How to Change Your IP Address

Your IP address is the number your network uses to send and receive data on the internet. There are real reasons to change it: to refresh a dynamic address that got blocked, to test geo-restricted content, to add a layer of privacy, or to troubleshoot a connection. This guide covers every honest method — what each one actually does, and when it works. First, see what you are starting from with a quick IP lookup.

First, understand which IP you mean

"Changing your IP" can mean two different things, and the right method depends on which one:

• Public vs. private IP — Your public IP is the address the internet sees, assigned by your ISP and shared by every device behind your router. Your private IP (like 192.168.x.x) is assigned by your router to each device on your home network. Most people who want to "change their IP" mean the public one.
• Dynamic vs. static IP — A dynamic IP is leased to you temporarily by your ISP and can change on its own or when you renew it. A static IP stays fixed — it never changes unless your ISP reassigns it. Most home connections are dynamic; static IPs are usually a paid add-on for servers and remote access.

Not sure which you have? Note your IP now, restart your router tomorrow, and check again — if it changed, it is dynamic.

7 ways to change your IP address

1. Restart your router or modem (dynamic IP)

If your ISP gives you a dynamic IP, turning the modem fully off for several minutes (not just a quick reboot) often makes the ISP lease your router a different address when it reconnects. A short reboot usually returns the same IP because the lease has not expired. This is the simplest free method, but it is not guaranteed — some ISPs keep the same lease for a long time.

2. Release and renew on Windows

Open Command Prompt and run:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

This renews the DHCP lease between your device and your router. It reliably changes your private (LAN) IP, but it only changes your public IP if your ISP hands your router a new address at the same time. To flush stale DNS as well, run ipconfig /flushdns.

3. Renew the lease on macOS and Linux

On macOS, turn Wi-Fi off and on, or renew the DHCP lease in System Settings → Network → Details → TCP/IP → Renew DHCP Lease. On Linux, restart networking or re-request a lease:

sudo dhclient -r    # release the current lease
sudo dhclient       # request a new one
# or, on systemd hosts:
sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

As on Windows, this changes the local IP; the public IP only changes if your ISP reassigns it.

4. Use a VPN (most reliable)

A VPN is the fastest and most dependable way to change the public IP websites see. It routes your traffic through a server you choose, so sites see that server’s IP and location instead of yours — and you can switch countries in a click. Your real ISP IP stays the same but is hidden from the sites you visit. After connecting, confirm it worked with an IP lookup and make sure nothing leaks with a DNS leak test and fingerprint check.

5. Use a proxy server

A proxy changes the IP a specific app or browser presents, without encrypting all your traffic the way a VPN does. It is useful for a single browser session or scripted requests, but public/free proxies are often slow, unreliable, and may log or tamper with traffic. Treat proxies as a lightweight, lower-trust option — not a privacy solution.

6. Switch to mobile data

Disconnecting from Wi-Fi and using your phone’s cellular data puts you on your mobile carrier’s network, which gives you a completely different public IP from a different provider. It is an instant, free way to get a fresh IP — handy when a site has temporarily blocked your home address.

7. Ask your ISP (static or forced change)

If you need a permanent address, most ISPs sell a static IP as an add-on — useful for hosting a server or reliable remote access. Conversely, if your dynamic IP got blacklisted and a power-cycle will not shake it loose, contacting support and asking for a new IP usually works. Check whether your IP has reputation problems first with a blacklist check.

Always verify the change

Whatever method you use, confirm it actually worked — and that your real IP is not leaking through a side channel:

• IP Lookup — confirm the new public IP, location, and ISP.
• What Is My IP — a one-glance view of the IP sites currently see for you.
• DNS Leak Test — make sure DNS queries are not exposing your real network.
• Speed Test — a VPN or proxy can slow your connection; measure the impact.
• Browser Fingerprint — a new IP does not change your fingerprint; check how trackable you still are.

Frequently asked questions

How do I change my IP address?

There are several ways, depending on whether you want to change your public IP (what websites see) or just rotate it. The fastest, most reliable method is to connect to a VPN, which immediately changes the public IP websites see. To get a new IP from your ISP, power off your modem/router for several minutes, or — if you have a dynamic IP — use ipconfig /release and /renew on Windows (this renews your local DHCP lease). A proxy or switching to mobile data also changes the IP a site sees.

Does restarting my router change my IP address?

Sometimes. If your ISP assigns you a dynamic IP, powering the modem off for several minutes can cause the ISP to lease you a different address when it reconnects. A quick reboot often returns the same address because the lease has not expired. If you have a static IP, restarting never changes it.

Does ipconfig /release change my public IP?

Not directly. ipconfig /release and /renew renew the private IP your router assigns to your device on the local network. Your public IP is assigned by your ISP, so these commands only change your public IP if your ISP happens to hand your router a new address at the same time. To deliberately change the public IP, power-cycle the modem or use a VPN/proxy.

Will a VPN change my IP address?

Yes. A VPN routes your traffic through one of its servers, so the public IP websites see becomes the VPN server’s IP, in whatever location you pick. Your ISP-assigned IP does not change, but it is hidden from the sites you visit. Always confirm the change with an IP lookup, and run a DNS leak and WebRTC leak test to make sure your real IP is not leaking.

Is it legal to change your IP address?

In most countries, yes — changing your IP with a VPN, proxy, or by renewing your ISP lease is a normal, legal privacy practice. What matters is what you do afterwards: using a new IP to commit fraud, evade a ban you agreed not to evade, or break a site’s terms can still be against the law or the service’s rules. Check the laws in your jurisdiction.

How do I get a new IP address for free?

Power-cycling your modem (if your ISP uses dynamic IPs), switching to your phone’s mobile data, or using a free VPN tier are all no-cost ways to change the IP a website sees. Free VPNs and open proxies are often slow and can have weak privacy, so for anything sensitive a reputable paid VPN is safer. After any method, verify your new IP and check for leaks.