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Knowledge

How to Change Your IP Address

VPN, proxy, router restart and more methods explained
Why change your IP address?

There are many legitimate reasons to change your IP address: bypassing geo-restrictions, protecting your privacy, avoiding IP bans, or simply getting a fresh IP after your ISP changes it. Here are the most effective methods.

VPN (recommended) Best for privacy

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is the most effective and privacy-friendly method. It routes all your traffic through a VPN server, replacing your real IP with the server's IP. Your ISP only sees that you are connected to a VPN.

Hides your real IP completely
Encrypts all traffic
Choose IP location worldwide
Works for all apps
Usually costs money
Slightly slower connection
Proxy Server Quick solution

A proxy server forwards your web requests through an intermediary. Your IP is hidden from websites but the connection is usually not encrypted. Free proxies are often slow and unreliable.

Easy to set up
Often free
Works for browser traffic
No encryption
Only covers browser
Free proxies may log data
Router restart Simple but unreliable

Most home connections use dynamic IP addresses that change periodically. Restarting your router or modem may assign a new IP from your ISP's pool – but this is not guaranteed and only works with dynamic IPs.

Free
Simple
No software needed
Not guaranteed to work
Only changes public IP
May get same IP back
Mobile data / hotspot Easy alternative

Switching to mobile data gives you a different IP address from your mobile carrier. You can also use your phone as a hotspot to share this mobile IP with your computer.

Different IP immediately
No configuration needed
Works anywhere
Uses mobile data quota
Usually slower than broadband
Tor Browser Maximum anonymity

The Tor network routes your traffic through multiple encrypted relays, making it extremely difficult to trace. Your IP appears as a Tor exit node IP. Very strong anonymity but significantly slower.

Maximum anonymity
Free
Decentralized
Very slow
Some sites block Tor IPs
Not suitable for streaming
Verify your IP has changed
Check my IP IP Lookup WebRTC Leak Test
Knowledge My IP WebRTC DNS Leak IP Lookup

Changing your IP address – methods compared

Your public IP address can be changed in several ways. A VPN is the most reliable and privacy-friendly method – it replaces your IP with the VPN server's IP and encrypts all traffic. A proxy changes your IP for browser traffic only. Restarting your router may get you a new dynamic IP from your ISP. Mobile data gives you a carrier IP immediately. After changing your IP, use our IP check tool to verify the change was successful.

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