don’t need to search for an IP lookup tool to confirm your address has been successfully changed. The IPs in the screenshots above are hidden for privacy reasons.

Method 3: Proxy Server

A proxy is similar to a VPN in that it masks your real IP address by routing your traffic through another server. When you use a proxy, websites and services see the proxy server’s IP instead of your own. 

However, unlike VPNs, most proxies don’t encrypt your traffic. This means your internet activity can still be visible to your ISP or anyone monitoring the network. That trade-off in security does result in faster speeds, which can make proxies a good option if you care more about performance than privacy. 

Here’s how to change your IP address with a proxy:

1. Find a proxy provider that fits your needs and supports the protocols you want (HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS). 
2. Get the proxy IP address and port number from your provider.
3. Configure your device or browser. Most browsers let you set a proxy in their network or connection settings. You can also set system-wide proxy settings in your operating system’s network preferences.
4. Enter the proxy IP address and port number into the relevant settings.
5. Save and apply the settings. After applying the changes, your internet traffic will be routed through the proxy server, masking your real IP with the proxy’s IP.

Method 4: Tor

Tor (The Onion Router) is a free tool that changes your public IP by routing your traffic through a network of servers called “nodes.” Each time you connect, your data is encrypted and passed through at least three different servers before reaching its destination, making it very difficult to trace your original IP.

However, Tor only changes your IP within the Tor browser. Other apps on your device will still use your regular IP address (unlike a VPN, which generally protects all traffic from your device). Tor is also very slow, and it doesn’t have the option to choose the location of your new IP. 

Still, Tor is used for anonymous browsing, accessing the dark web, and situations where privacy is more important than speed. 

Here’s how to change your IP address using Tor:

1. Go to torproject.org and download the official browser for your device. It’s available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android.

2. Open the Tor Browser and connect. Once connected, your IP address will be changed, usually to another country.

How to Change Your Private IP Address: Step-by-Step Guides

Most devices get their private IP from your router using DHCP. In many cases, simply restarting your device, reconnecting to your Wi-Fi, or rebooting the router can result in a new private IP being assigned.

If you need more control (like assigning a consistent IP for port forwarding or device recognition), you can manually set a static IP address in your device’s network settings. Here’s how to do that on different operating systems.

Windows

1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet.

2. Choose Wi-Fi or another option, depending on the connection you’re using.

3. Click Hardware Properties.

4. Next to IP assignment, click Edit.

5. Switch to Manual and enable IPv4.

6. Enter your new IP address, subnet mask, and gateway. If you’re not sure what new IP address to use, follow these steps.

7. Click Save.

Mac

1. Click the Apple menu and go to System Settings.

2. Choose Network from the sidebar menu, find your active network connection at the top, and click Details.

3. Choose the TCP/IP tab.

4. Next to Configure IPv4, open the dropdown menu and choose Manually.

5. Enter your new IP address, subnet mask, and router address.

6. Click OK to save changes.

Linux

1. Open Settings, and then go to Network. Click on Wi-Fi, then click the gear icon next to your connected network.

2. Go to the IPv4 tab. Switch from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual in the drop-down menu next to Addresses. Enter your new IP address, netmask, and gateway.

3. Apply and reconnect.

Android

1. Go to Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi. Tap the gear icon next to your connected Wi-Fi network.

2. Tap View more. Then, under IP settings, switch from DHCP to Static. Enter a new IP address and save the changes.

iPhone

1. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.

2. Tap the (i) icon next to your connected network. Scroll down to IPv4 Address and tap Configure IP.

3. Select Manual and enter a new IP address, subnet mask, and router.

4. Tap Save.

How to Assign a Static Private IP Address

Once you’ve found where to enter a static IP on your device, the next step is choosing a number that won’t interfere with other devices on your network.

A static private IP must meet two criteria:

1. It must fall within a valid private IP range.
2. It must not conflict with any IP currently assigned by your router.

Private IP Address Ranges

Private IP addresses are reserved within the following ranges:

• 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255
• 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255
• 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255

Most home networks use the 192.168.x.x range by default.

Method 1: Use Your Router to Pick a Safe IP

This is the most accurate and reliable method. It lets you avoid IP conflicts by checking what your router is already assigning.

Step 1: Check Your Router’s DHCP Range

The DHCP range is the set of addresses your router automatically assigns to devices. To check it, log into your router by entering its IP (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) in a browser. In the LAN or DHCP settings section, look for a DHCP range, such as 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.200.

Step 2: Check Which Addresses Are Already Being Used

Look for a list labeled “Connected Devices,” “LAN Clients,” or “DHCP Clients,” where you can see active devices and their assigned IPs.

Step 3: Choose a Static IP Address Outside the DHCP Range

Pick an IP outside the DHCP range and not already in use. For example, if your DHCP range is 192.168.1.100–200, safe options would include 192.168.1.2–99 or 192.168.1.201–254. 

⚠️ Important: Avoid 192.168.1.1, as that’s typically reserved for the router itself.

Method 2: Estimate Your IP Range from Windows

If you can’t access your router settings, you can determine your IP range by following the steps below on Windows. However, note that this method isn’t as safe or reliable as the one above.

Step 1: Find Your Current Network Details

Find your current network information by pressing Win + R, typing cmd, and then clicking OK.

Type ipconfig and press Enter.

Look for your IPv4 address and check the subnet mask.

Step 2: Check What You Can Change

Use your subnet mask to figure out which part of the IP address can be edited:

• Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0: You can only change the last number of the IP. The safe range is 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254.
• Subnet Mask 255.255.0.0: You can change the last two numbers of the IP. The safe range is 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.255.254.
• Subnet Mask 255.0.0.0: You can change the last three numbers of the IP. The safe range is 192.0.0.1 to 192.255.255.254.

Step 3: Check If the New IP Is Already in Use

In Command Prompt, ping the IP address you picked. The IP is most likely safe to use if it times out or “Destination host unreachable” appears. 

To double-check, type “arp -a” to list all IP addresses your computer has seen recently. This will confirm the ones that are already in use.

FAQ