How to Change Your IP Address: Safe Methods
How to change your IP address depends on which address you mean: to change your public IP address—the address websites see—connect through a different network or a VPN; restarting a router may work, but it is not guaranteed. To change a private IP address inside your home network, renew DHCP or configure a valid local address. Check which one changed with Loqmi’s IP tool before troubleshooting further.
Public versus private IP: which one do you need?
Your public IP is the internet-facing address at the router or mobile carrier; websites and game servers see it. Your private IP is assigned to a device on the local network so the router can deliver traffic. It is not a public internet address.
| If your goal is to… | Change this | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| Appear to websites from another network or region | Public IP | VPN, mobile data, or another Wi-Fi network |
| Fix a duplicate address or reach a device at home | Private IP | DHCP renewal or a router reservation |
| Keep a hosted service reachable at one address | Public IP | ISP request, static service, or dynamic DNS |
| Change what Loqmi reports to your browser | Public IP | Change the route, then verify at Loqmi |
Changing a private address does not change your location on a website. The private ranges reserved by RFC 1918—including 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, and 192.168.0.0/16—are reused in many networks and are not routed across the public internet.
How to change your IP address by goal
Use the least disruptive method that matches the result you need. A route change affects what outside services see; a local configuration change affects only your network. A VPN changes the visible route without changing the ISP address assigned to your router.
| Method | What changes | Best use | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reconnect router | May request a new ISP address | Testing a dynamic home connection | The ISP may give the same address again |
| Switch Wi-Fi or mobile data | The public address of the new network | A quick connection test | No privacy protection by itself |
| VPN | The address websites see | Privacy or a different egress region | Provider choice, speed, and app routing matter |
| Proxy | Usually one app’s visible route | A browser or service that requires a proxy | Often does not encrypt all traffic |
| DHCP renew or static setting | Private local address | Conflicts, printers, or local services | Does not change public geolocation |
Change your public IP
Reconnect your home router
Disconnect any VPN or proxy, record the public address on Loqmi, then power off the modem-router or router until the connection drops. Reconnect it, wait for internet access, and check Loqmi again. This can obtain a different dynamic address, but DHCP servers often reuse the same lease. A static plan will not change this way.
If the router’s WAN address is in 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, 192.168.0.0/16, or the shared 100.64.0.0/10 range, another translation layer may sit between you and the internet. RFC 6598 defines the shared range used for provider-side CGNAT. Ask the ISP for a public address if inbound access or a fixed source address is the real requirement.
Use another network, mobile data, or a VPN
Switching from home Wi-Fi to cellular data, or joining a different Wi-Fi network, makes websites see that network’s public address. Public Wi-Fi is not automatically safe, so use HTTPS and avoid sensitive information on an untrusted network.
A VPN routes traffic through its server, so websites normally see the VPN server’s address while the tunnel is active. It does not alter your home router’s ISP address, and a browser extension may cover less traffic than a device-wide VPN. A proxy can change one application’s visible address, but it is not a substitute for encryption or anonymity.
Change your private IP by device
These steps affect the address used inside the current network. If you only need a fresh DHCP lease, return the device to Automatic or DHCP; use Manual or Static only when the network gives you the required values.
Windows 11
For a local renewal, open Command Prompt or Windows Terminal and run ipconfig /release, then ipconfig /renew. To set a private address manually, open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) > the network > IP assignment > Edit. Choose Automatic (DHCP) or Manual, enable IPv4, enter the supplied address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS, then select Save. Microsoft documents this path in its Windows network settings guide.
macOS
Open Apple menu > System Settings > Network, select Wi-Fi or Ethernet, choose Details > TCP/IP, and click Renew DHCP Lease. For a supplied static configuration, change Configure IPv4 to Manually, enter the provided values, and apply them. Apple lists these options in its TCP/IP settings guide.
Linux
On Ubuntu’s desktop, open Activities > Network, select the active connection’s settings button, open IPv4 or IPv6, and change Method to Manual. Enter the address, gateway, netmask, and DNS, then select Apply. Menus differ by distribution; see the Ubuntu network guide.
Android
On Pixel-style Android, open Settings > Network & internet > Internet, tap the gear beside the connected Wi-Fi network, choose the edit or pencil control, expand Advanced options, and set IP settings to Static. Enter the network-provided address, gateway, prefix length, and DNS. Samsung and other manufacturers may use Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi. Google notes that the exact options vary by device and Android version in its Android network settings guide.
iPhone and iPad
Open Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the Info button beside the connected network, then find Configure IP under IPv4 Address. Leave it on Automatic for DHCP, or choose Manual and enter the supplied IP address, subnet mask, and router. Private Wi-Fi Address concerns the device’s Wi-Fi hardware address, not its IP, so changing it is not a public-IP method. Apple’s iPhone Wi-Fi guide documents the current network settings screen.
Verify which IP changed
- With VPN and proxy disabled, open Loqmi and note the public IPv4 and IPv6 results, ISP, and location.
- Make one change, wait for the connection to return, and refresh Loqmi. A different result confirms a different public route; the ISP or carrier may still be the same.
- For a local change, check the device’s Wi-Fi or Ethernet details, not the public result. On Windows,
ipconfigshows the adapter’s local address and gateway. - If you are testing performance as well as routing, run Loqmi’s speed test under comparable conditions. A new IP alone does not prove that speed, ping, or packet loss improved.
If the IP did not change
| Symptom | Likely cause | Next fix |
|---|---|---|
| Router reconnect leaves the same Loqmi result | The ISP reused the lease, or the plan is static | Ask the ISP whether it can assign a new public address |
| Wi-Fi details changed but Loqmi did not | Only the private address changed | Use a different network, VPN, or ISP-side change for a public result |
| Internet stopped after a manual setting | Wrong subnet, gateway, DNS, or an address conflict | Return to Automatic/DHCP, then use values supplied by the network |
| Router WAN and Loqmi show different addresses | CGNAT, double NAT, or a VPN is in the path | Check each router, disconnect the VPN, and ask the ISP about a public route |
| VPN is connected but the old ISP still appears | The tunnel is not carrying this app’s traffic | Reconnect, check split tunneling, and compare both IPv4 and IPv6 |
Key takeaways
- Change the route for a new public IP; change DHCP or static settings for a private IP.
- A router restart can request a new ISP address, but it cannot force one.
- Manual addresses require the correct subnet, gateway, DNS, and an unused value.
- Use Loqmi and the router WAN page together so you can tell a real public change from a local-only change.
Frequently asked questions
Will changing my IP address make me anonymous?
No. It can change the address a website sees, but cookies, account logins, browser fingerprinting, GPS, and the VPN or proxy provider can still link activity. Treat an IP change as one privacy measure, not anonymity. Keep accounts secure and review app and browser location permissions.
Can I choose any IP address I want?
No. A public address comes from your ISP, carrier, or intermediary. A private address must fit the local subnet and not be in use. Use the gateway, subnet, and address supplied by the network administrator or DHCP; typing a random value can disconnect devices or create a conflict.
Does changing DNS change my IP address?
No. DNS selects the server that translates domain names to IP addresses. Changing DNS may affect lookup privacy or reliability, but it does not change the public address websites see or the private address your router assigned. If you only changed DNS, verify the IP separately on Loqmi.
What if my ISP gives me IPv6 as well as IPv4?
Test both address families. A VPN or network change may affect IPv4 and IPv6 differently, and a manually changed IPv4 setting does not replace an IPv6 assignment. If one family still exposes the old route or an app behaves differently, ask the ISP or VPN provider how dual-stack traffic is handled.
Sources
- Microsoft Support: Essential Network Settings and Tasks in Windows
- Apple Support: Change TCP/IP settings on Mac
- Apple iPhone User Guide: Manage Wi-Fi settings on iPhone
- Android Help: Manage advanced network settings on your Android phone
- Ubuntu Help: Create a connection with a fixed IP address
- RFC 1918: Address Allocation for Private Internets
- RFC 2131: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
- RFC 6598: Shared Address Space