How to Change Your IP Address

Your online presence is defined by a crucial parameter called an IP address. Many ponder how to change their IP address because of many perks such as privacy and bypassing certain online restrictions.

After all, an IP address is associated with your location, amongst other things. When someone knows this address, that person also knows where you are. The same rings true for the websites you frequently visit, which is how they track you online and bombard you with targeted ads.

Given the IP’s association with the user’s location, we can conclude it’s fixed. Or can you hide your IP address somehow? Of course! There are plentiful methods, some easier, some harder, some more effective, some less.

Today, we’ll examine 5 of them and showcase their advantages and shortcomings.

How to Change Your IP Address – 5 Simple Methods

If you’re short on time, you’ll want to know how to change your IP immediately. Our team of experts tested numerous workarounds, concluding that these 5 are the most effective:

1. Using a VPN Service (Our Recommendation: NordVPN)
2. Connecting to a Proxy
3. Using the Tor Browser
4. Changing Your IP Address Manually
5. Rebooting Your Router

Satisfied? No? In that case, refer to our comprehensive guides on changing your IP address below.

We explain every method in depth to help you fully grasp the concept of altering your IP across all your devices.

1. Using a VPN Service

The first, most effective and safest way to change your IP address is by using a VPN. In our list of the top 10 VPNs, we highlighted their humongous abilities.

Such a service can not only alter your IP but also provide you with additional security and privacy.

Better yet, a VPN allows you to get over geo-blocks, download torrents anonymously, and even save money on online purchases by changing your online location. Speaking of online locations, VPNs offer hundreds of them and a prime example is NordVPN – our #1 pick.

Hide your IP Address with NordVPN

NordVPN even offers a no-logs policy and uses 256-bit encryption to protect your traffic from prying eyes. With 6,300+ servers in 111 countries, users can easily get another IP address from a specific location and reap all the benefits.

The only downside is that NordVPN isn’t free. Neither is any quality VPN service. However, if you stick with us, we’ll explain how to change your IP address with NordVPN and enjoy the service for free for up to 30 days.

How to Change Your IP With a VPN?

NordVPN, or any other reputable VPN service, offers apps for all devices. This means the solution can be applied not only to your computer but also to your phone, tablet, laptop, Smart TV, and so on.

The steps below are the same for all of these devices too, making the solution the most effective. Here they are:

1. Subscribe to a VPN service. We recommend NordVPN whose 2-year plan is discounted by more than 60% at the moment. In addition, all plans come with a no-question money-back guarantee, which can be taken advantage of (Step 5)
2. Download and install the VPN to your device.
3. Open the VPN app and sign in with your credentials. You provided them in Step 1.
4. Connect to a server in the country whose IP you want to get. We used the USA.
5. (Optional) Get a refund from NordVPN in the first 30 days if you no longer need it. This way, you’ll hide your IP address for free, as no money is lost. You can do this by contacting its support team and requesting a refund.

Other VPNs We Recommend for Changing Your IP Address

While NordVPN is our favorite pick for this case, we think other providers will do just fine, especially if they offer a wealth of locations to pick from.

Our favorite options apart from NordVPN include:

• ExpressVPN. A safe provider with servers in 105 countries and more than 160 cities. It’s one of the fastest services with unlimited traffic, a no-log policy, and advanced security features for blocking ads and trackers.
• Private Internet Access. An amazing service with 30,000 servers in nearly 100 countries. We love it for its incredible privacy and add-ons like the SOCKS5 proxy and Shadowsocks for added obfuscation. Read more about it in our Private Internet Access review.
• Surfshark. It’s an inexpensive service with over 3,200 servers in 100 countries. Packing unlimited connections, stable speeds, split tunneling, and MultiHop, it’s one of the most advanced providers to use for your IP address change.
• CyberGhost. With more than 12,000 servers in 100 countries and affordable prices, it’s surely an attractive option. This VPN offers Dedicated IPs and features like WireGuard, P2P servers, Perfect Forward Secrecy, and many others. It’s the only VPN with a 45-day refund policy as well!

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2. Connecting to a Proxy

Another method of hiding your IP address is using a proxy and it works on all devices. To make it clear, we don’t recommend this option because of several reasons. Proxies aren’t as safe as VPNs, especially when talking about free proxies.

Paid proxies, however, are quite different.

These proxies cost quite a bit of money but from our experience, they still rarely provide fast speeds compared to VPNs and often come with a heap of connection problems. Check out Oxylabs, Bright Data, or NetNut, the best proxy providers, and see how opulent they can be.

If you want to quickly alter your IP address, you can go for a simple free proxy like Hide.me Proxy, which you can find online.

In our test, this proxy was barely fast enough for basic browsing and occasional YouTube streaming. Hide.me Proxy offers three locations – the Netherlands, Germany, and Finland.

So right from the start, you’re getting way less than with NordVPN or ExpressVPN, for instance.

To use this proxy, simply enter the domain address select the country you want, and click Go. You’ll now visit the site using an IP address of the proxy server rather than your own.

Free proxies, however, mask your IP address only for the site you’re visiting, while all other traffic originates from your original IP address.

While Hide.me Proxy is safe, most free proxies collect and likely sell your sensitive data.

They’re slow, don’t offer any encryption, and won’t unblock streaming services. Not to mention they’re a poor option for torrenting as well unless we’re talking about the SOCKS5 proxy, which, sadly, you won’t find for free.

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3. Using the Tor Browser

Tor Browser is often associated with exploring the dark web in privacy. Sure, it’s one of its uses. However, Tor’s main appeal is the ability to hide your IP address and anonymize your traffic. Tor relies on the so-called nodes to fully anonymize and encrypt the connection.

When connected to Tor, the traffic bonuses across a myriad of Tor nodes where it becomes encrypted. The traffic is then decrypted before reaching the final destination i.e. the website you’re trying to visit. As you can see, Tor is quite secure at first.

Examining Tor more closely we can already see some issues. First, your ISP (Internet Service Provider) can see that you’re using Tor and suspect that you’re performing illicit activities on the dark web. The entry node in Tor is NOT encrypted, leaving you exposed to the public eye.

Second, Tor nodes aren’t always very secure and can sometimes be compromised. As a result, your sensitive data may still leak. From the perspective of changing your IP address, Tor isn’t great because it doesn’t let you select a location like NordVPN or another VPN.

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This solution is great for, let’s say, hiding your IP address, rather than changing it to a desired location. This spawns a flock of problems, such as the inability to bypass geo-blocks or download torrents privately. Tor is also very slow due to all the encryption going on.

You’ll notice that connecting to a site can take up to 30 seconds and sometimes more. This is a price to pay for added security that you don’t need to pay with a VPN while still getting stronger security and privacy. At the very least, Tor is free, so that’s something.

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4. Changing Your IP Address Manually

Some users won’t want to use a VPN, Tor, proxies, and so on. How to change your IP address in that case? Well, there’s the option to alter your IP manually but this doesn’t have any specific benefits, to be frank – at least not “dramatic” ones.

Sure, you’ll be able to bypass an IP address ban if you’re a gamer, for example. But you’ll still not change your online location, gain additional privacy, and so on. Therefore, your ISP will still see your online activities and be able to impose restrictions.

If you’re okay with this, we’ll explain how to change your IP address manually on Windows, macOS, Android, and iPhone (iOS).

Windows 11/10 Manual IP Address Change

1. Make sure you’re signed in with your administrator account.
2. Open Control Panel.
3. Click on “Network and Internet.”
4. Select “Network and Sharing Center.”
5. On the left side, locate “Change Adapter Settings” and select it.
6. In the new window, find your connection and right-click on it.
7. Select “Properties.”
8. Find “Internet Protocol 4 (TCP/IPv4)” or “Internet Protocol 6 (TCP/IPv6)” depending on which type of IP address you’re using.
9. Select the appropriate option and click “Properties.”
10. Tick the box next to “Use the Following IP Address.”
11. Enter the desired IP address and press OK.

macOS Manual IP Address Change

• Open “System Settings” and select “Network.”
• Click on “Wi-Fi” and then press “Details…”
• From here, click on “TCP/IP” on the left side.
• On the right, you’ll see “Configure IPv4” or “Configure IPv6.” Select one based on your IP type and make sure it’s set to “Manually.”
• Next to “IPv4 Address” or “IPv6 Address”, type in the new IP you want to use and click OK.

Change Your IP Address Manually on Android

For this guide, we’ll use our Samsung phone but the same trick applies to all other brands.

• Open Settings.
• Find your WiFi settings – it’s titled “Connections” on Samsung. Tap on it.
• Select your WiFi network and open its settings.
• Open advanced WiFi settings for that network. On Samsung, it’s the “View More” button that opens additional options.
• Under “IP Settings”, select “Static” instead of “DHCP.”
• Now enter your IP address and press Save.

Change Your IP address Manually on iOS (iPhone and iPad)

• Open Settings.
• Select “Wi-Fi” and tap on the network you’re using.
• Find the “IPv4 Address” menu and select “Configure IP.”
• Tap on “Manual” and enter the new IP address.
• Press Save and you’re done.

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5. Rebooting Your Router

When you’re without an internet connection, the first thing that comes to mind is restarting the router. Little did you know that rebooting the router can change your IP address. At least in some cases. You see, most ISPs in the world use dynamic IP addresses.

This means you’re not using a single IP address to go online. Instead, ISPs shuffle different IP addresses between their users. One day, your IP can be “175.62.32.21”, for example, while another day, for whatever reason, your ISP can assign an IP address like “175.62.32.28”.

However, both IP addresses belong to your Internet Service Provider and they serve the same purpose. The trick to alter your IP address lies in unplugging your router for a while. Some recommend a few minutes while more extreme experts suggest waiting for 24 hours.

Our experience showed that around 10-15 minutes is enough before you can plug the router back in. After that, you should be assigned a new IP address that, again, belongs to your ISP. Our team of experts deems this solution rather undependable.

For one, you won’t always get a new IP address, which can be true if your ISP doesn’t use dynamic IP addresses. Two, it’s not safe compared to using an affordable premium VPN like NordVPN. You’re still under your ISP’s watchful eye, without encryption and other advantages.

Third, some users reported that this solution required a lot more than a few hours to take effect. We’ve heard of some people waiting for a DAY. In today’s day and age, spending a day without an internet connection is quite unnerving if your job is internet-dependent.

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Why Should You Change Your IP Address?

We’ve thoroughly covered the 5 most effective methods to mask your IP address and use a new one. Doing so brings with itself undeniable benefits that people who switch their IPs look forward to. Beware that most of these advantages are tied to VPNs.

Amplified Privacy and Security

A VPN or even Tor will positively impact your privacy and security. Using another IP to go online hides your original one, allowing you to pose as another person on the internet. This is very true when using NordVPN, for instance, whose security is unbeatable.

With features like 256-bit encryption, no one can track you online – not even your ISP. NordVPN, along with ExpressVPN and CyberGhost, offers a kill switch that protects your identity even if the connection breaks. We then have a no-logs policy.

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This feature is present in all top-tier providers. It means the VPN doesn’t keep any sensitive information on its servers. Such information includes your browsing history, IP address, DNS requests, connection data, and so on. These advantages are present in Tor and VPN only.

However, if you use a paid proxy service, you’ll find plenty of security features as well. As said, they’re rarely worth the price except if you’re into scraping and other “non-typical” stuff that such services offer.

Unblocking Restricted Websites

Unblocking sites is a key benefit of your IP address change. Again, this will be valid with a VPN (and some proxies). By selecting another online location and country, you can appear as if you were browsing from that country. This is how people unblock streaming portals.

The same goes for other restricted sites such as online bookies and casinos. Changing your IP to the UK means you can access Betfair, bet365, and other prevalent online betting sites. Changing your IP address with a VPN opens up limitless possibilities.

Think of any restricted website and you’ll likely be able to access it.

Anonymous Torrenting

Torrenting is all but safe and anonymous. With your IP address visible to other “Peers” in the P2P network, your privacy is exposed at all times. Let’s not forget about torrent sites and their logging practices that go against your privacy by storing your download history.

This is frequently reported to ISPs and authorities to prosecute and fine torrent users. A simple IP address change with a VPN can remedy this issue. Once the connection is encrypted, every bit of traffic will originate from another address of the VPN server in another country.

The torrent site will now see the new IP and collect the download history based on this IP address. Even if this data ends up in someone’s hands, that entity will see that the download history belongs to a VPN IP and do nothing. This is nearly impossible with the other four methods!

Saving Money on Online Purchases

You’ll discover that the prices of online goodies will differ from country to country. This applies to apps, games, and even physical goodies. People frequently travel cheaper with a VPN, as flight tickets and hotel/parking rentals can be more affordable in some countries.

If you change your IP address to a less developed country, you’ll start to see different prices, as websites will think that you’re in the country you’ve chosen. As a result, they’ll display prices for that specific country. We recommend experimenting a bit and see what you can find.

Our team managed to save upwards of hundreds of dollars annually on business flights and vacations.

Circumventing Firewalls

If you’re in a censored country like China or Russia, your internet space will be limited. Using a VPN to change your IP address to another country can be beneficial. VPNs offer obfuscation that masks your VPN connection, making look like an “ordinary” connection instead.

You can use this to still be able to visit social media and VoIP apps in regions that forbid it. We tested the other four methods and they don’t work, however. Albeit, some types of proxies are made for firewall restrictions, such as a Shadowsocks proxy.

Paid proxies – better ones – can also sometimes bypass the Great Firewall of China and firewalls in other countries. But for this case, it’s smarter to use obfuscation from NordVPN or ExpressVPN. You can find out more about the top-rated VPNs for China here.

Several Types of IP Addresses

Let’s briefly explain the types of IP addresses. This is important to know to fully understand which IP you’re changing when you apply any of the 5 workarounds we presented.

• Public IP address: Speaking of IP address changing, this is the affected IP address. It’s the one visible to others and the one that your ISP assigns to the home network (router). Every device connected to this network has the same public IP address that you can hide with a VPN, proxy, Tor, etc…
• Private IP address: Every device connected to the network has the same public but a different (unique) private IP address assigned by the router. It can’t be seen outside the network and serves only as a means of easier communication between the devices. This IP address can’t be changed by a VPN or other methods we explained.
• Static IP address: As the name implies, this IP address is fixed. It’s usually used by multiple users, likely through a Virtual Private Network service. This type of IP can be blocked because of hundreds of requests sent via the same IP address that some sites can register as spam.
• Dynamic IP address: This one is the opposite of the static variant. As explained, the dynamic IP address will change when you disconnect and connect again. We think this address is better for privacy but isn’t great for banking apps/sites that will register an IP address change and potentially block your access or require additional verification.
• Dedicated IP address: Finally, there’s a dedicated IP address. It’s similar to the static counterpart, as it’s always the same but is used by one person only. Privacy isn’t its strength but it can bypass CAPTCHA puzzles and prevent IP address blacklisting that happens with static IPs. It’s not free and can be bought from a VPN service (NordVPN, PIA, Surfshark, …)

Is Changing My IP Address Legal?

Doing this isn’t anything revolutionary and millions of internet users do this daily. Whether you’re using a VPN, Tor, proxy, or other methods, you can do this safely and legally. The problem lies in what you’re doing with the IP, which can be legal or illegal.

If you’re looking to:

• Preserve your online privacy
• Unblock geo-restricted content
• Download non-copyrighted torrents
• Avoid ISP throttling, and so on…

Using another IP address is completely FINE. However, if the purpose of an IP address change is to:

• Distribute copyrighted material
• Indulge in death threats and online harassment
• Buy/sell drugs and weapons, and so on…

Altering your online identity is ILLEGAL. We assume that most of our readers are on the righteous side of the law. Henceforth, it’s perfectly fine and legal to use a VPN or any other service and method we presented for this purpose.

How to Change My IP Address for Free?

You can do that with the five methods we discussed. If you’re thinking about using free VPNs or proxies, you know our unfavorable opinion about that. Free VPNs and free proxies deliberately slow down your connection and limit your “abilities”, so to speak.

These services don’t work for torrenting, they’re incapable of streaming and provide weak security. Both are notorious for data collection, as well, which can be pretty dangerous. While free proxies usually don’t allow you to select the location, neither do some free VPNs.

Proton VPN, one of the most reliable free VPNs, offers only ONE location. Hide.me, another worthy option, offers 8, while NordVPN offers 110+. Enough said. From the perspective of changing your IP address safely, free proxies and VPNs don’t make much sense.

We’ll remind you of a 30-day money-back guarantee from providers like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and PIA. Such providers can be used for free for 30 days with a refund at the end. Our team deems this the #1 solution to hide your IP with the most benefits.

The Bottom Line

With everything said in this comprehensive guide, we’re confident you know how to change your IP address on all devices. The best and most reliable route is the VPN. It works on all systems and allows you to modify your IP address in virtually 2-3 seconds.

Proxy is also viable but with a lot more compromises and shortcomings. Hide.me Proxy is the only free option we recommend. We then have Tor whose anonymity and privacy are decent but with no ability to select a specific country, making it great only to hide your IP.

The remaining two methods are the least attractive. While easy, they provide no other benefits, such as security, privacy, website unblocking, and so forth.

Change your IP Address with NordVPN