Whenever you lot become online, you demand an IP address. Merely yous don't have to stick with the same one. If you're wondering what an IP address is and how to change information technology, you've come up to the right place!

In this article, nosotros take covered…

  1. What an IP address is
  2. How to check the current IP accost
  3. How to change an IP address
    To alter your public IP address
    To change your private IP address
  4. Bonus Tip: Use a VPN to hibernate your real IP accost

What is an IP address

IP address is short for Net protocol address. It is a string of number that uniquely identifies a device on the network. Just like a pizza service that requires y'all to fill up in your concrete home address for the takeout to exist delivered to your door, you'll also demand an IP accost when going online so that websites and services know where you are and transmit information.

An IP address consists of two numbers, public IP accost and private IP address. The public IP address is assigned to your router and it's how devices outside your immediate internet network identify your local network. For case, if y'all're connected to a WiFi network, you are probably sharing the same public IP address with everyone else connected to the same WiFi. Too, if you use your ain mobile data, you may take your own public IP address.

The individual IP address is used to identify each device that's connected to the same network. For example, your printer, your calculator, your phone, and your tablet share the same public IP address (assuming they're connected to the same local network), merely they have a private IP address to themselves.

There are two types of IP accost, IPv4 and IPv6. The IPv4 uses 32 bits in its number and has a full of 4.3 billion of addresses available in its grade, whereas IPv6 adopts a 128-bit course and allows upwards to 340 trillion trillion trillion unique addresses, which is the solution for the long term growth of the Internet, with IPv4 addresses dying out.

Here are some examples of IPv4 and IPv6 addresses:

IPv4: 

          123.45.67.89          01 . 102 . 103 . 104

IPv6:

FE80:CD00:0000:0CDE:1257:0000:211E:729C          2001 : db8: 3333 : 4444 : 5555 : 6666 : 7777 : 8888

How to check your IP address

In order to know whether your IP address change is successful , you'll need to cheque your device's electric current IP address get-go.

Here is how to do it: Launch your web browser, type what'south my ip and press Enter. Immediately you'll be returned with the current IP address of your device.

How to change your IP address

Hither are five dissimilar methods that would help y'all alter an IP address. Simply choose the ones you similar.

To change your public IP address:

  1. Restart your modem/router and restart your computer
  2. Switch to a different network

To change your local/private IP address:

  1. R enew your local IP address
  2. Specify a static IP address manually

Bonus Tip: Use a VPN to hide your real IP accost

To alter your public IP address:

Method 1: Restart your modem/router and restart your computer

If your computer is connected to a network through a modem, the estimator is usually automatically assigned a dynamic IP address by your ISP. These IP accost belong to your modem for a specific period of time earlier your Isp refreshes information technology with a new one. You lot tin sometimes speed up the process by restarting your modem/router and your computer.

Here is how to practise it:

  1. Unplug your modem (and your wireless router, if it's a separate device) from the power socket.

  2. Wait threescore seconds for your modem (and your wireless router) to cool off.
  3. Plug the network devices back in over again and wait until the indicator lights are back to the normal state.
  4. Restart your estimator.
  5. Check your IP address to encounter if it is changed.

Delight note that this method is non guarranteed to work every time. If it doesn't work, y'all might accept to cool off your modem, router and estimator for a longer catamenia of time (sometimes overnight) for the IP to be refreshed. Or, y'all could move on to Method ii, below.

Method 2: Switch to a different network

Another easy manner to obtain a dissimilar public IP address is to connect to a different network. To do so, simply can take your computer to a friend's place, a cafe, a library or anywhere that provides you with Internet access.

Please exist mindful of the possible risks of connecting to a public WiFi. You never know who set up the network, who else is connecting to information technology or whether your data is being compromised. If you lot want to have a peace of mind and control over your network, you should apply a VPN.

To change your private IP address

Method 1: Renew your individual IP address

If you intend to alter your private IP accost, you lot can run the ipconfig /renew command. This nudges your DHCP client to negotiate a new IP address lease with the DHCP server.

Here is how to renew your private IP address:

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and type cmd. Then right-click onCommand Prompt and clickRun every bit administrator.
  2. When prompted for permission, clickYesto run Command Prompt.
  3. Typeipconfig /release and printingEnteron your keyboard.
  4. Type ipconfig /renew and pressEnteron your keyboard.
  5. Check your IP address to see if it'southward a new one.

Method 2: Specify a static IP address manually

Sometimes the auto-generated IP addresses by your router may be a hassle when yous want your PC to accept a static, unchanging IP address. In this example, you tin can assign a static IP address to your device.

Here are the steps:

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo primal and R at the same fourth dimension to invoke the Run box, then copy & paste command.exe /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter into the box and printing Enter.
  2. Choose the respective connexion whose IP address yous would like to change.
  3. Click Backdrop.
  4. Click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) > Properties.
  5. Select Use the following IP address and enter your desired IP accost. Then click into the Subnet Mask area and information technology should auto-fill appropriately.
  6. Click OK and then close the windows that open to configure the setting.
  7. At present cheque your IP address to run across if it's changed.

Bonus tip: Apply a VPN to hide your real IP address

As you probably accept learnt from the above, everyone needs a public IP address in club to continue the Internet. So every time you connect to the Internet, you lot're substantially sharing that IP address with every website you go to and app/service you use. This means that your IP address reveals lots about you lot – your location, your identity and your browsing action. If you lot desire a gratuitous, private and secured Net surfing experience, we recommend that y'all utilize a VPN.

A VPN (Virtual Individual Network) is a service that encrypts your Internet information and routes it through a server in a location of your choosing. In doing then, your online activity is scrambled, making it virtually impossible to trace what you have done online; at the same time, websites, online services and ISPs volition recognize you as you were browsing from a location where the server is based instead of where y'all actually are.

Here are some of the perks using a VPN:

  • Hide your real IP address.
  • Avert ISP tracking.
  • Featherbed geographical censorships and unblock contents that are otherwise unavailable to your region.
  • Protect yourself from snooping on untrustworthy Wi-Fi hotspots.
  • Proceeds some anonymity online by hiding your true location.
  • Protect yourself from beingness logged while torrenting.

You lot can set up a VPN connection manually, simply this requires a lot of fourth dimension, patience and computer skills. So it's easier to use a VPN service, such as Nord VPN.

As a acme-notch VPN service, NordVPN is very easy-to-utilize. Information technology helps you ready upwards a fast, stable and secure VPN connection to anywhere, all inside a couple of clicks!

If you're not sure whether NordVPN is right for you, you can try it out for 30 days free (In fact, Nord insists you do so). During the free trial, yous can always choose to opt out or stick to the service.

Here is how to use NordVPN:

  1. Download and install NordVPN.
  2. Run NordVPN, then choose a location you desire to connect to.
  3. Once you lot've gear up a VPN connection, you will discover that your IP address has been replaced by the one where the chosen server is based.

 ? If you have tried NordVPN and decided to subscribe to the service, you tin can checkoutour coupons page for upward to a whopping 75% off disbelieve.

That's it – hopefully now you have successfully changed your IP accost. If you have any questions, ideas or suggestions, experience costless to driblet u.s.a. a comment beneath. Cheers for reading!

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Enya is a writer at supereasy.com who spends virtually of her working hours scouring the web to find the best bargains and deals for her readers. A job that combines her two slap-up loves: writing and shopping. She'due south an introextrovert who loves existence out and about, hanging out with friends and exploring new things, merely also enjoys staying home and unleashing her inner nerd - reading, getting hands-on with the latest tech, and rampage watching clever Telly shows and movies.

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