Quick Summary
- 1.A VPN is the only method that changes your IP and hides your activity from your provider
- 2.Switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data gives you a different IP instantly
- 3.Restarting your router may give you a new IP, but many providers keep the same one
- 4.Changing your local (private) IP doesn't change what websites see
Which IP Address Are You Changing?
Every device online has two kinds of IP address:
- Public IP: the address the internet sees. Your provider assigns it to your router, or to your phone on mobile data. Every device on your home Wi-Fi shares it
- Private (local) IP: the address your router gives each device at home, usually starting with 192.168 or 10. Only your own network sees it
When people want to change or hide their IP, they almost always mean the public one, because that's what websites, apps and anyone you connect to can see. See yours now on What Is My IP.
6 Ways to Change Your IP Address, Compared
| Method | New IP for websites? | Hidden from your provider? | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| VPN | Yes, any time | Yes, encrypted | Free or paid |
| Switch networks | Yes | No | Free |
| Restart your router | Sometimes | No | Free |
| Tor Browser | Yes, in Tor only | Yes, in Tor only | Free, slow |
| Proxy | Yes, in one app | Usually not | Free or paid |
| Ask your provider | Yes | No | Sometimes a fee |
How Each Method Works
1. Use a VPN
A VPN sends your traffic through an encrypted connection to a VPN server, and websites see the server's IP address instead of yours. You choose the location, can change it whenever you like, and it works for every app, not only the browser. Your provider and the Wi-Fi network see only that you're connected to a VPN, not which sites you visit. It's the most complete option, and the one we recommend. New to VPNs? Read what a VPN is.
2. Switch networks
Your public IP belongs to the network you're on. Move from Wi-Fi to mobile data, or to a different Wi-Fi network, and you get a different address straight away. It hides nothing, though: the new network sees everything the old one did.
3. Restart your router
Most home connections get a dynamic IP that can change when the router reconnects. Unplug it for a few minutes, or overnight if a quick restart doesn't work. Some providers keep the same address for weeks whatever you do, and fibre connections often have a fixed one.
4. Use Tor Browser
Tor bounces your connection through three volunteer-run servers, so websites see the last one's IP. It's free and private, but slow, it only covers the Tor Browser itself, and many websites ask Tor users to complete extra checks.
5. Use a proxy
A proxy forwards one app's traffic, usually the browser, through another server. Most proxies don't encrypt anything, and free ones can see and change what you send. Fine for a quick check, not for privacy.
6. Ask your provider
If you need a new address for good, for example after it's been misused, your internet provider can assign one. Some charge for a fixed (static) IP.
How to Change Your IP Address on Android and iPhone
The quickest ways on a phone, from most to least private:
- Connect a VPN app. On Android, SafePassVpn takes one tap and works on the free plan
- On mobile data, turn airplane mode on for 10 seconds and off again. The phone reconnects and often gets a new IP
- Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data
To change only the private IP on Wi-Fi: on Android, forget the network and join it again; on iPhone, open Settings → Wi-Fi, tap ⓘ next to the network and choose Renew Lease. This doesn't change what websites see. On Android, keep the VPN on all the time with Always-on VPN.
How to Change Your IP Address on Windows and Mac
For the public IP, use a VPN app or a different network, or restart your router. To renew the private IP your router gives the computer:
- Windows: open Command Prompt and run ipconfig /release, then ipconfig /renew
- Mac: System Settings → Network → Wi-Fi → Details → TCP/IP → Renew DHCP Lease
Check Your IP Really Changed
Open What Is My IP before and after. The address and the provider should both change; with a VPN, the provider becomes the VPN's hosting company and the location becomes the server's city. IP lookup shows what anyone can find out about either address.
A VPN can still give your real details away through DNS or the browser, so run the DNS leak test and the WebRTC leak test too. Both should show only the VPN's addresses.
Changing Your IP: FAQs
Quick answers about changing and hiding your IP address.
Change Your IP in One Tap
SafePassVpn gives you a new IP address from one of 9 server locations and encrypts your connection. Free plan with daily data and 3 locations, no sign-up.