Yes, you can change your IP address, and the method depends on whether you want a temporary change or a permanent one

Your IP address is a number assigned to your device by your internet service provider (ISP) or your home router. It identifies your device on the internet the same way a mailing address identifies your house. You can change it, but the steps differ depending on what you're trying to do. A temporary change—disconnecting and reconnecting—takes minutes. A permanent change through your ISP takes longer and may not be possible on all plans.

Most people can change their IP address without calling their ISP. If you're on a residential internet plan, your ISP assigns you a dynamic IP address, which changes automatically every few months anyway. You can force that change yourself by restarting your modem and router. If you have a static IP address (usually a business or premium plan), you'll need to contact your ISP to change it, and they may charge a fee.

Key Takeaways

  • Restarting your modem and router will change your IP address within minutes if you have a dynamic IP plan, which most home internet users have.
  • Unplugging your modem for 10 to 30 seconds forces your ISP to assign you a new address when it reconnects.
  • If you have a static IP address, you'll need to contact your ISP directly to request a change, and they may charge for it.
  • A VPN masks your IP address by routing your traffic through another server, but it doesn't change your actual ISP-assigned address.
  • Restarting your device alone won't change your IP address; you must restart the modem and router that connect you to the internet.

The fastest way: restart your modem and router

If you have a dynamic IP address (the standard for home internet), the quickest way to change it is to power cycle your modem and router. Unplug the modem first, wait 10 to 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Wait for all the lights to stabilize—usually 2 to 3 minutes. Then unplug the router, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. When both devices finish restarting, your ISP will assign you a new IP address.

The wait time matters. If you unplug and when ready plug back in, your ISP may assign you the same address. The 10 to 30 second pause gives the ISP's system time to release your old address. After the modem and router restart, check your new IP address by opening a browser and searching "what is my IP address"—any of the top results will show it.

Why your IP address changes on its own

Your ISP doesn't assign you the same IP address forever. Most residential internet plans use dynamic IP addresses, which your ISP recycles among customers. When you're offline for a few days or when your lease period expires (usually 30 to 90 days, depending on your ISP), your address gets reassigned to someone else. The next time you connect, you get a new one.

This is different from a static IP address, which stays the same indefinitely. Static IPs are typically reserved for businesses, servers, or customers who pay extra. If you're unsure whether you have a dynamic or static IP, contact your ISP—they can tell you in one call. Most home internet customers have dynamic IPs and don't need to do anything to get a new address eventually.

If you have a static IP address

A static IP address doesn't change unless you ask your ISP to change it. If your plan includes a static IP and you want a different one, you'll need to contact your ISP's customer service. They can assign you a new static address, though some ISPs charge a fee for this service—typically $5 to $15 per month or a one-time charge of $20 to $50, depending on the provider.

Before you call, have your account number and current IP address ready. The ISP will confirm that you want to change it, assign a new one, and walk you through any configuration changes needed on your end. For most home users, this is rare—static IPs are usually only on business plans or premium residential packages.

Using a VPN to mask your IP address

A VPN (virtual private network) is different from changing your IP address. A VPN masks your real IP address by routing your internet traffic through a server in another location. Websites see the VPN server's IP address instead of yours. However, your ISP-assigned IP address doesn't actually change—it's just hidden from the websites you visit.

A VPN is useful if you want privacy while browsing or if you want to appear to be in a different location. It does not change your actual IP address with your ISP. If you restart your modem while using a VPN, your real IP address will still change; the VPN just hides it from view. VPNs are a separate tool from IP address changes and serve a different purpose.

What happens when you change your IP address

When you change your IP address, most of your online activity continues without interruption. Email, messaging apps, and streaming services don't care what your IP address is—they identify you by your login credentials. However, a few things may briefly disconnect: online games, video calls, and remote desktop connections may drop for a few seconds while your device reconnects with the new address.

If you're hosting a server or running a service that relies on a static IP, changing your address will break that connection until you update the configuration. This is why businesses use static IPs—they need the address to stay the same so clients can always reach them. For typical home use, changing your IP address is harmless and often unnoticeable.

When you might want to change your IP address

Most people never need to change their IP address. However, there are a few situations where it's useful. If you're being harassed online and the person has your IP address, changing it removes that information. If your IP address has been flagged by a website (sometimes happens if many people on your network accessed it, or if your ISP's address range is on a spam list), a new address may restore access. If you're troubleshooting a connection problem, restarting your modem—which changes your IP—can sometimes resolve it.

Changing your IP address will not hide you from law enforcement, bypass parental controls on your network, or remove you from a website's ban list if the ban is tied to your account rather than your address. If you're trying to solve a technical problem, contact your ISP or the website's support team first—they can often help more directly than changing your address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will restarting my computer change my IP address?

No. Restarting your computer alone won't change your IP address. You must restart your modem and router—the devices that connect you to your ISP. Your computer gets its IP address from the router, so if the router still has the same address from your ISP, your computer will too.

How long does it take to get a new IP address after restarting my modem?

Usually 2 to 5 minutes. After you unplug and restart your modem, it takes a minute or two to reconnect to your ISP. Your ISP then assigns a new address, which your router receives and passes to your devices. You can check your new IP address as soon as all the lights on your modem and router stop blinking.

Can my ISP see what I do online if I change my IP address?

Yes. Changing your IP address doesn't hide your activity from your ISP. Your ISP knows which IP addresses they've assigned to you and can see all traffic from those addresses. If you want to hide your activity from your ISP, you would need a VPN, which encrypts your traffic so your ISP can't see the websites you visit.

What if I change my IP address and can't access my home network?

This is rare, but if you have devices configured to use a specific static IP address, they may lose connection when your router's IP changes. Restart those devices so they re-connect to the router with the new address. If the problem persists, restart your router again or contact your ISP.

Does changing my IP address remove me from a website ban?

Not always. If a website banned your account, changing your IP won't restore access—the ban is tied to your account, not your address. If the ban was based on your IP address alone, a new address may work, but the website may recognize you by other means like cookies or device fingerprinting.