How to Hide My IP Address: Safe Options Compared
If you want to know how to hide my ip address, use a VPN for whole-device coverage, Tor Browser for one browser session, a trusted proxy for one app, or iCloud Private Relay for eligible Safari traffic. Each replaces the address websites see with a relay address; none makes you anonymous. Check Loqmi before and after connecting.
How to hide my IP address without overclaiming
Your public IP is the internet-facing address a website receives with your request. A VPN, Tor, proxy, or privacy relay puts another endpoint in the path, so the site sees that endpoint instead of your home or mobile address. You mask the outward route; you do not delete an address from the internet.
Decide who you want to hide it from. A VPN can hide your home IP from websites, but it moves trust to the VPN operator. A proxy may cover one app, Tor separates one browser session, and Private Relay is an Apple-specific option. Public and private IP addresses are different scopes; changing a local address does not hide the public one.
Choose the method by your goal
| Goal | Best fit | What changes and what remains |
|---|---|---|
| Make ordinary websites see another IP | VPN app | Usually covers the device unless an app is excluded. The operator becomes a new party you trust. |
| Separate one browser session | Tor Browser | The site sees a Tor exit address. It is slower, may be blocked, and does not protect other apps. |
| Route one browser or app for a test | Trusted proxy | Only configured traffic uses it. Encryption depends on the app and protocol. |
| Reduce IP exposure in Safari | iCloud Private Relay | It covers eligible Safari traffic, needs iCloud+, and keeps a broad country or region. |
| Get a different route briefly | Cellular data or another network | The IP may change, but the new network operator can still see the connection. |
Use a VPN for whole-device coverage
For everyday browsing, a VPN is the simplest way to give many apps a different public IP. Mozilla explains that it encrypts traffic to the VPN service and presents the VPN address to the destination. The provider still handles the tunnel, so read its policy before trusting it.
- Open Loqmi's IP tool first and record the public IP, ISP, and approximate location.
- Install the official app or an employer-provided profile, then connect. A saved profile is not an active tunnel.
- If available, enable a kill switch and review split-tunneling or app exclusions.
- Reload Loqmi. A changed IP and ISP show that the site sees the VPN exit, not that every app uses it.
- Compare performance with Loqmi's speed test; use this VPN check for more tests.
Set up the connection on your device
Manual setup needs the server address, protocol, and sign-in details. A provider app may be simpler. Menus vary by Linux distribution, Android manufacturer, or managed device.
Windows 11
Open Settings > Network & internet > VPN > Add VPN. Choose Windows (built-in), enter the details, save, and select Connect. Microsoft's current path requires a profile; the menu alone does not hide your IP.
macOS
For an existing configuration, open Apple menu > System Settings > VPN and turn it on. For manual setup, use System Settings > Network > Action menu > Add VPN Configuration. Apple documents both paths.
Linux and Ubuntu
In Ubuntu, open Activities > Network, select the + beside VPN, choose the type, enter details, and press Add. Connect from the system menu. Ubuntu notes that other VPN types may require the provider's client.
Android
Open Settings > Network & internet > VPN, select the VPN, and tap Connect. If it is missing, search Settings for “VPN”; manufacturer layouts differ. An app-based VPN may open its own setup. Google's instructions also describe an always-on option.
iPhone or iPad
For a full-device VPN, use the provider's App Store app or an approved work or school configuration. For Safari-only IP privacy, use Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Private Relay; the limits are below.
Other options and their limits
Tor Browser
Use the official Tor Browser when browser-level separation matters more than speed. The site sees a Tor exit address, but sites can detect or block Tor. Tor's safety guidance warns that other apps and extra add-ons can bypass its protections. Use Tor Browser itself, keep HTTPS on, and remember that signing in identifies you to the account provider.
Proxy
A proxy suits a narrow test or one app. It is not automatically encrypted, and its setting does not cover the rest of your device. The Tor Project contrasts a proxy's single point of trust with Tor's separated relays. Do not enter passwords through an unknown proxy; see proxy versus VPN.
iCloud Private Relay
With iCloud+, Private Relay sends supported Safari traffic through separate relays so websites do not receive your original IP. It is not a general VPN, does not cover every app, and is not for appearing in another country. In Apple's instructions, use IP Address Location to keep a general location or use a broader country-and-time-zone location.
Verify the result and troubleshoot it
Use the same browser before and after changing routes. Open Loqmi, note the public IP and ISP, connect the route, then reload. If the IP changes to a relay network, the destination sees a different address. Loqmi cannot test cookies, logins, fingerprints, or device location permissions.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Next fix |
|---|---|---|
| Loqmi shows the same IP | The tunnel is off, the page was not reloaded, or the app is excluded. | Check status, disable exclusions, reconnect, and reload. |
| Loqmi changes, but one app shows the old route | The proxy is browser-only, or the app bypasses the VPN. | Use a full-device route or configure that app. |
| A site shows the wrong country or detects a VPN | The exit has coarse geolocation or a known relay reputation. | Try another exit if allowed; this alone is not a leak. |
| Speed drops | The added route, server load, or distance changes performance. | Compare nearby exits with Loqmi's speed test. |
| Your IP returns when the tunnel drops | No effective kill switch is enabled. | Stop the sensitive session or enable the switch before reconnecting. |
What hiding your IP does not hide
IP masking is one privacy layer. A site can still recognize an account, cookie, browser fingerprint, or precise location you grant. Your ISP can see a connection to VPN or Tor, and the relay operator handles your connection. Use the least complicated method that matches the observer you care about.
| Common shortcut | What it really does |
|---|---|
| Incognito or private browsing | Limits some local history and storage; it does not replace the public IP. |
| Changing DNS servers | Changes name lookups; it normally does not change the source IP. |
| Restarting the router | May obtain a different ISP address, but that address remains visible. |
| Joining public Wi-Fi | Uses the hotspot's address, while the operator controls the network. |
Key takeaways
- A VPN is the practical whole-device route; Tor Browser is narrower; a proxy is usually app-specific.
- Private Relay helps Safari but is not a general VPN or a country-spoofing tool.
- Verify with Loqmi, then test any important app separately.
- IP masking does not hide accounts, cookies, fingerprints, permissions, or the relay operator.
- Avoid unknown relays and enable a kill switch when a direct reconnection would defeat your goal.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hide my IP from my internet provider?
Not completely with an ordinary VPN: your ISP can still see that your connection reaches the VPN server and can observe connection metadata. A correctly configured VPN can hide the destinations from the ISP. Tor changes the visibility trade-off, but your ISP may recognize Tor use. Choose based on which observation matters to you.
Does hiding my IP stop websites from knowing who I am?
No. A site can connect a session to an account, cookie, browser fingerprint, payment record, or information you enter. IP masking reduces one network signal. For stronger separation, use a dedicated browser profile or Tor Browser and avoid signing into identifying accounts during that session.
Why does a VPN make websites show another city?
The website is looking up the VPN exit address, not the address assigned to your home connection. Its geolocation database may place that exit in a nearby hub, data center, or different region. That is expected route behavior, not evidence that your device moved or that the VPN failed.
Should I use a VPN and Tor together?
Do not stack them casually. A VPN-plus-Tor arrangement changes which provider sees which link and can slow or break connections. For ordinary IP masking, use one method, test it, and only add layers when you understand the observer and the trade-offs. Tor Browser's default setup is safer than improvised proxy chains.
Why does Loqmi show my ISP after I enable Private Relay?
Private Relay is limited to eligible Safari traffic, so Loqmi may be open in another browser or app, or the feature may be off for that network. Test in Safari, check the Apple Account's Private Relay status and the network's Limit IP Address Tracking setting, then compare again.
Sources
- Mozilla VPN: What Does a VPN Do?
- Tor Project: Tor Browser best practices
- Tor Project: How Tor differs from other proxies
- Microsoft Support: Connect to a VPN in Windows
- Android Help: Connect to a virtual private network (VPN) on Android
- Ubuntu Help: Connect to a VPN
- Apple Support: iCloud Private Relay on iPhone
- Apple Support: Set up a VPN connection on Mac