How to change your IP address depends on whether you want a new one from your internet provider or just need to reset your current connection

The fastest way is to restart your modem and router — this forces your internet provider to assign you a new IP address within minutes, and it works on any device without touching settings. If that does not work, or if you need to manually set an IP address on your computer itself, the steps differ between Windows, Mac, and Linux. Most people never need to change their IP address at all; the main reasons are troubleshooting a connection problem, testing network settings, or hiding your public IP from websites you visit.

Your computer actually has two IP addresses: a public IP address (assigned by your internet provider, visible to websites) and a private IP address (used only on your home network, invisible outside it). Restarting your modem changes the public one. Changing network settings on your computer changes the private one. Which one you need to change depends on what problem you are trying to solve.

Key Takeaways

  • Restarting your modem and router is the simplest way to get a new public IP address from your internet provider, and it takes about five minutes.
  • On Windows, you change your private IP address through Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced Network Settings > IP Settings, then toggle DHCP off and enter a new address manually.
  • On Mac, go to System Settings > Network > Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) > Details > TCP/IP, then change the Configure IPv4 dropdown to Manual and enter your new address.
  • On Linux, you edit the network configuration file directly using a text editor, or use the nmtui command for a graphical interface.
  • Most home networks use automatic IP assignment (DHCP), so your computer gets a new private IP every time it reconnects — you only need to manually set one if you are testing or troubleshooting.

Restart your modem and router to get a new public IP address

This is the method most people should use first. Your public IP address comes from your internet provider, and restarting the modem forces it to request a new one. Unplug the modem (the device that connects to your internet cable) and wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Wait for all the lights to stop blinking and stabilize — usually two to three minutes. Then unplug the router (the device that broadcasts your Wi-Fi) and plug it back in. Wait another two to three minutes for it to fully restart.

Once both devices are fully booted, your modem will have requested a new IP address from your provider. You can check your new public IP by opening a web browser and searching "what is my IP" — you should see a different number than before. This method works on every device connected to your network without requiring you to change any settings on the computer itself.

If you have a combined modem-router unit (sometimes called a gateway), unplug that single device and wait the same amount of time. The process is identical.

Change your private IP address on Windows 10 and 11

Your private IP address is the one your computer uses on your home network only. To change it manually on Windows, open Settings and go to Network & Internet. Click on Advanced Network Settings (or Wi-Fi / Ethernet, depending on your connection type). Scroll down and click on your active connection, then click Edit. Under IP Settings, toggle the dropdown from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual. Turn on the IPv4 toggle if it is not already on.

You will now see fields for IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Default Gateway. The subnet mask is almost always 255.255.255.0 on home networks. The default gateway is usually your router's address — check the back of your router or search "how to find my router's IP address" if you are unsure. For the IP address itself, use something in the range 192.168.1.2 through 192.168.1.254 (avoid .1, which is usually your router, and .255, which is reserved). Type your new address, then click Save.

Your computer will disconnect and reconnect with the new IP address. If you cannot reach the internet afterward, you may have entered the gateway address incorrectly — go back and double-check it against your router's settings page.

Change your private IP address on Mac

On Mac, open System Settings and click Network in the sidebar. Select your connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and click Details. Go to the TCP/IP tab. The Configure IPv4 dropdown is usually set to Using DHCP — change it to Manual. You will now see fields for IPv4 Address, Subnet Mask, and Router.

Use the same ranges as Windows: 192.168.1.2 through 192.168.1.254 for the address, 255.255.255.0 for the subnet mask, and your router's IP (usually 192.168.1.1) for the router field. Click OK, then click explore. Your Mac will disconnect and reconnect with the new address.

If you want to return to automatic assignment later, change the Configure IPv4 dropdown back to Using DHCP and click explore.

Change your private IP address on Linux

The method depends on your distribution and network manager. On Ubuntu and most Debian-based systems, open the terminal and type nmtui to open the graphical network manager. Select Edit a Connection, choose your network, and change the IPv4 Configuration from Automatic to Manual. Enter your IP address (192.168.1.2 through 192.168.1.254), subnet mask (255.255.255.0), and gateway (usually 192.168.1.1), then save.

If you prefer to edit the configuration file directly, open a terminal and edit /etc/netplan/01-netcfg.yaml (or the appropriate file in your /etc/netplan/ directory) with a text editor like nano. Set dhcp4: no and add your addresses under addresses: in CIDR notation (for example, 192.168.1.50/24). Save the file and run sudo netplan explore to set up the changes.

Restart your network connection or reboot to confirm the new address is active. Use ip addr in the terminal to verify your new IP.

When you should and should not manually change your IP address

Most home networks use DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), which means your computer gets a new private IP address automatically every time it connects. You should not manually set an IP address unless you have a specific reason: testing network settings, running a local server that needs a fixed address, or troubleshooting a connection problem that your internet provider has asked you to investigate.

If you manually set an IP address and then move to a different network, your computer may not connect properly because the address you chose might conflict with that network's setup. Always return to automatic (DHCP) assignment before connecting to a different network, or change the address to match the new network's range.

If you are trying to hide your IP address from websites you visit, restarting your modem will give you a new public IP, but websites will still know you are on the same internet provider. For stronger privacy, consider using a VPN service instead — that masks your IP entirely.

Troubleshooting: what to do if your new IP address does not work

If you manually set an IP address and lost internet connection, the most common cause is an incorrect gateway address. Go back into your network settings and verify the gateway matches your router's IP address. You can find this by looking at the back of your router, checking your router's admin page, or searching online for your router model's default gateway.

Another common problem is choosing an IP address that conflicts with another device on your network. If your router uses DHCP to assign addresses automatically, it might assign the same address you chose to another device, causing a conflict. To avoid this, use an address outside your router's DHCP range — check your router's settings to see which addresses it reserves for automatic assignment, then pick one outside that range.

If restarting your modem did not give you a new public IP address, wait a few hours and try again. Some internet providers hold onto IP addresses for a period of time before reassigning them. If the address still has not changed after 24 hours, contact your internet provider — they may need to manually release your old address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my IP address affect my internet speed?

No. Your IP address is just a label that identifies your device on the network. Changing it does not affect how fast data travels to and from your computer. If you are experiencing slow speeds, the problem is elsewhere — check your router placement, restart your modem, or contact your internet provider.

Can I change my IP address to any number I want?

For your private IP address (on your home network), you should use addresses in the private range: 192.168.1.0 through 192.168.1.255, 10.0.0.0 through 10.255.255.255, or 172.16.0.0 through 172.31.255.255. Using addresses outside these ranges may cause conflicts. Your public IP address is assigned by your internet provider and cannot be chosen manually.

How often should I change my IP address?

Most people never need to change their IP address. Your private IP changes automatically when you reconnect to your network, and your public IP changes when you restart your modem. Only manually change your IP if you are troubleshooting a specific problem or testing network settings.

Will changing my IP address hide me from websites?

Changing your public IP address (by restarting your modem) gives you a new address, but websites will still know you are on the same internet provider. To truly hide your IP from websites, use a VPN service, which routes your traffic through a different server and masks your real address.

What is the difference between a static and dynamic IP address?

A dynamic IP address changes periodically or when you reconnect — this is what most home networks use. A static IP address stays the same indefinitely. You can manually set a static IP on your computer, but your internet provider's public IP is usually dynamic unless you pay extra for a static one.