Each internet-connected machine has an IP tackle containing details about your basic geographic location and web service supplier. Typically, you do not have to consider an IP tackle — they’re mechanically assigned to internet-connected gadgets. However generally you’ll must get a brand new IP tackle.
There are a number of methods to get a recent IP tackle, together with a digital personal community, a proxy server, rebooting your router or manually acquiring a brand new IP. Listed below are all of the methods you’ll be able to change your IP tackle.
Methods to change your IP tackle utilizing a VPN
A VPN would not change your machine’s IP tackle however as a substitute reroutes your site visitors via an encrypted server in order that apps and web sites do not view your IP, however that of the server you are related to. Primarily, it makes apps or web sites suppose you will have a unique IP tackle. Your ISP cannot see your on-line exercise, just like the apps you are utilizing or web sites you are visiting, and websites or apps view your site visitors as originating out of your VPN firm’s server. VPNs are nice for conditions the place you need additional privateness, have to entry geo-blocked content material or must bypass throttling restrictions and censorship.
This is methods to disguise your IP tackle with a VPN:
- Join a plan with a VPN supplier.
- Obtain and set up a VPN app in your machine.
- Open the newly put in VPN app and check in.
- Allow your VPN and choose your most well-liked server.
The precise course of for utilizing a VPN varies barely by machine. You possibly can rapidly take a look at whether or not your VPN is working appropriately by trying up your IP tackle together with your VPN toggled off after which on — the IP addresses should not match.
Methods to change your IP tackle utilizing a proxy server
A proxy server and VPN are comparable as a result of they’re each middlemen between your machine and the web. Like VPNs, proxies disguise your IP tackle from apps and web sites. Nonetheless, a proxy server would not encrypt your connection, so the connection is not as safe or personal as a VPN. A proxy may fit for fundamental pseudo-anonymity for internet looking or streaming movies, however for an encrypted connection, you will want a digital personal community. Earlier than I switched to a VPN, I used a proxy service — GetFlix — to unblock geo-restricted content material, like streaming TV reveals from the Canadian Broadcasting Company whereas within the US.
Establishing a proxy server differs relying on the platform you are utilizing. Usually, you will configure your proxy server tackle in your machine’s settings, allow your proxy and select an IP tackle. Some proxy providers embrace user-friendly apps, so you’ll be able to simply obtain an app, check in, begin your proxy and choose a server.
Methods to change your IP tackle by resetting your router
Rebooting your router is a straightforward methodology for acquiring a brand new IP tackle:
- Examine your IP tackle and make an observation of it.
- Unplug your router for no less than 5 minutes.
- Plug your router again in — it might take a couple of minutes on your web connection to return.
- Reconnect your machine to your community if it doesn’t mechanically accomplish that.
- Recheck your IP tackle — this time, it ought to be totally different than it was if you first seemed.
Your router assigns IP addresses to every related machine, so resetting it’s speculated to make it overlook your gadget and dole out a recent IP tackle. Often, it really works, however generally it would not. If you happen to nonetheless see the identical IP tackle from earlier than after a router reboot, strive resetting your router once more or for an extended time frame. People with a separate router and modem could have to reset each networking gadgets to acquire a brand new IP tackle.
Methods to change your IP tackle mechanically or manually
Most gadgets allow you to simply replace your IP tackle mechanically, which means you will not have to know a free IP tackle to make use of, not like manually configuring an IP. Updating your IP tackle mechanically is extra user-friendly — you will not have to know a free IP tackle in your community to make use of. However generally you will wish to manually add an IP, like for those who’re working a house server and want to assign a static IP tackle — for instance, I host a Plex server and have a static IP tackle arrange. This is methods to replace your IP tackle manually and mechanically on totally different platforms.
Methods to change your IP tackle on Home windows
To mechanically refresh your IP tackle:
- Open the Run dialog field by concurrently urgent the Home windows key and R button (Win + R). Alternatively, you’ll be able to head to the Begin Menu and seek for Run.
- Kind CMD and faucet Enter to open a command immediate.
- Kind ipconfig /launch and hit Enter to surrender the present IP tackle of your Home windows machine.
- Kind ipconfig /renew and faucet Enter to get a brand new IP tackle mechanically.
To manually replace your IP tackle:
- Head to Begin.
- Go to Settings.
- Choose the Community & web tab.
- Click on Wi-Fi for those who’re utilizing a wi-fi community or Ethernet for a wired connection.
- For Wi-Fi, choose [network name] properties (as an example, my W-Fi identify is WuTangSecret, so I clicked WuTangSecret properties). With Ethernet, you need not choose anything to get to the IP task display.
- Subsequent to IP task, click on Edit.
- Click on Guide.
- Toggle on IPv4 or IPv6, whichever you want to make use of or your router and modem assist.
- Punch within the IP tackle you wish to use.
Alternatively, you’ll be able to change your IP tackle from the Management Panel:
- Head to Begin.
- Open the Management Panel.
- Click on Community and Web.
- Go to the Community and Sharing Heart.
- Choose your community.
- Select Properties.
- Click on TCP/IP.
- Punch within the IP tackle you wish to use.
Methods to change your IP tackle on Mac
To mechanically get a brand new IP tackle:
- Go to System Settings.
- Click on Community.
- Choose Wi-Fi, then the Particulars button subsequent to your community.
- Choose TCP/IP.
- Choose Renew DHCP Lease.
To manually receive a recent IP tackle:
- Go to System Settings.
- Click on Community.
- Choose Wi-Fi, then the Particulars button subsequent to your community.
- Click on TCP/IP.
- Select Configure IPv4 > Manually or Configure IPv6 > Manually.
- Kind in your required IP tackle.
Methods to change your IP tackle on Linux
- Open the Software (you are able to do this by urgent the tremendous key, which is the Home windows button or Command key on an Apple keyboard).
- Launch the Connections software.
- Choose your community, then click on the IPv4 or IPv6 tab.
- Swap Technique to Guide.
- Enter the IP tackle of your required DNS server within the DNS Servers part.
Word that these directions may fluctuate barely relying on the particular Linux working system you are utilizing, however ought to typically be the identical for many Debian-based OSes, like Ubuntu, Kubuntu or Linux Mint.
Methods to change your IP tackle on Android
- Head to Settings.
- Faucet Wi-Fi.
- Press the i button beside the Wi-Fi community you are related to.
- To mechanically get a brand new IP tackle: Faucet Overlook to disconnect out of your wi-fi community — it is a garbage can icon. Then reconnect to your Wi-Fi community and it’s best to get a brand new IP tackle.
- To manually refresh your IP tackle: Faucet IP settings. Choose Static. Enter the IP tackle you want to make use of.
Methods to change your IP tackle on iOS and iPadOS
- Go to Settings.
- Faucet Wi-Fi.
- Choose your wi-fi community.
- Press Configure IP.
- Choose Computerized to mechanically refresh your IP tackle, or faucet Guide, then punch in an IP tackle of your alternative.
What’s an IP tackle?
An Web Protocol — or IP — tackle is a singular string of 4 numbers used to establish an internet-connected machine. As an example, your IP tackle may seem like 192.168.1.96. An IP tackle is sort of a telephone quantity. Just like your cellular phone quantity, your IP tackle accommodates details about your geographical location. You possibly can lookup your personal IP tackle utilizing an internet site just like the aptly-named WhatIsMyIPAddress, the place you’ll discover data equivalent to your web service supplier and your approximate area.
Why would you wish to change your IP tackle?
If you happen to can view data like your ISP and basic bodily location by trying up your IP tackle, different entities — your ISP, web sites you go to or apps you employ — can glean this type of information as effectively. You may wish to change your IP tackle for privateness causes.
Some apps and web sites, like streaming providers, are region-restricted, so you’ll be able to’t entry them exterior of sure nations. A brand new IP tackle from a particular nation can assist unblock geo-protected content material, like international Netflix libraries.
You possibly can change your IP tackle to bypass censorship, like viewing web sites blocked by your authorities or faculty administration. Likewise, a recent IP tackle may assist you to bypass throttling restrictions out of your ISP or cellular service.
Altering IP addresses could allow you to get your machine working once more if there’s a difficulty with its connectivity to your router or modem, which is useful for IT troubleshooting.
It’s doable to alter your IP tackle. You possibly can refresh your IP tackle utilizing a VPN, with a proxy server, by restarting your router or manually and mechanically refreshing your IP tackle in your machine.
Within the US, it’s authorized to alter your IP tackle. Typically, your IP tackle could even replace mechanically when reconnecting to your Wi-Fi community. However altering your machine’s IP tackle to impersonate an individual or enterprise, which is known as IP spoofing, may violate the US Laptop Fraud and Abuse Act. As long as you’re abiding by native legal guidelines, merely altering your IP tackle ought to be utterly authorized.
You possibly can change your IP tackle at no cost. Actually, most strategies for getting a brand new IP tackle — manually or mechanically updating your IP tackle and restarting your router — don’t value any cash. Utilizing a proxy server or VPN service may, though you need to use a free VPN like Proton VPN’s no-cost tier to alter your IP tackle with out spending a dime.
Sure, restarting your router usually modifications your IP tackle for those who’re utilizing a dynamic IP tackle. However for those who’re utilizing a static IP, it received’t mechanically replace with a router reset — as a substitute, you’ll have to manually replace it.
Sure, your IP tackle modifications if you use a unique Wi-Fi community. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to set up a static IP tackle so that you’ll all the time use the identical IP tackle on a selected wi-fi community, however you’ll be able to’t configure the identical IP tackle to make use of throughout all Wi-Fi networks.
You possibly can rapidly discover out your present IP tackle by utilizing an internet site like WhatIsMyIPAddress.