How to Change Your IP Address on Windows, Mac, and Mobile Devices

Why and when you might change your IP address

Your IP address is how your device identifies itself on a network — it's the postal address that lets your router send data back to the right place. You might want to change it if you're troubleshooting a connection problem, if you've manually set one and need to switch back to automatic, or if you're setting up a second device on the same network and need to avoid conflicts. Most of the time your router assigns a new IP automatically when you restart, but sometimes you need to force the change or set a specific one yourself.

The process differs depending on whether you're on Windows, Mac, or a phone, and whether you want to let your router assign one automatically (called DHCP) or set one manually. The simplest fix for most connection problems is to restart your device and let the router handle it — that's often all you need.

Key Takeaways

Restarting your device and router is the fastest way to get a new IP address assigned automatically, and it solves most connection problems without any manual steps.
On Windows, you can change your IP through Settings > Network & Internet > WiFi (or Ethernet) > Change Adapter Options, then right-click your connection and choose Properties.
On Mac, go to System Settings > Network, select your connection, click Details, and change the Configure IPv4 dropdown from Automatic to Manual or DHCP with Manual Address.
On iPhone and Android, you can force a new IP by forgetting the WiFi network and reconnecting, or by going into WiFi settings and tapping Renew Lease or similar options.
If you manually set an IP address, write it down — you'll need it if you want to change it back or troubleshoot later.

The fastest fix: restart your device and router

Before you change anything manually, try the simplest approach first. Unplug your router's power cable, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. While it's restarting, restart your device too — shut it down completely and turn it back on. Once both are running again, your device will ask the router for a new IP address automatically, and in most cases that solves connection problems without any other steps.

This works because restarting clears temporary network glitches and forces your device to renegotiate with the router from scratch. If you're dealing with a slow connection, a device that keeps dropping off the network, or an IP conflict (two devices with the same address), a restart fixes it about 80 percent of the time. Only move to manual changes if the problem persists after a full restart of both devices.

Changing your IP on Windows 10 and 11

Open Settings and go to Network & Internet. If you're on WiFi, click WiFi in the left menu, then click the network you're connected to and select Properties. If you're on a wired connection (Ethernet), click Ethernet instead. Look for the line that says IP assignment — it will show either "Automatic (DHCP)" or a specific IP address.

To let your router assign a new IP automatically, make sure IP assignment shows "Automatic (DHCP)". If it shows a specific address and you want to change it, click Edit next to IP assignment, change the dropdown from Manual to Automatic (DHCP), and click Save. Your device will request a new address from the router within a few seconds.

If you need to set a specific IP address manually, click Edit next to IP assignment, change the dropdown to Manual, select IPv4, and enter the IP address you want in the first field. You'll also need to enter a subnet mask (usually 255.255.255.0 for home networks) and a gateway address (usually your router's IP, which is often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). Click Save when you're done. Your device will use that address when ready.

Changing your IP on Mac

Click the Apple menu and go to System Settings. Click Network in the left sidebar. Select the connection you want to change — either WiFi or Ethernet — and click the Details button on the right side of the window.

Click the TCP/IP tab at the top. You'll see a dropdown that says Configure IPv4 — it's probably set to Automatic (DHCP). To get a new IP automatically, make sure this dropdown is set to Automatic (DHCP) and click Renew DHCP Lease. Your Mac will request a new address from the router when ready.

If you need to set a specific IP address, change the Configure IPv4 dropdown to Manual. Enter the IP address you want in the IPv4 Address field, the subnet mask in the Subnet Mask field (usually 255.255.255.0), and your router's address in the Router field (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). Click OK and then explore. The change takes effect when ready.

Changing your IP on iPhone and Android

The simplest way to get a new IP on a phone is to forget the WiFi network and reconnect. On iPhone, go to Settings > WiFi, tap the network you're connected to, and tap Forget This Network. Then tap the same network name again and enter the password. Your phone will request a new IP from the router.

On Android, go to Settings > Network & Internet > WiFi, long-press the network you're connected to, and tap Forget. Then tap the network name again and enter the password. Your phone will get a new IP automatically.

If you need more control, some Android phones let you set a static IP in the WiFi settings. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > WiFi, tap the network name, tap Advanced or More Options, and look for IP Settings or Static IP. The exact steps vary by phone manufacturer, so check your phone's manual if these options don't appear. iPhones don't have a built-in way to set a static IP on WiFi — you'd need to set it on your router instead.

What to do if you set an IP manually and need to change it back

If you manually assigned an IP address and now want to go back to automatic assignment, the process is the same as above: just change the setting back to Automatic (DHCP) or Automatic depending on your device. Your device will ask the router for a new address, and the manual one you set will be discarded.

If you can't remember what you set it to, or if your device won't connect after a manual change, restart both your device and router. This forces your device to ask for an automatic address even if it's still configured for manual — the restart clears the old setting from memory temporarily. Once it connects, you can change the setting back to automatic permanently through the steps above.

Finding your router's address and subnet mask

If you're setting a manual IP and need to know your router's address and subnet mask, the easiest way is to check a device that's already connected and working. On Windows, open Command Prompt and type ipconfig, then press Enter. Look for the line that says Default Gateway — that's your router's address. The line above it shows your current IPv4 Address, and below that is your Subnet Mask.

On Mac, open Terminal and type ifconfig, then press Enter. Look for the section labeled with your connection type (en0 for Ethernet, en1 for WiFi). The line that says inet is your current IP address, the line that says netmask is your subnet mask, and the line that says router is your router's address.

On iPhone, go to Settings > WiFi, tap the network you're connected to, and scroll down — you'll see the IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Router listed under IPV4 ADDRESS. On Android, go to Settings > Network & Internet > WiFi, tap the network name, and tap Advanced — the information is usually listed there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my IP address make my internet faster?

Not directly. Changing your IP won't improve speed unless the old address was causing a conflict that slowed your connection. If your internet is slow, the problem is usually your router's placement, interference from other devices, or your internet plan itself — not your IP address.

Can I set any IP address I want?

Not if you want your device to work properly. Your IP has to be in the same range as your router and different from every other device on your network. For most home networks, use an address between 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.1.254 (or 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.254 if your router uses that range). Avoid .1 because that's usually your router, and avoid .255 because that's reserved.

What's the difference between a static IP and a dynamic IP?

A dynamic IP (DHCP) is assigned by your router and can change each time you restart. A static IP is one you set manually and stays the same until you change it. For most devices, dynamic is fine. Static is useful if you're setting up a printer or security camera that other devices need to find reliably.

Do I need to restart my device after changing the IP address?

Not usually. Most devices explore the change when ready. If your device doesn't connect after a manual change, restart it — that often fixes the problem if you entered the address incorrectly or if there's a conflict with another device.

What if my device won't connect after I changed the IP?

Restart your device first — that clears the setting temporarily and forces it to ask for an automatic address. If it still won't connect, restart your router too. If that doesn't work, go back into the network settings and change the IP back to automatic (DHCP), then restart again. Once it connects, you can try setting a manual IP again, making sure the address is in the right range and not already in use by another device.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.