How to Change Your IP Address
There are two IP addresses you might want to change: the public IP your ISP assigns to your whole connection, and the local IP your router assigns to one device. The right method depends on which one you mean and why. Maybe a game server rate-limited your address, a site blocked you by mistake, or you just want a fresh start after network troubleshooting. This guide covers every practical method, from a 30-second router restart to requesting a new address from your ISP.
First, know which IP you're changing
Your public IP is the address the internet sees — websites, game servers, and streaming services all identify your connection by it. Your local (private) IP is what your router hands to each device on your home network, usually something like 192.168.1.x. Changing the local IP fixes device-level conflicts on your own network; changing the public IP changes how the outside world sees you. Check your current public address first so you can confirm it actually changed afterward.
Method 1: Restart your router (public IP)
Most home connections use a dynamic public IP leased from the ISP's pool. Unplug your modem or router, wait a few minutes, and plug it back in. If your ISP's lease has expired, you'll often come back online with a different address. The catch: some ISPs re-issue the same IP for days or weeks because the lease is tied to your modem's MAC address. If a short unplug doesn't work, try leaving the equipment off for several hours or overnight — the lease is more likely to expire and be reassigned.
Method 2: Renew your DHCP lease (local IP)
To get a new local address on Windows, open Command Prompt and run ipconfig /release followed by ipconfig /renew. On macOS, go to System Settings → Network → Details → TCP/IP and click "Renew DHCP Lease". On most Android and iOS devices, toggling Wi-Fi off and on or choosing "Forget network" and rejoining forces a new lease.
Note this only changes the address inside your home network. Websites will still see the same public IP, because your router translates all device traffic to the one public address via NAT.
Method 3: Use a VPN (public IP, instantly)
A VPN is the only method that changes your public IP on demand, without waiting on your ISP. Your traffic exits through the VPN provider's server, so websites see that server's address instead of yours — and you can pick the exit country. This is the practical choice when you need a different address right now, or one in a specific region.
Method 4: Ask your ISP or go static
If you need a permanent change — for example your address landed on a spam blocklist through no fault of yours — contact your ISP and ask them to assign a new one. Many ISPs also sell static IP addresses, which never change; that's the right option if you host services and are tired of your address rotating underneath you.
Did it work? Verify the change
After any of these methods, check your public IP again. If the address (or the location an IP lookup reports for it) changed, you're done. If it didn't, your ISP is re-issuing the same lease — move to the next method up the list.