What changing your IP address means and why you might do it

Your computer's IP address is a number that identifies it on a network — either your home network or the internet. When you change it, you are reassigning that number so your computer appears as a different device. This is different from changing your internet provider's IP address (the one your whole household shares), though the two are related.

People change their IP address for a few reasons: to fix a connection problem, to reset a device that is not communicating properly with the network, to separate one computer's traffic from another, or to test network settings. On a home network, the simplest fix is usually to restart your router and modem, which forces your internet provider to assign you a new IP address automatically. But if you need to change the address your computer uses on your local network, you can do that through your network settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Your computer has a local IP address (used on your home network) and your internet provider assigns a separate IP address to your household (used on the internet).
  • Restarting your modem and router is the easiest way to get a new internet-facing IP address, and it usually fixes connection problems.
  • To change your computer's local network address on Windows, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced Network Settings > IP Settings and switch from automatic to manual.
  • On Mac, open System Settings > Network, select your connection, click Details, and change the IP address in the TCP/IP tab.
  • If you are not sure what IP address to use, ask your router for one, or contact your internet provider if the problem involves your internet connection itself.

Restarting your modem and router to get a new internet IP address

The fastest way to change the IP address your internet provider sees is to power cycle your modem and router. Unplug both devices, wait 30 seconds, and plug the modem back in first. Wait for all its lights to stabilize (usually one to three minutes), then plug in the router and wait for it to fully boot. Your internet provider will assign your household a new IP address during this process.

This method works because your modem requests a new address from your internet provider each time it starts up. You do not need to change any settings on your computer. This is also the fix for most connection problems — a fresh connection often clears temporary glitches that prevent websites from loading or cause lag.

Changing your computer's local IP address on Windows

If you need to assign your Windows computer a specific IP address on your home network, 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 the IP assignment line. A dropdown menu will appear — change it from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual. Toggle on the IPv4 switch. You will now see fields for IP address, Subnet mask, and Default gateway. Enter the address you want to use (for example, 192.168.1.50), keep the subnet mask as 255.255.255.0 unless your router uses a different one, and enter your router's address as the gateway (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 — check your router's label or manual if you are unsure). Click Save.

Your computer will disconnect and reconnect using the new address. If you entered an address that conflicts with another device on your network, you will lose connection — in that case, repeat the steps and choose a different number in the last section (like 192.168.1.51 instead of .50).

Changing your computer's local 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), then click the Details button. Go to the TCP/IP tab.

Click the Configure IPv4 dropdown and change it from Automatic to Manual. You will see a field for IPv4 Address. Enter the address you want (for example, 192.168.1.50). The Subnet Mask and Router fields usually fill in automatically, but if they do not, enter 255.255.255.0 for the subnet mask and your router's address (usually 192.168.1.1) for the router field. Click OK, then click explore.

Your Mac will explore the new address when ready. If the address conflicts with another device, you will see a warning — choose a different number and try again.

Finding the right IP address to use

When you set a manual IP address, you need to pick a number that does not conflict with other devices on your network. Most home routers use addresses in the range 192.168.1.1 through 192.168.1.254 or 192.168.0.1 through 192.168.0.254. A safe choice is usually something in the middle-to-high range, like 192.168.1.100 or 192.168.1.200, because routers often assign low numbers to new devices automatically.

If you are unsure, log into your router's admin panel (usually by typing 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into a web browser) and look for a list of connected devices. This shows you which addresses are already in use. Pick a number higher than all of them. Alternatively, you can ask your router to assign you an address by switching back to Automatic (DHCP) and letting it choose.

When to call your internet provider instead

If your problem is that websites are slow, you cannot connect to the internet at all, or your connection drops frequently, changing your computer's local IP address will not fix it. These are usually problems with your internet connection itself, not your computer's address on your home network. Restart your modem and router first — that solves most of these problems.

If restarting does not help and the problem affects all devices in your household, contact your internet provider. They can check whether your modem is connecting properly and assign you a new internet-facing IP address if needed. If only one computer is having trouble, the problem is usually with that computer's network driver or settings, not your IP address.

Switching back to automatic IP assignment

If you set a manual IP address and want to go back to letting your router assign one automatically, the process is straightforward. On Windows, go back to Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced Network Settings > IP Settings, click Edit, and change the dropdown back to Automatic (DHCP). On Mac, go to System Settings > Network > Details > TCP/IP and change the Configure IPv4 dropdown back to Automatic.

Your computer will request a new address from your router and reconnect within a few seconds. Automatic assignment is usually the best choice for home networks because it prevents conflicts and requires no maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my IP address hide my identity online?

No. Changing your computer's local IP address (the one on your home network) does not affect how you appear on the internet. Your internet provider's IP address is what websites see, and changing your computer's local address does not change that. To hide your identity online, you would need a VPN or proxy service, which is a different tool entirely.

What is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?

IPv4 addresses use four numbers separated by dots (like 192.168.1.50) and are the standard on most home networks. IPv6 uses longer addresses and is newer but less common in home setups. For a home network, you almost always want to work with IPv4. Your router's manual will tell you if it supports IPv6.

Can I use any IP address I want?

No. On your home network, you must use an address in the range your router supports, and it cannot conflict with any other device. On the internet, only your internet provider can assign you an address. Trying to use an address that is already taken will cause connection problems.

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

No. Your computer will explore the new address when ready on Windows and Mac. You may need to close and reopen your web browser or other programs to see the change take effect, but a full restart is not necessary.

What should I do if I cannot connect to the internet after changing my IP address?

The address you chose likely conflicts with another device. Switch back to Automatic (DHCP) in your network settings, wait for your computer to reconnect, and then try again with a different address — pick a higher number than before.