Six (five free) methods to conceal your IP address.
Most internet devices communicate using IPv4 addresses, and the world is gradually transitioning to IPv6's replacement. To connect to and communicate with other devices on the internet, every device connected to the internet requires a unique IP address.
An IPv4 address appears as follows:
123.45 67 89
In addition, an IPv6 address looks like this:
2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334
If you're currently connected to wifi, you most likely share a public IP address with everyone else on the same wifi network, but each device has its own local IP address. However, if you're using a smartphone and a mobile data connection, you may have your own public IP address.
Most people refer to their public IPv4 address when they talk about changing their IP address. This is the address that most websites, servers, online games, and other internet-connected devices see and use.
However, this article will cover changing your IP address, whether it is IPv4 or IPv6, public or private.
Which VPNs are the best for changing your IP address?
- NordVPN: The most effective VPN for changing your IP address Servers that are quick in 59 countries Apps for every popular device Several advanced features Policy against logging Works with Netflix US, iPlayer, and a variety of other services.
- Surfshark is the best low-cost VPN for changing your IP address. It supports an infinite number of connections. Excellent for families Apps for every popular device Adblocking and malware filtering are built in. Money back guarantee for 30 days
- ExpressVPN is an excellent all-arounder. Fast speeds are possible thanks to the Lightway protocol. Servers in 94 different countries It is compatible with about a dozen Netflix regions.
- For beginners, CyberGhost is the best way to change your IP address. In 89 countries, over 7000 fast servers are available. Wireguard connections that are quick Apps for all platforms Apps that are simple to use and have fewer advanced settings
- IPVanish is a fast US VPN with its own network. Several advanced security features Policy against logging It is compatible with Netflix in the United States. Apps for every platform
- PrivateVPN is ideal for torrenting. Features such as a kill switch and obfuscation AES encryption is very strong. Excellent speeds Servers in 63 different countries
- AtlasVPN is an excellent streaming VPN service. Works with iPlayer, Hulu, Netflix, and other services. Servers in 30 different countries Malware filtering is included.
If you sign up at this page, NordVPN will provide you with a fully-featured risk-free 30-day trial. You can use the best VPN for a month to change your IP address without limits or restrictions—ideal if you want to avoid censorship or geo-restrictions.
There are no hidden terms—if you decide NordVPN isn't for you, simply contact support within 30 days and you'll receive a full refund. Begin your NordVPN trial now.
Why should I modify my IP address?
Many online services are geo-restricted, which means they are unavailable outside of their home country. The only way to use those services from another country is to connect to a VPN server in that country. This provides you with a valid IP address and restores access to the website or online service.
When you go on vacation abroad, services from home, such as internet banking or streaming services, will be geo-restricted. As a result, in order to obtain an IP address in your home country, you will need to use a VPN.
Finally, a VPN can assist you in circumventing government, ISP, or local network restrictions. You can get an IP address in a country where locally censored content is still available by connecting to a VPN. Because of the privacy provided by the VPN, you can access normally censored services without being tracked.
Best VPNs for changing your IP address in a nutshell
Here, we've compared the most important features of the best VPNs. Prefer to read detailed reviews Begin with NordVPN, our top recommendation for changing your IP address.
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What is the procedure for changing your public IP address?
Here are some methods for changing your public IP address(es):
1. Sign up for a VPN service to change your IP address.
A VPN, which stands for Virtual Private Network, encrypts your internet connection and routes it through a server in the location of your choice. Websites, online services, and other web-connected devices will only see the IP address of the VPN server, not your actual IP address.
VPNs are useful for torrenting, unblocking region-locked content such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer, and circumventing censorship in schools, offices, and countries such as China.
Most VPNs can easily conceal your IPv4 address, but many VPNs can leak your IP address due to various security flaws. In addition, not all VPNs conceal your IPv6 address. Select a VPN that either disables IPv6 or can automatically prevent IPv6 leaks.
If you're not sure how to set up a VPN, just follow the simple steps below.
Here's how you can use a VPN to change your IP address:
- Sign up for a VPN service (we recommend NordVPN).
- Download the VPN app that is appropriate for your device.
- Open the VPN app and choose a server; within your own country is fine, but if you want to access a specific service, make sure to select a server in an unblocked country.
- That's all. You should now have a new IP address.
2. Change your IP address with a proxy server.
Proxies function similarly to VPNs, but with significantly less versatility and security. Your internet connection is routed through a proxy server, which means that websites and other online resources see the proxy server's IP address rather than your own. Proxies, unlike VPNs, frequently lack encryption, only affect certain apps, and can leak your IP address through other means.
To change your IP address, you can use one of several types of proxies:
- HTTP/S proxies are typically browser extensions or special websites that function as a browser within your browser. They only alter the IP address of data sent to and from your browser and have no effect on other apps or DNS traffic. If encryption is used, these are sometimes referred to as SSL proxies.
- SOCKS proxies - These are general-purpose proxy servers that can be configured for specific applications, such as most web browsers. SOCKS5, the most recent version, includes encryption support.
- SSH proxies - SSH proxies route internet traffic from apps like your web browser to a server via a Secure Shell (SSH) connection, changing your IP address to that of the server. Despite the inclusion of encryption, SSH is not a particularly fast protocol, and many websites and apps may not function properly when connected.
3. Change your IP address for free with Tor.
Tor, which stands for The Onion Router, is an anonymity network run entirely by volunteers. The Tor Browser, a basic web browser that routes all web traffic through the Tor network, is the simplest way to get started with Tor. Tor encrypts your connection several times before sending data through multiple nodes—servers run by volunteers. Each node removes one layer of encryption, and the sequence of nodes used changes each time you visit a new website. This makes tracing Tor traffic back to its origins nearly impossible.
Websites will see the IP address of the chain's final node, known as the Exit Node.
Tor is free, but it has some drawbacks. It's slow and only really suitable for basic web browsing. Because of Tor's anonymity, it is frequently associated with illegal activity and the dark web; therefore, while it is not illegal, using it may attract unwanted attention from your ISP and possibly even law enforcement. They can't see what you're doing while connected to Tor, but they can see that you're connected to Tor nodes.
4. Unplug your modem to change IP addresses.
You may be able to obtain a new IP address by unplugging your internet modem, waiting a few minutes, and then reconnecting it. When this occurs, you give up your current IP address so that your ISP can recycle it. Your ISP assigns you a new IP address when you reconnect.
This method is not guaranteed to work because your ISP may simply provide you with the same IP address again. However, the longer you leave your modem unplugged, the more likely it is that your IP address will change. If unplugging for a few minutes isn't enough, leave it unplugged overnight.
In order for this to work, your ISP must use dynamic IP addresses. Most do
5. Request that your ISP change your IP address.
Another option is to request a new IP address from your ISP. Because each ISP has different policies regarding how such requests are handled, responses may differ. You'll need your account information and current IP address at the very least.
Most ISPs use dynamic IP address systems, which means that IP addresses change and are recycled on a regular basis as devices connect and disconnect from the internet. Keep in mind that your new IP address may not remain the same indefinitely.
In some cases, you can request a static IP address from your ISP, though this may necessitate paying an additional fee and/or going through an application process. Once you've received a static IP address, enter it into your device's network settings. Static IP addresses do not change unless you change them manually.
6. Switch networks to obtain a different IP address
This may seem obvious, but you can change your IP address by disconnecting from your current network and connecting to a different one. You can, for example, change your wifi network or switch from wifi to a mobile data connection if you're using a smartphone.
Remember that public and open wifi hotspots are frequently prime targets for hackers. Stick to wifi networks that require a password and are encrypted with WPA2.
How to Modify Your Personal IP Address
If you're connected to a wifi router, you're probably sharing a public IP address with all the other devices on the same network. Each device, on the other hand, has its own private, or local, IP address.
Changing your local IP address has no effect on how your device communicates with other devices and servers on the internet, but there may be times when you require a different private IP address. These include troubleshooting a faulty router and configuring how local devices on your home network, such as printers and IoT devices, operate.
Renew your public IP address.
If you're using wifi or another type of local network, you can change your private IP address through the router's admin panel or the device itself. I'll demonstrate how to do it on both Windows and MacOS.
On Windows, follow these steps to renew your IP address:
- Look for the Command Prompt and select Run as administrator from the context menu.
- Enter ipconfig /release into the command line.
- Type ipconfig /renew into the command line.
A new local IP address should now be visible.
Here's how to renew your Mac IP address:
- Open System Preferences by selecting the Apple menu.
- Choose Network.
- In the left pane, highlight the network to which you are connected.
- Click Advanced...
- Choose the TCP/IP tab.
- Select Renew DHCP Lease.
Your Mac should now have a new local IP address.
The procedure for changing local IP addresses on your router varies depending on the manufacturer and firmware of your router. Typically, you can access your router's admin dashboard by opening a web browser and typing 192.168.1.1 into the address bar. 168 0 1 or 192 168 1 Enter 1 in the address bar
How do I change my IP address on my smartphone?
On a mobile phone or tablet, changing your IP address is simple. All you require is a VPN. We have recommended the best VPNs for changing your IP address in this guide. Our recommendations have servers located all over the world, allowing you to get an IP address wherever you need it. Follow the steps below to change your IP address on a mobile device:
- Sign up for a VPN using the link provided in this guide (we recommend NordVPN).
- Download and install the VPN app for Android or iOS on your device. It is available in your regular app store.
- Start the VPN app and sign in with your credentials.
- Select a VPN server from the list and press the connect button.
- As soon as the VPN connection is established, your IP address will change.
Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is always aware of your IP address.
Public IP addresses are always known by the internet service provider, regardless of how you change or hide them. This is unavoidable because, in order to connect to the internet at all, your ISP must assign you an IP address, which it must know in order to transmit communication and data from the internet to your device.
So, even if you used one of the methods described above to hide your IP address from websites, services, and other internet-connected devices, your ISP is an exception that can see through the mask.
Even if your ISP can identify you based on your IP address, encryption allows you to conceal your online activity. A VPN or Tor will encrypt all data before it ever leaves your device, so even if your ISP can see that you're communicating, it won't be able to see what you're communicating about.
Switching between wifi and your smartphone's mobile data connection is an easy way to change your IP address to that of a different ISP. Most likely, your phone company and home internet provider use different ISPs.
FAQs on Changing Your IP Address
Changing your IP address may cause you to receive CAPTCHA requests. This is because the IP address in question is most likely shared by many other users. An online service, such as Google, notices an unusually high number of requests from the same IP address. It then attempts to verify that you are a human (rather than a bot). ) by displaying CAPTCHAs to you
Technically, you can change your IP address using a free VPN service. However, there are a few aspects of these services that make them less than ideal. Free providers, for example, typically have very low monthly bandwidth limits and more users than their networks can support. This means you may not be able to use the VPN as much as you would like, and you may experience slow speeds when you do connect.
A VPN's primary function is to keep you safe online. Unfortunately, many free providers forget this, falsely claiming to follow no-logs policies or exaggerating the effectiveness of their security features. Why take a chance when it comes to your privacy? Instead of using whatever is free, we recommend using a reputable no-logs provider.
No, changing your IP address is not illegal. Indeed, you can use a VPN legally in almost any country on the planet without fear of breaking any laws. However, some online activities remain illegal regardless of whether you used a VPN to mask your IP address. This includes copyrighted material torrenting and, in some countries, accessing betting websites.
The simple answer is no. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet, masking your true IP address from anyone attempting to track you online. The data passing through this tunnel is highly encrypted, making it nearly impossible for anyone to determine which server or network you are connected to, or even who you are. However, your true IP address may still be revealed in the following circumstances:
- If a malicious actor gains access to the VPN server's logs and takes control of it,
- If the VPN service provider stores data that includes IP addresses (many reputable VPNs do not store any logs at all),
- If you connect to a website or service that uses an IP address checker to determine your true identity,
In all of these scenarios, keep in mind that a VPN provides additional security and privacy by masking your true location and the IP address of websites and services you visit. However, for maximum security and anonymity, it is recommended that you use other privacy tools such as browser extensions, secure browsers, and encrypted messaging apps in addition to a VPN. With this multi-layered approach to online security, you can rest assured that your true identity will remain hidden regardless of the situation.
You can use a shared IP address, but they are more dangerous. A dedicated or static IP address is recommended, but only a few VPNs offer them. Having a unique IP address can help protect you from specific threats, such as a Brute Force attack, but it's important to note that it's not foolproof. You must also adhere to good online security practices, such as using strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and refraining from visiting suspicious websites.
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