Why and when you might change your IP address

Your IP address is the number that identifies your device on the internet — like a mailing address for data. Most people never need to change it. But there are real reasons you might want to: your internet service provider assigned you one that conflicts with another device, you want to test how a website behaves from a different location, or you're troubleshooting a connection problem that a fresh IP sometimes fixes.

The method depends on whether you want to change your device's local IP (the address it uses inside your home network) or your public IP (the address the outside internet sees). Changing your public IP is simpler — it usually just means restarting your modem. Changing your local IP takes a few more steps but is still straightforward on any device.

Key Takeaways

  • Restarting your modem for 30 seconds will change your public IP address in most cases, because your internet service provider will assign you a new one when it reconnects.
  • On Windows, you can change your local IP through Settings > Network > Advanced > IP settings, or by editing your network adapter directly.
  • On Mac, go to System Settings > Network, select your connection, then click Details and change the IP in the TCP/IP tab.
  • On iPhone and Android, you can request a new local IP by forgetting the Wi-Fi network and reconnecting, which forces your device to ask for a fresh address.
  • If you need a different public IP for privacy or testing, a VPN service masks your real address, though this is different from actually changing it.

Changing your public IP by restarting your modem

Your public IP — the one websites see — comes from your internet service provider. When you restart your modem, it loses its connection and has to log back in. The provider usually assigns it a new IP at that point, though not always the same one every time.

Unplug your modem (the box that connects to your wall outlet and your router) for at least 30 seconds. While it's unplugged, also unplug your router if you want to be thorough. Plug the modem back in first and wait for all its lights to stabilize — usually two to three minutes. Then plug in the router and wait another minute or two. Your devices should reconnect automatically.

To check if your public IP changed, visit a site like whatismyipaddress.com on any device. Write down the IP before you unplug, then check again after everything is back online. If it's different, the restart worked. If it's the same, your provider may have assigned you a static IP, which doesn't change on restart — this is common for business accounts but rare for home internet.

Changing your local IP on Windows 10 and 11

Your local IP is the address your device uses inside your home network. It's different from your public IP and only devices on your Wi-Fi or ethernet can see it. To change it on Windows, you have two routes: the Settings app (simpler, but limited) or the Network Adapter settings (more control).

Using Settings: Open Settings and go to Network & Internet. Click on your connection type (Wi-Fi or Ethernet). Scroll down and click "Advanced" or "Edit" next to your IP settings. Look for "IP assignment" and click "Edit". Change the toggle from "Automatic (DHCP)" to "Manual", then turn on IPv4. Enter a new IP address in the same range as your router — if your router is 192.168.1.1, use something like 192.168.1.50. Leave the subnet mask as 255.255.255.0 unless you know you need something different. Click Save.

Using Network Adapter settings (more detailed control): Right-click the Start button and open Device Manager. Expand "Network adapters", right-click your adapter, and select Properties. Click the Networking tab, then select "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and click Properties. Select "Use the following IP address" and enter your new IP in the same range as your router. Set the subnet mask to 255.255.255.0 and the default gateway to your router's IP (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). Click OK.

Changing your local IP on Mac

On Mac, the process is similar but lives in a different place. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions) and click Network on the left side. Select your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection, then click "Advanced" in the bottom right.

Click the TCP/IP tab. You'll see a dropdown that says "Configure IPv4" — change it from "Using DHCP" to "Manually". In the "IPv4 Address" field, enter a new address in the same range as your router. If your router is 192.168.1.1, use something like 192.168.1.75. Set the subnet mask to 255.255.255.0. Leave the router field as it is (it should already show your router's address). Click OK, then click explore.

Your Mac will disconnect and reconnect with the new IP. If you ever want to go back to automatic assignment, return to this same screen and change "Configure IPv4" back to "Using DHCP".

Changing your local IP on iPhone and Android

On mobile devices, you don't manually type in a new IP the way you do on a computer. Instead, you force your phone to ask the network for a fresh one by forgetting the Wi-Fi network and reconnecting.

On iPhone: Go to Settings > Wi-Fi, find your network, tap the info icon (the circle with an i), and select "Forget This Network". Wait a few seconds, then tap your network name again and enter the password. Your phone will request a new local IP from your router.

On Android: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi, long-press your network name, and tap "Forget". Wait a few seconds, then tap the network again and enter the password. Android will request a new IP from your router.

This method works because phones use DHCP (automatic IP assignment) by default. When you forget and reconnect, the router hands out a new address. If you need a static IP on a phone for a specific reason, you'll need to check your router's settings — most home routers let you reserve an IP for a specific device, but this is rarely necessary.

What to do if your new IP causes problems

Sometimes changing your local IP breaks something — a printer stops working, a smart home device can't connect, or a game console loses its connection. This usually happens because something on your network was hardcoded to find your device at the old IP address.

The fastest fix is to change the IP back to what it was before, or to use your router's settings to reserve an IP for that device so it always gets the same one. Most routers have a "DHCP reservation" or "static IP" option in their settings — you tell the router "always give this device this IP" and it handles it automatically. This is much simpler than manually setting IPs on every device.

If you changed your public IP and a service stopped working, wait 24 hours — some services cache IP information and need time to update. If it's still broken after a day, the service may have flagged your new IP as suspicious. Contact the service's support to let them know you changed your IP.

Using a VPN if you need a different public IP for privacy

If you want websites to see a different IP address for privacy reasons, a VPN (virtual private network) service masks your real IP by routing your traffic through their servers. This is different from actually changing your IP — your real IP stays the same, but websites see the VPN's IP instead.

VPN services are paid subscriptions (though some free options exist). They're useful if you want to hide your location or test how a website appears in a different country. They're not useful if you're trying to fix a technical problem with your actual IP address — for that, restarting your modem or manually changing your local IP is the right approach.

Be aware that using a VPN may slow your connection slightly and can cause problems with some services that block VPN traffic. Banks and streaming services sometimes do this. If you're considering a VPN, test it first to make sure it doesn't break the services you rely on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my IP address affect my internet speed?

No. Changing your local IP (the one inside your home network) has no effect on speed — it's just a label your router uses to find your device. Restarting your modem to change your public IP also won't affect speed, though a fresh connection sometimes feels faster if your old connection had degraded. If you use a VPN, speed may drop slightly because your traffic has to go through an extra server.

Do I need to change my IP if my internet keeps dropping?

Maybe. A fresh IP sometimes fixes connection problems, especially if your device's IP conflicted with something else on the network. Try restarting your modem first — this is the simplest fix and solves most dropout issues. If that doesn't work, try changing your local IP. If neither works, the problem is likely something else, like interference on your Wi-Fi channel or a failing modem.

What if I don't know my router's IP address?

On Windows, open Command Prompt and type ipconfig, then look for "Default Gateway" — that's your router. On Mac, open Terminal and type netstat -nr | grep default. On phone, go to your Wi-Fi settings, tap the network details, and look for "Router" or "Gateway". It's usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.

Can I change my IP to any number I want?

For your local IP, you can use any address in your router's range, but some numbers are reserved. Stick to addresses between 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.1.254 (if your router is 192.168.1.1) and avoid .0, .1, and .255. For your public IP, you can't choose — your internet provider assigns it. A VPN lets you appear to be in a different location, but you can't pick the exact IP.

How often should I change my IP address?

Most people never need to. Change it only if you're troubleshooting a specific problem, testing something, or your provider assigned you one that conflicts with your network. Changing it frequently for privacy reasons is what a VPN is for — it's simpler and doesn't disrupt your devices.