How to Change Your IP Address on Any Device in 2026 (Step-by-Step Guide)

1. **Public IP Address:** Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) assigns this unique identifier to your home router. Every device connected to your Wi-Fi network shares this single public IP address when communicating with outside websites.
2. **Private IP Address:** Your home router assigns this internal address to individual devices (laptops, phones, smart TVs) connected to your local Wi-Fi. It allows your router to route incoming internet data to the correct device inside your household.

---

### Side-by-Side Comparison of IP Changing Methods

| Method | Changes Public IP? | Changes Private IP? | Security & Encryption Level | Ease of Execution | Primary Use Case |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Virtual Private Network (VPN)** | Yes | No | **High (AES-256 / WireGuard)** | Very Easy (1-Click) | Daily Privacy, Streaming, Public Wi-Fi |
| **Proxy Server** | Yes | No | **Low to None** | Moderate | Browser-only tasks, Quick location change |
| **Router Restart / Power Cycle** | Yes (Dynamic IPs only) | No | **Depends on Network** | Easy (Wait 5-10 mins) | Resetting stuck connections, IP bans |
| **Release & Renew (Command Line)** | No | Yes | **N/A (Local Network)** | Moderate | Fixing Wi-Fi IP conflict errors |
| **Manual Network Configuration** | No | Yes | **N/A (Local Network)** | Advanced | Assigning static IPs for local servers |

---

### Method 1: How to Change Your Public IP Address

#### 1. Use a Secure Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Using a VPN is the most reliable way to change your public IP address instantly. When you connect to a VPN server, your internet traffic is routed through an encrypted tunnel. Websites no longer see your home IP; instead, they record the IP address of the VPN server.

* **Step 1:** Download a trusted VPN software onto your device.
* **Step 2:** Open the application and choose a server location (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Canada).
* **Step 3:** Click **Connect**.
* **Step 4:** Verify your new public IP address using our free [Trace My IP Address Lookup Tool](https://www.tracemyiponline.com/).

#### 2. Power Cycle Your ISP Modem or Router
Most residential Internet Service Providers (ISPs) assign **Dynamic IP addresses** using the DHCP protocol. When your modem turns off, your ISP releases your allocated public IP back into its pool.

* **Step 1:** Unplug the power cable from your router and modem.
* **Step 2:** Wait **at least 5 to 10 minutes** (some ISPs require up to 30 minutes for the lease to expire).
* **Step 3:** Plug the modem and router back into power.
* **Step 4:** Once the internet indicator lights turn solid green, check your IP address to confirm if a new public IP was assigned.

#### 3. Connect to a Proxy Server
A proxy server acts as an intermediary between your web browser and destination servers. While it masks your public IP address for specific web browser traffic, it generally does not encrypt your broader system traffic.

* **Step 1:** Obtain a clean proxy IP address and port number from a verified provider.
* **Step 2:** Open your browser's network settings menu.
* **Step 3:** Enter the proxy IP address and port under the Network Proxy configuration tab.
* **Step 4:** Save your settings and verify your location on [Trace My IP](https://www.tracemyiponline.com/).

---

### Method 2: How to Change Your Private IP Address on Windows 11 and Windows 10

If you are experiencing local IP configuration conflicts or "No Internet, Secured" errors on Windows, resetting your local IP address resolves the issue immediately.

#### Option A: Release and Renew IP via Command Prompt (Automated)

1. Press the **Windows Key + S**, type `cmd`, right-click **Command Prompt**, and select **Run as Administrator**.
2. Type the following command and press **Enter**:
   ```cmd
   ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

ipconfig /flushdns

1. Open Settings (Win + I) and click Network & internet.
   
   
2. Select Wi-Fi or Ethernet (depending on your active connection).
   
   
3. Click on Hardware properties or your connected network name.
   
   
4. Next to IP assignment, click Edit.
   
   
5. Change the dropdown menu from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual.
   
   
6. Toggle IPv4 to On.
   
   
7. Enter your desired static configuration:
   
   
   • IP address: 192.168.1.150 (Ensure this falls outside your router's active lease range)
     
     
   • Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
     
     
   • Gateway: 192.168.1.1 (Your router's IP address)
     
     
   • Preferred DNS: 8.8.8.8 (Google Public DNS) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare DNS)
     
     
8. Click Save.
   
   

1. Click the Apple logo in the top left corner and select System Settings.
   
   
2. Click Network in the left sidebar, then select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
   
   
3. Click Details... next to your active network connection.
   
   
4. Select the TCP/IP tab from the sidebar menu.
   
   
5. Next to Configure IPv4, click the dropdown menu:
   
   
   • Select Renew DHCP Lease to instantly request a new private IP address automatically.
     
     
   • Select Using DHCP with manual address to manually specify a private IP (e.g., 192.168.1.175).
     
     
6. Click OK and select Apply.
   
   

1. Open Settings on your iPhone and tap Wi-Fi.
   
   
2. Tap the Information icon (i) next to your connected Wi-Fi network name.
   
   
3. Scroll down to the IPv4 Address section and tap Configure IP.
   
   
4. Select Manual to input a custom local IP address, or tap Renew Lease under Automatic settings to request a fresh IP from the router.
   
   

1. Open Settings and tap Network & Internet (or Connections).
   
   
2. Tap Wi-Fi and select the gear settings icon next to your network.
   
   
3. Tap the Pencil / Edit icon or select View More.
   
   
4. Change IP Settings from DHCP to Static.
   
   
5. Input your desired local IP address in the IP address field and tap Save.
   
   

• Leave your modem disconnected overnight (8+ hours), or
  
  
• Use an encrypted VPN service with verified no-logs compliance under federal and state regulations like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
  
  

1. Confusing Private IP Changes with Public Privacy: Changing your computer's local IP address (192.168.x.x) does not hide your identity from external websites. Websites still record your router's public IP address.
   
   
2. Using Unverified Free Proxies: Free proxy servers often log full browsing histories, inject malicious advertisements into HTTP sessions, or operate without SSL/TLS encryption.
   
   
3. Ignoring WebRTC Leaks: Even when connected to a VPN or proxy, web browsers with WebRTC enabled can leak your true residential IPv4/IPv6 address to web servers via JavaScript requests. Always run a leak test after changing your settings.
   
   
4. IP Conflicts on Local Networks: Assigning a manual static IP address that is already in use by another household device causes connection dropping across both hardware units.
   
   

• VPN vs Proxy: Which One Actually Protects Your IP Address in 2026?
  
  
• How to Find Your Router's Default IP Address on Any Device
  
  
• Public Wi-Fi Security Guide: Protecting Your Data On the Go