How to Change your IP Address

June 26, 2024 By Christine Margret No Comments 7 minutes

Changing your IP address gives you more control on your network. It also lets you stream geo-blocked content, and takes part in enhancing online privacy. If you have no idea how to change your IP address, then follow this guide. Here, you will explore changing IP address on different operating systems.

Why You Might Want to Change Your IP Address?

Changing your IP address can provide a range of benefits, from enhancing privacy to improving security. Here’s why you might want to consider it:

1. Protect Your Privacy: Your IP address can be used by advertisers to track your online activity and build a profile about you. By changing your IP address, you can disrupt this tracking and regain some privacy, making it harder for advertisers to link your activities to a single profile.
2. Improve Your Browsing Experience Abroad: When traveling, websites may load in the local language. Content recommendations might become less relevant. Switching to an IP address from your home country can help. It maintains a familiar browsing experience and ensures relevant content.
3. Enhance Security: Changing your IP address can prevent hackers from targeting you with DDoS attacks or revealing your location.
4. Resolve Network Issues: Changing your IP address can resolve network issues like IP blocking. If you have trouble sending or receiving data, a new IP address might help.

Remember, while you can’t manually change your public IP address to a specific new one, you can request a change from your internet service provider or use a VPN to mask your actual IP address with that of the VPN server.

How to Find Your IP Address?

Here’s how to find your IP address on different devices:

Mac:

1. Go to System Settings.
2. Select Network.
3. Choose your Wi-Fi network.
4. Click on Details to find your IP internal address.

Windows:

1. Access the TaskBar.
2. Click on Settings.
3. Select your network.
4. Click Wi-Fi Properties and locate the IPv4 Address.

Android:

1. Open your phone’s Settings.
2. Navigate to About.
3. Tap on Status and check the IP Address listed.

iOS:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Wi-Fi.
3. Tap the “i” button next to your Network to view the IPv4 Address.

Changing Your IP address

Whether you use Windows, Android, iOS, or Mac, or another device, there’s always a way on how you can change your IP address. You don’t need to be a tech-savvy person to change it! Here are 3 of the more common methods used to change your IP address:

Method 1 – Use a VPN

A VPN, short for Virtual Private Network, is one of the easiest and best ways for you to change your IP address. Using a VPN’s servers, all you need to do is connect to any one of them and virtually appear in that server location, hiding your real IP address. FastestVPN offers numerous international servers that you can connect to; to shield your physical IP address. For example, you can use our VPN for Brazil servers to get a Brazilian IP address or our Hong Kong VPN servers to access an HK IP address. 

Method 2 – Use a proxy

A proxy is not as safe compared to a VPN, but it’s considered as one of the ways for you to change your IP address. Unlike a VPN, a proxy doesn’t really offer you numerous server locations to connect to. However, using a proxy server, your physical IP address is automatically shielded. Using it you can access regional content while traveling outside the country. The downside is that proxies don’t come with encryption compared to a VPN.

Method 3 – Use a TOR browser

Most users who access the Dark Web, utilize the Tor Browser. It’s one of the best browsers as compared to others like Google Chrome or Firefox. It’s secure and takes priority with high-end encryption, making you anonymous online. TOR browser is a great alternative for users to change their IP address, but be careful what you use it for as not every website allows access using it.

So, if you’re wondering how to change your IP address, a VPN is one of the best ways to change and hide your IP address. Other than that, you can use the two other alternatives mentioned.

How to Change Your IP Address on Android

How to change your IP address on an Android phone

1. Go to settings on your Android phone
2. Click on “Wireless & Networks” or “Network & Internet.”
3. Now, click on “Wi-Fi.”
4. Press and hold down on the Wi-Fi network that you are connected to
5. Click on “Modify Network.”
6. Click on “Advanced options.”
7. Now, change your android’s IP address. Switch it from “DHCP” to “Static.”
8. If these steps don’t work, forget the Wi-Fi you’re connected to and restart the process.

Finding your Android local IP address on the device

Now that you know how to change your IP address on an Android phone, here’s how you can find it:

1. Go to your Android phone “Settings.”
2. Click on “About Phone.” It will either be on the top or scroll to find it on the list.
3. Now, click on “Status.”
4. Scroll and you’ll see the local IP address and the Mac address of your Android smartphone.

How to change your IP and location on Android via VPN

1. Sign up with FastestVPN.
2. Download and install the Android app.
3. Once installed, launch the VPN.
4. Sign in to your account.
5. Connect to any one of the server locations that you’d like to appear in.
6. That’s all!
7. Go to whatismyipaddress.com and check to see if your IP address and location have changed.

How to Change your IP Address on other Devices

On iPhone

1. Go to “Settings” on your iPhone.
2. Click on the “Wi-Fi” option.
3. Now, there will be an info icon beside the name of the Wi-Fi network. Click on the one that you want to change the IP address for.
4. Head to the “Static” tab.
5. Enter in the IP address that you want in the IP Address bar
6. Lastly, click on the Wi-Fi icon to save all changes.

For Mac

1. Click on the “Apple” logo on the top-left of the screen.
2. From the drop-down menu, click on “System Preferences.”
3. Click on “Network”
4. Now, from the left-side bar, click on the kind of network you’re using. In this case, you’ll click on “Wi-Fi.”
5. Click on “Advanced” on the bottom-right of the screen.
6. On the top of the screen, click on “TCP/IP.” You’ll find this alongside other options like (DNS, WINS, 802.1X, Proxies, Hardware)
7. On the Configur e IPv4 tab, choose “Manually.”
8. You can now change the IP address on the IPv4 Address tab.
9. Click on “OK” and then on “Apply.”
10. You now know how to change your IP address on Mac.

On Windows 10

1. Go to the “Settings.”
2. Click on “Network & Internet.”
3. On the left-side bar, click on “Wi-Fi” and then select your Wi-Fi on the right side panel.
4. Under “Network IP settings” click on “Edit.”
5. Under “EditnetworkIP settings” choose “Automatic (DHCP)”
6. Click on “Save.”
7. Enable the IPv4 button to “On.”
8. Enter in all your details for changing your IP address.
9. When done, click on “Save.”

Conclusion

As mentioned above, there are many benefits to changing your IP address on Android and other devices. So, if you’re planning on maintaining online privacy and security, unblocking regionally blocked services, and more, changing your device’s IP address is the only way.

Other than that, FastestVPN offers the easiest and safest solution to changing your IP. It offers numerous servers that you can connect to that offer more benefits than just changing your IP. Once you connect to the VPN, there is even a way to look up your IP and get details on it.

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