How to Change Your IP Address: VPN, Proxy, Router, and Manual Methods
Every device that connects to the internet is assigned an IP address — a string of numbers that identifies where your traffic comes from. If you have ever wondered how to change your IP address to protect your privacy online, regain access to region-locked content, or fix a network conflict, you have several options. This guide walks through the practical ways to do it, from a one-tap VPN to manual network and command-line tweaks.
Your IP address works like a return address on an envelope. Websites, apps, and advertisers can read it to estimate your location and build a profile for targeted ads. Learning how to change your IP address gives you more control over what you share.
Before you change anything, it helps to know which address you are dealing with. You actually have two: a public-facing IP address, and a local one inside your home. We will cover both.
What Is an IP Address and Where Does It Come From?
An IP address is a numeric label that your internet service provider (ISP) hands to your connection so data can find its way back to you. When you open a site, your request travels out with that public address attached, and the reply returns to the same place. Most addresses today are IPv4, though IPv6 is increasingly common.
Your ISP controls the outside one. Depending on your plan, the ISP’s system may give you a dynamic IP address that rotates over time, or a static IP that stays fixed. Most home users get a rotating one.
Inside your house, your router hands each gadget a local IP — an address that only works within a local network. These internal IP addresses (like 192.168.x.x) let your devices talk to each other and stay separate from the external IP address the world sees.
Public vs Local IP Address
The distinction matters when you decide what to change:
- Your public IP is the network address the internet sees. It is tied to your ISP and your rough location.
- Your local address is used only inside your home network, assigned by your router to every device.
If you want to hide your public IP from websites you visit, a VPN or proxy is the right tool. If you only need to fix a conflict between devices on your network, changing the local one is enough.
How to Change Your IP Address with a VPN
Using a VPN is the simplest way to mask your real IP address. When you connect, your traffic is encrypted and routed through a remote VPN server, so sites see the server’s IP address instead of your own. This is the easiest way to change your public IP address without touching any settings.
To change the address with a VPN:
- Choose a trusted VPN service and install the app.
- Open it and pick a location.
- Connect — you now have a new IP address from that region.
Doing this also encrypts your connection, which protects your online privacy on public Wi-Fi. Free VPNs exist, though quality varies; a reliable VPN provider keeps speeds stable while you browse. If you prefer a route without extra software, see how to change your IP address without a VPN, or change your location and IP address.
How to Change Your IP Address with a Proxy
A proxy works a bit like a VPN’s lighter cousin. A proxy server sits between you and the web, forwarding your requests so the destination sees the proxy’s address. Unlike most VPNs, a plain proxy usually does not encrypt your traffic, so it suits casual location changes more than privacy.
Set a proxy in your browser or system network settings, enter the proxy server details, and your browsing appears to come from a different place. It is a quick way to shift your apparent location, but add a VPN if privacy matters.
How to Change Your Public IP Address via Your Router
Because most providers assign addresses dynamically, you can often get a new public IP simply by refreshing your connection. Power off your router for a few minutes, then turn it back on. When it reconnects, the ISP frequently issues a fresh one.
You can also run a renew DHCP lease command from a connected computer to ask for a new address on the local side. On the wider internet side, unplugging the modem is the reliable trick — the modem’s session drops and the router’s IP address on the outside changes.
If your address does not budge, your ISP may have given you a static one, or the lease simply hasn’t expired. Checking the admin page shows whether your public IP address has changed.
Change Your Local Address by Hand on Windows
Sometimes you need to set a specific IP address by hand — for example, to reserve static IP addresses for a printer or server. Here is how to change your device’s IP address manually on Windows 10, over Wi-Fi or Ethernet:
- Open the Start menu, type cmd, and press Enter to check your current details.
- In the window, type ipconfig to view your IPv4 address and gateway.
- Go to Settings → Network → adapter properties.
- Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4).
- Choose “Use the following IP address” and configure the values by hand.
Setting it manually gives you a fixed local address. To confirm the change took effect, run the command again. (For the network side, our post on how to find the IP address of your router helps.)
Other Ways to Hide or Change Your IP Address
Beyond VPNs and proxies, the Tor Browser routes your traffic through a chain of volunteer relays. Each hop passes you between Tor nodes, so the exit relay’s address is what sites record. Tor adds a layer of anonymity but runs slower than a VPN, and it does not cover apps outside the browser. To fully hide your IP address across apps, a VPN covers more than the browser alone. Some setups also let specific apps bypass the tunnel (split tunneling), so those apps keep using your real address.
Whichever route you pick, remember that changing your address does not erase your browsing history from your own machine — clear that separately if you want to keep your activity private. Also watch for leaks; see how to prevent a WebRTC IP leak so your real address doesn’t slip through.
Protect Your IP Address with Planet VPN
The friendliest way to change your public IP is with a VPN — and Planet VPN makes it a one-tap job. Its free tier gives you core protection and a set of locations at no cost, so you can swap your visible address whenever you like.
Want more locations and steadier speeds for streaming or gaming? The Premium plan adds extra servers and features on top of that same solid protection. Either way, you can download Planet VPN and change your address in seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I change my IP address at my house?
Restart your router or unplug your modem for a few minutes. Because most home connections use dynamic addressing, your ISP usually hands you a fresh public address on reconnect. For an instant switch without waiting, connect a VPN.
Is it legal to change IP address?
In most countries, yes — it is a normal privacy and networking practice. What matters is what you do afterward. It is legal to use a VPN or proxy to protect your data in the majority of places, but always follow local law and any service’s terms.
Is 192.168 1.1 an IP address?
Yes. 192.168.1.1 is a private IP address commonly used as the default gateway for home networks. It is a local address inside your network, not the outside one the internet sees, so you often type it into a browser to open its settings page.
How do I change the IP address of my phone?
On Wi-Fi, open your phone’s network settings, tap the connected network, and switch the IP setting from automatic (DHCP) to manual to enter your own values. To change the address the internet sees, install a VPN app and connect to a server in another region.
Can I change the IP of my device?
Yes. You can change the local address in your device’s network settings, or change the address the outside world sees by using a VPN, a proxy, or by asking your ISP for a reset.
How to reset IP address?
Open a command prompt and run ipconfig /release to drop your current local address, then reconnect to pull a fresh one from your network. To reset the outside one, power-cycle your router or connect a VPN for an instant new IP.