Why and when you might change your phone's IP address

Your phone gets an IP address automatically when it connects to Wi-Fi or cellular data — it's how the network knows where to send information back to you. Most of the time you never need to touch this. But if your phone is having trouble connecting, if you want to test network settings, or if you're trying to isolate a device on your home network for security reasons, changing the IP address is straightforward.

There are two types of IP addresses on your phone: the one your Wi-Fi router assigns (called a local or private IP address), and the one your internet provider assigns to your whole household (called a public IP address). You can change the private one yourself. You cannot change the public one directly — that's controlled by your internet provider — but restarting your modem can sometimes trigger a new one.

The simplest approach is to let your phone get a new IP address automatically by forgetting the Wi-Fi network and reconnecting. If you need a specific IP address for testing or network management, you can set one manually. Both take less than two minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • The fastest way to get a new IP address is to forget your Wi-Fi network in settings, then reconnect — your router will assign a fresh one automatically.
  • On both iPhone and Android, you can also set a static (fixed) IP address manually if you need your phone to always use the same address on your home network.
  • Changing your phone's local IP address does not hide your activity from your internet provider or change how websites see you — only your router sees the change.
  • If you need a completely different public IP address, restart your modem and wait two to three minutes for your internet provider to assign a new one.

How to get a new IP address by reconnecting on iPhone

Open Settings and tap Wi-Fi. Find your network in the list and tap the information icon (a circle with an "i" inside) next to the network name. Tap "Forget This Network" at the bottom, then confirm. Your phone is now disconnected.

Go back to the Wi-Fi list and tap your network name again. Enter your password. Your phone will connect and your router will assign it a new local IP address within seconds. You can verify the new address by going back to Settings > Wi-Fi, tapping the information icon next to your network, and looking at the "IP Address" field.

This method works because your router keeps a list of devices and the addresses it has given them. When your phone reconnects as a "new" device, the router hands out a fresh address from its available pool.

How to get a new IP address by reconnecting on Android

Open Settings and go to Network and Internet (or Connections, depending on your phone's manufacturer). Tap Wi-Fi and find your network in the list. Press and hold the network name until a menu appears, then tap "Forget" or "Remove". Confirm the action.

Go back to the Wi-Fi list, tap your network name, enter your password, and connect. Your router will assign a new local IP address. To see it, go back to Settings > Network and Internet > Wi-Fi, tap your connected network, and scroll down to "IP Address".

The process is identical in function to iPhone — you're straightforward telling your phone to treat the network as new, which prompts the router to assign a fresh address.

Setting a static IP address on iPhone

If you want your phone to always use the same IP address on your home network (useful for port forwarding or network testing), you can set one manually. Open Settings, go to Wi-Fi, tap the information icon next to your network, and tap "Configure IP".

Select "Manual" instead of "Automatic". You'll see fields for IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Router. Your subnet mask is almost always 255.255.255.0. Your router address is the gateway — usually something like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 (check your router's label or manual if unsure).

For the IP address itself, pick a number in the same range as your router but outside the range your router assigns automatically. If your router is 192.168.1.1, try something like 192.168.1.200. Tap "Save". Your phone will now use that address every time it connects to this network.

Setting a static IP address on Android

Open Settings and go to Network and Internet. Tap Wi-Fi, then press and hold your network name and select "Modify Network" or "Edit". Look for "Advanced Options" or "IP Settings" and tap it.

Change the setting from "DHCP" (automatic) to "Static". You'll now see fields for IP Address, Gateway, and DNS. Use the same logic as iPhone: pick an address in your router's range but outside the automatic assignment range (usually 192.168.1.200 or higher if your router is 192.168.1.1). Set the gateway to your router's address. Leave DNS as is unless you have a specific reason to change it.

Tap "Save" or "Connect". Your phone will keep this address on this network from now on.

How to get a new public IP address from your internet provider

Your public IP address — the one websites and your internet provider see — is assigned by your internet service provider. You cannot change it directly, but you can trigger a new one by restarting your modem.

Unplug your modem's power cable, wait two to three minutes, and plug it back in. The modem will restart and reconnect to your internet provider. When it does, your provider may assign your household a new public IP address. This is not may provide — some providers hold the same address for weeks — but it's the only method available to you.

Do not confuse this with restarting your router. Your router manages your local network; your modem talks to your internet provider. You need to restart the modem, not the router.

What changing your IP address does and does not do

Changing your phone's local IP address (the one on your home network) does not hide your activity from your internet provider, does not change how websites identify you, and does not improve privacy. Only your router sees that address. Websites see your public IP address, which stays the same unless you restart your modem.

Changing your IP address is useful for network troubleshooting, testing, or organizing devices on your home network. It is not a security or privacy tool. If you're concerned about network security, focus on the steps from the parent article: use a strong Wi-Fi password, enable WPA3 encryption on your router, and keep your router's firmware updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my IP address disconnect me from the internet?

No. When you forget and reconnect to Wi-Fi, you stay connected the entire time — the new address is assigned as part of the reconnection. If you set a static address manually, make sure it's in the correct range for your network, or you may lose connection. If that happens, go back to automatic IP assignment.

What if I set a static IP and my phone won't connect?

The address you chose is likely already in use by another device, or it's outside your router's range. Go back to Wi-Fi settings, tap your network, select "Configure IP" (iPhone) or "Modify Network" (Android), and switch back to "Automatic". Then try again with a higher number, like 192.168.1.250.

Does changing my IP address affect my phone bill or data usage?

No. Your IP address is just a label your network uses to route data to your phone. Changing it does not change how much data you use or what you pay.

Can I change my public IP address without restarting my modem?

Not directly. Some internet providers let you request a new public IP through their website or app, but most do not. Restarting your modem is the standard method, and even then it's not may provide to work — your provider may assign the same address again.