Your IP address usually stays the same for months or years, unless your internet provider reassigns it or you change how you connect

Most home internet users keep the same IP address for 6 months to several years. Your internet service provider (ISP) assigns you an address when you first connect, and it stays yours until the ISP recycles it—which happens when you disconnect for a long time, switch providers, or the ISP needs to reorganize its address pool. The exact timing depends entirely on your ISP's practices and your own behavior.

If you use mobile data, your IP address changes every time you switch networks—from home WiFi to cellular to a coffee shop. If you use a VPN (virtual private network), your visible IP address becomes the VPN server's address instead of your own, and that can change depending on which server you connect to. Understanding what triggers a change helps you know whether your address is stable or temporary.

Key Takeaways

  • Home broadband IP addresses typically remain unchanged for months or years unless you disconnect for an extended period or switch providers.
  • Your ISP can reassign your address without warning, but most do not do so frequently because it creates work for their support teams.
  • Mobile devices get a new IP address each time you connect to a different network, whether that is home WiFi, cellular data, or public WiFi.
  • Restarting your modem or router may trigger a new address, but only if your ISP's system decides to hand out a fresh one during reconnection.

How long a home broadband IP address typically lasts

Your home broadband IP address is assigned by your ISP using a system called DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). The ISP sets a lease period—usually between 24 hours and 30 days—but that does not mean your address changes when the lease expires. Instead, the ISP automatically renews the lease, and you keep the same address. This renewal happens in the background without you noticing.

The address only gets reassigned when you disconnect for a long stretch (usually 30 to 90 days, depending on the ISP), when you move and switch providers, or when the ISP decides to reorganize its address blocks. Some ISPs are more aggressive about recycling addresses; others hold onto assignments for years. There is no industry standard, so the timeline varies by provider and region.

What actually causes your IP address to change

The most common trigger is unplugging your modem for several days or longer. When you reconnect, your ISP's system may hand out a different address from its available pool. However, restarting your modem for a few minutes usually does not change your address—the ISP recognizes your modem's hardware identifier and renews the same lease.

Switching internet providers always gives you a new IP address, because you are now on a different company's network. Upgrading your service plan with the same ISP sometimes triggers a change, though not always. Calling your ISP to complain about service or requesting a new modem can occasionally result in a reassignment, but this is not may provide and not the primary reason ISPs change addresses.

Power outages that last hours or days can cause a change, because your modem loses its connection and has to re-register with the ISP. If your modem or router fails and you replace it, the new hardware may get a different address, though some ISPs tie the address to your account rather than the device.

Why your mobile IP address changes constantly

Mobile devices operate differently from home broadband. When you use cellular data, your phone connects through your carrier's network, and the carrier assigns you an IP address for that session. When you switch to WiFi at home, you get a new IP address from your home router. When you move to a coffee shop WiFi, you get yet another address from that network's router.

Even if you stay on the same cellular network all day, your IP address may change when you move between cell towers or when your carrier's system reassigns addresses during routine maintenance. This happens because mobile networks handle traffic differently than fixed broadband—they expect devices to move and reconnect frequently.

How VPNs mask your real IP address

When you use a VPN, websites and services see the IP address of the VPN server you are connected to, not your actual home or mobile IP address. If you connect to a VPN server in New York, websites see a New York IP address. If you switch to a server in London, they see a London address. Your real IP address stays hidden.

VPN servers can change your visible IP address every time you reconnect or switch servers. Some VPN services rotate addresses automatically; others keep you on the same server until you manually switch. This is separate from whether your underlying home broadband address changes—the VPN layer sits on top of your real connection.

Whether restarting your modem actually changes your address

A quick restart—unplugging for 30 seconds and plugging back in—usually does not change your IP address. Your modem reconnects to the ISP, the ISP recognizes it, and the same address lease renews. This is the normal behavior for most major ISPs.

A longer disconnect (several hours or more) increases the chance of a new address, because the ISP's system may have already released your old address back into the pool by the time you reconnect. If you want to force a change, you would need to leave the modem unplugged for at least a few hours, though even then the ISP might hand you the same address again.

Checking your current IP address

You can find your home broadband IP address by searching "what is my IP" in any browser. The result shows your public IP address—the one the outside world sees. You can also log into your router's admin panel (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) to see your address there, though the router's display shows the same number.

For mobile devices, the process is the same: search "what is my IP" while on cellular data or WiFi, and the browser shows you the address for that connection. If you switch networks and search again, you will see a different address. Keeping a record of your address over time helps you notice when it actually changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does restarting my router change my IP address?

A quick restart usually does not change it. Your ISP recognizes your modem and renews the same address. A longer disconnect—several hours or more—makes a change more likely, but is not may provide. Most people restart their routers without seeing an address change.

Can my ISP change my IP address without telling me?

Yes. ISPs can reassign addresses without notification. However, most do not do this frequently because it creates support calls. If your address changes unexpectedly, it is usually because you were disconnected for a while or the ISP was reorganizing its address pool.

Why does my IP address change when I use mobile data?

Mobile networks assign addresses per session, not per device. When you switch from cellular to WiFi, you get a new address from a different network. Even staying on the same carrier, moving between towers or during routine maintenance can trigger a new address.

If I use a VPN, does my real IP address still change?

Your real home or mobile IP address can still change independently of the VPN. The VPN masks it from websites, but your underlying connection to the internet follows the same rules as before. You would need to check your real IP separately to know if it has changed.

How can I keep the same IP address for a long time?

Stay connected to the same ISP and keep your modem powered on continuously. Avoid long disconnects (more than a few days). If you need a permanent address, some ISPs offer static IP addresses for a monthly fee, though this is more common for business accounts than home service.