How to Change Your IP Address | 5 Simple Solutions

When you access the internet, it involves a series of private and public connections between networks and devices.

And in a world where there are more than FOUR BILLION internet users, that’s a lot of connections.

How do the wires keep from getting crossed, so to speak? The secret to an organized global network is the IP address.

Changing yours can help you do everything from troubleshooting your Wi-Fi to letting you stream your favorite shows while you’re on holiday.

Reasons to change your IP address

There may be some instances where you’ll want to change your IP address. The reasons for this include:

Access content online which is otherwise restricted in your physical location (for example, accessing Netflix’s U.S. library while on a trip abroad)
You can’t connect to Wi-Fi and you don’t know why
Prevent tracking and leave no digital footprint
Avoid throttling from your internet service provider (ISP)
Encrypt data for increased security and data protection
Bypass firewalls
Fix an incorrectly configured IP address
Use a router which is providing unusable IP addresses
Two devices on your network share the same IP address

Different Ways to Change Your IP Address

How to change your IP address automatically

These are some simple ways to change your IP address automatically:

Switch networks. The simplest way to change the IP address of your device is to switch to a different network. For example, if you’re browsing on your home Wi-Fi connection on your smartphone, you can turn the Wi-Fi setting off and use mobile data. This will change the IP address because a different one is assigned for each network connection.

Reset your modem/router. When you reset your modem/router, this will also reset the IP address. Simply unplug the modem/router for at least 30 seconds, plug it back in, and connect as you normally would.

Connect via Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN will keep your public IP address private and signal to the network that you’re connecting via a different location, thus changing your IP address. This happens through an encrypted tunnel, and your ISP won’t even be able to see your activity. Check out options like TunnelBear, ExpressVPN and NordVPN.

Use a proxy server. Change the proxy settings in your web browser settings so that it automatically configures. The Web Proxy (HTTP) setting is good for basic web browsing, though you might need more specific settings depending on your needs.

How to change your IP address manually

Resetting your IP address manually generally involves entering a chosen IP address into the settings on your device. Here are a few different ways you can navigate to your network IP settings on different devices:

Windows 10:

Make sure you’re working from an administrator account and click start
Navigate to the control panel
Click network connection
Scroll down to find IP settings and click edit
Select manual
Type in your new IP address

Mac:

Navigate to system preferences
Click network connection
Click configure IPv4
Select manually
Type in your new IP address

iOS:

Go to settings
Select Wi-Fi
Select network
Select IPv4 address
Click configure IP
Type in your new IP address

Benefits of changing your IP address

Security: Changing your IP address can secure your online privacy by protecting you from website tracking and hackers.

Troubleshooting: Sometimes routers assign devices the wrong IP address, so changing it can help you solve this problem.

Access content while abroad: If you want to access certain content from a country while abroad, changing your IP address can help you navigate regional content blocks.

Conclusion

There are lots of reasons why you’d want to change your IP address. Before you do, understand the type of IP address you’re changing and the easiest way to do it.

And if you’re looking to change your IP address to fix a connectivity issue, learn how to properly set up your internet and fix a broken connection.

Written by:

Alex Sheehan

Contributing Writer

Hey! I’m Alexandra Sheehan, a self-employed content strategist and copywriter for B2B companies in the retail, e-commerce and travel industries. I’ve also written for Verizon, Four Season Hotels and Resorts,… Read more

Edited by:

Robin Layton

Editor, Broadband Content

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