How to Change Your Computer's IP Address

What an IP address is and why you might change it

Your computer's IP address is a unique number that identifies it on a network — like a mailing address for data. It looks like four numbers separated by dots: 192.168.1.5, for example. Your computer actually has two IP addresses: a private IP address used only on your home or office network, and a public IP address assigned by your internet service provider (ISP) that the rest of the internet sees.

You might want to change your private IP address if your computer keeps getting a different one and it's causing problems with devices that need to find it (like a printer or security camera). You might want to change your public IP address if you're having trouble accessing a website that's blocking your current one, or if you want more privacy online. The method depends on which one you're changing and what device you're using.

Key Takeaways

Your private IP address (the one on your home network) can be set manually in your network settings or assigned automatically by your router.
To change your private IP address on Windows, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced Network Settings > IP Settings and choose Manual.
On Mac, open System Settings > Network, select your connection, click Details, and change the IP address in the TCP/IP tab.
Your public IP address (the one the internet sees) is controlled by your ISP and changes when you restart your modem, though you cannot force a specific one.
If you need a different public IP address for privacy or access reasons, a VPN service is the standard tool, though it costs money and slows your connection slightly.

Changing your private IP address on Windows

Your private IP address is the one your computer uses to talk to other devices on your home network. To change it on Windows 11 or Windows 10, open Settings and go to Network & Internet. Click Advanced Network Settings, then scroll down and click IP Settings under the connection you want to change (usually Ethernet or Wi-Fi).

Click the Edit button next to your current IP address. A menu will appear with the option to switch from Automatic to Manual. Turn on the Manual toggle. Now you can type in a new IP address. Make sure it's in the same range as your router — if your router is 192.168.1.1, your computer's address should start with 192.168.1 and end with a number between 2 and 254. Type in a subnet mask (usually 255.255.255.0) and a gateway address (usually the same as your router's address). Click Save when you're done.

If you want to go back to letting your router assign an address automatically, return to the same menu and switch the toggle back to Automatic.

Changing your private IP address on Mac

On Mac, open System Settings and click Network in the sidebar. Select the connection you want to change (Wi-Fi or Ethernet). Click the Details button, then click the TCP/IP tab at the top.

You'll see a dropdown menu that says "Configure IPv4". Click it and select Manual. Now you can type in a new IP address in the same format as Windows — it should match your router's range. Fill in the subnet mask and router address the same way. Click OK to save your changes.

Changing your public IP address

Your public IP address is assigned by your ISP and you cannot change it directly through your computer's settings. However, it will change on its own if you restart your modem — the device your ISP provides that connects your home to the internet. Unplug the modem for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and wait two to three minutes for it to fully restart. Your public IP address will likely be different when it comes back online.

This method is unreliable because your ISP may assign you the same address again, and you have no control over which address you get. If you need a consistent different public IP address — to access a website that's blocking your current one, or for privacy reasons — the standard tool is a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service. A VPN routes your internet traffic through a server in another location, so websites see the VPN's IP address instead of yours. VPN services cost between $3 and $12 per month and will slightly slow your internet speed.

When to use a static private IP address

Once you've set a manual private IP address, it stays the same every time your computer connects to the network. This is called a static IP address. It's useful if you have devices that need to find your computer reliably — for example, if you're backing up to a network drive, running a home server, or if another device needs to send data to your computer at a specific address.

The downside is that if you pick an address your router later tries to assign to another device, there will be a conflict. To avoid this, most routers let you set a range of addresses that will never be handed out automatically. Look in your router's settings (usually at 192.168.1.1 in a web browser) for "DHCP range" or "reserved addresses" and make sure your static IP is outside that range.

Troubleshooting after changing your IP address

If you change your private IP address and suddenly cannot reach the internet or other devices, the most common cause is that you entered the wrong subnet mask or gateway address. Go back to your network settings and double-check that both match what your router uses. If you're not sure what your router's address is, restart your computer and it will usually go back to automatic assignment.

If you changed your public IP address by restarting your modem and a website is still blocking you, the website may be blocking a whole range of addresses from your ISP, not just your individual address. In that case, a VPN is the only solution. If you're having trouble connecting to a specific device after changing your private IP, make sure the device's settings still point to your computer's new address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my IP address affect my internet speed?

Changing your private IP address will not affect speed at all — it's just a label your router uses. If you use a VPN to change your public IP address, you will see a small speed decrease because your data has to travel through an extra server, usually 10 to 30 percent slower depending on the VPN service.

Can I pick any IP address I want for my private network?

You should stay within your router's range — usually 192.168.1.0 to 192.168.1.254, though some routers use 10.0.0.0 or 172.16.0.0 ranges. Avoid 192.168.1.1 (your router's address) and any addresses your router is set to hand out automatically. Picking an address outside these ranges may cause your computer to lose network access.

Do I need to restart my computer after changing its IP address?

No, the change takes effect when ready on most systems. If a device cannot find your computer right after the change, wait 30 seconds and try again — sometimes it takes a moment for the network to update. If it still does not work, restart your computer.

What's the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?

IPv4 addresses look like 192.168.1.5 (four numbers). IPv6 addresses look like 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334 (letters and numbers with colons). Most home networks still use IPv4, but newer systems support both. You can usually ignore IPv6 unless your ISP or a specific service requires it.

Will my ISP know if I use a VPN to change my public IP address?

Your ISP will know you are using a VPN because the traffic pattern is different, but they cannot see which websites you visit or what you do online while using one. Some ISPs throttle (slow down) VPN traffic, though this is becoming less common.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.