You need to disconnect for 24 to 48 hours to force your internet provider to assign you a new IP address

Your internet service provider (ISP) assigns your IP address through a system called DHCP, which leases that address to your modem for a set period. Most home internet plans use a lease time of 24 hours, though some providers set it to 7 days or longer. When your lease expires and your modem reconnects, the ISP typically assigns a new IP — but only if enough time has passed that the old one has cycled out of their active pool.

Disconnecting for 24 to 48 hours is the standard approach because it covers most lease cycles and gives the ISP time to recycle your old address. If you disconnect for only a few hours, your modem may reconnect and receive the same IP back, especially if the lease hasn't expired yet. If you wait 48 hours or longer, you're nearly certain to get a different address when you reconnect.

The exact timing depends on your ISP's DHCP lease length, which you usually cannot see or change yourself. Some providers publish this information in their documentation; others do not. When in doubt, 48 hours is the safer choice.

Key Takeaways

  • Disconnecting your modem for 24 to 48 hours forces your ISP to assign a new IP address when you reconnect, because the old lease expires during that window.
  • Disconnecting for only a few hours often results in the same IP being reassigned, so shorter disconnections do not reliably change your address.
  • You can check your current IP address before and after disconnection using websites like whatismyipaddress.com to confirm the change worked.
  • Restarting your modem without disconnecting the power cable does not change your IP address, because the lease does not expire during a straightforward restart.
  • If you need a new IP when ready for security reasons, contact your ISP directly — some providers can manually assign a new address without waiting.

Why your ISP doesn't give you a new IP right away

Your modem holds a DHCP lease, which is a temporary contract between your device and your ISP's server. That lease says "you can use this IP address until [date and time]." When the lease is still active, your modem will reconnect to the same IP even if you restart it, because the lease hasn't expired yet and the ISP has no reason to assign a different one.

The lease timer only resets when your modem stays disconnected long enough for the lease to expire completely. Once it expires, the ISP considers that IP address available for reassignment. When your modem reconnects after the lease has expired, the DHCP server assigns it a new address from the available pool.

This system exists because ISPs have a limited number of IP addresses to distribute across many customers. Keeping leases active for a set time prevents address conflicts and reduces the load on their servers. It also means customers who disconnect briefly and reconnect stay on the same address, which is usually what ISPs want.

How to check if your IP address actually changed

Before you disconnect, write down your current IP address or take a screenshot. You can find it by visiting whatismyipaddress.com, ipchicken.com, or similar sites in any web browser. These sites display your public IP — the address your ISP assigned to your modem, which is what changes when you get a new lease.

After you reconnect and wait a few minutes for your modem to fully boot, visit the same site again. If the IP address shown is different from the one you recorded, the disconnection worked. If it's the same, your lease had not yet expired, and you may need to wait longer before trying again.

Do not confuse your public IP (assigned by your ISP) with your private IP (assigned by your router to devices inside your home). Your private IP usually stays the same because it's managed by your router, not your ISP. The public IP is what changes when you disconnect.

The difference between restarting and disconnecting

Restarting your modem — unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it back in — does not change your IP address. Your modem still holds an active DHCP lease, so when it reconnects, it receives the same IP. A restart clears your modem's memory and can fix connection problems, but it does not force the ISP to assign a new address.

Disconnecting for 24 to 48 hours is different because the lease expires during that time. When you reconnect after the lease has expired, the ISP treats it as a new connection and assigns a new IP from its available pool.

If you need to change your IP and have already tried restarting, disconnecting your modem is the next step. Some people mistakenly think a restart will work, then wonder why their IP stayed the same.

When you might need a new IP address

You may want a new IP address if you're concerned about being tracked by websites you've visited, if you're testing network security, or if you're troubleshooting a connection issue that's tied to your current address. In a home network security context, changing your IP occasionally can reduce the window of time that attackers have to target your specific address.

Some websites or services block traffic from certain IP addresses if they detect suspicious activity. If your address has been blocked, disconnecting your modem for 24 to 48 hours and reconnecting may assign you an address that isn't on the blocklist. However, this is not may provide — you might receive another blocked address if the ISP's pool is small or if the block is based on your ISP's range rather than your specific address.

If you're running a server or hosting a service from home, you usually want your IP to stay the same, not change. In that case, you can contact your ISP about a static IP address, which does not change unless you request it. Static IPs typically cost extra and are not the default for residential internet.

Contacting your ISP if you need a faster change

If you need a new IP address when ready and cannot wait 24 to 48 hours, contact your ISP's customer support. Some providers can manually release your current lease and assign a new IP without requiring you to disconnect. The process varies by provider — some do this over the phone in minutes, while others may require a service call or may not offer it at all.

When you call, explain that you need a new IP address and ask if they can release your current lease. Have your account number and modem information ready. Be aware that some ISPs charge a fee for this service, while others do it for free. A few providers do not allow manual IP changes for residential customers.

If your ISP cannot help, the 24 to 48 hour disconnection remains your most reliable option. Document the time you disconnect so you know when it's safe to reconnect and expect a new address.

What happens if you stay disconnected longer than 48 hours

Staying disconnected for longer than 48 hours does not cause any problems and will not prevent you from getting a new IP. Once your lease expires — which happens within the first 24 to 48 hours — any additional time disconnected straightforward keeps your modem offline. When you reconnect, the ISP will assign you a new address regardless of whether you've been disconnected for 2 days or 2 weeks.

The only practical reason to limit your disconnection time is to restore your internet access sooner. If you're disconnecting intentionally to change your IP, you can reconnect as soon as you're confident the lease has expired — usually after 48 hours.

If you're disconnected unintentionally (due to a power outage or service interruption), your IP will change automatically when service is restored, provided the outage lasted long enough for your lease to expire.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will unplugging my modem for 10 minutes change my IP address?

No. A brief disconnect does not give your DHCP lease time to expire, so your ISP will reassign the same IP when you reconnect. You need to stay disconnected for at least 24 hours, and 48 hours is more reliable.

Can I change my IP address without disconnecting?

Not through your modem alone. You can contact your ISP and ask them to manually release your lease, which sometimes works. You can also use a VPN service, which masks your IP address from websites you visit, but this does not change the IP your ISP assigned to your modem.

Does restarting my router change my IP address?

No. Restarting your router changes the private IP addresses of devices connected to it, but not your public IP assigned by the ISP. You must disconnect your modem (not your router) to change your public IP.

What if I get the same IP address after disconnecting for 48 hours?

This is rare but possible if your ISP's IP pool is small or if the address was when ready reassigned to another customer and then cycled back. Try disconnecting again for another 24 to 48 hours, or contact your ISP to request a manual IP change.

Does changing my IP address make me more find?

Changing your IP occasionally reduces the time window that an attacker has to target your specific address, but it does not protect you from malware, weak passwords, or unpatched devices on your network. It's one small part of home network security, not a complete solution.