The Two Ways to Change Your IP Address in Windows 10

You can change your IP address in Windows 10 in two ways: by letting your router assign you a new one automatically, or by setting a specific IP address manually on your computer. The automatic method is faster and works for most situations. The manual method gives you control over the exact address and is useful if you need your computer to keep the same IP address even after a restart.

Both methods happen in the same place: your network settings. You do not need to restart Windows or install anything. The change takes effect when ready, though it may take a few seconds for your internet connection to stabilize.

Key Takeaways

  • The quickest way to get a new IP address is to release your current one and request a fresh one from your router, which takes about 30 seconds.
  • To set a permanent IP address manually, you enter the address, subnet mask, and gateway in your network adapter settings under IPv4 properties.
  • You can find your current IP address by opening Command Prompt and typing ipconfig, which shows all your network details.
  • Changing your IP address on your computer does not affect other devices on your network — each device has its own address.
  • If you change your IP address manually and then want to go back to automatic assignment, you return to the same settings and select "Obtain an IP address automatically."

How to Get a New IP Address Automatically

The fastest way to change your IP address is to release the one you have and ask your router for a new one. Open the Start menu, type Command Prompt, right-click it, and select Run as administrator. A black window will open.

Type this command and press Enter: ipconfig /release. Wait a few seconds. Then type this command and press Enter: ipconfig /renew. Your router will assign you a new IP address within seconds. To confirm the change worked, type ipconfig and press Enter — look for the line that says IPv4 Address. Close the Command Prompt window.

This method works because your router is set to hand out temporary IP addresses (called DHCP leases). Releasing yours tells the router you are done with it, and renewing asks for a fresh one. Most home networks use this method by default.

How to Set a Specific IP Address Manually

If you need your computer to always have the same IP address, you can set one manually. First, find out what addresses are available on your network. Open Command Prompt as administrator and type ipconfig, then press Enter. Write down three pieces of information: your IPv4 Address, your Subnet Mask, and your Default Gateway. These tell you what range of addresses your network uses.

Now open the Start menu and type Settings. Click Settings to open it. Go to Network & Internet on the left side. Click Ethernet if you are plugged in with a cable, or Wi-Fi if you are using wireless. Under your connection name, click Change adapter options.

Right-click your connection (it will say Ethernet or Wi-Fi) and select Properties. In the list, find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), click it once, and then click Properties. A new window opens.

Click the radio button next to Use the following IP address. Now you can type in the fields. Use an address from your network's range — for example, if your current address is 192.168.1.100, you can use 192.168.1.101 or any number up to 192.168.1.254. Enter the same Subnet Mask and Default Gateway you wrote down earlier. Click OK, then OK again. Your new IP address is now active.

Finding Your Current IP Address

You can see your IP address at any time without changing it. Open Command Prompt (search for it in the Start menu) and type ipconfig, then press Enter. Look for the line labeled IPv4 Address — that is your current address. The Subnet Mask and Default Gateway lines show your network's configuration.

You can also find your IP address in Settings. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet (or Wi-Fi) and scroll down to Properties. Your IPv4 address appears under the connection details.

When to Change Your IP Address

Most people never need to change their IP address. Your router handles this automatically, and it works fine. However, there are a few situations where you might want to: if your internet connection is unstable and a fresh IP address sometimes fixes it, if you are setting up a home server and need the computer to keep the same address so other devices can always find it, or if you are troubleshooting network problems and your IT support asks you to use a specific address.

If you are trying to change your IP address to access a website or service that blocks your current address, changing your local IP address (the one on your computer) will not help — you would need to change your public IP address, which is assigned by your internet provider and is different from what you see in these settings.

Going Back to Automatic IP Assignment

If you set a manual IP address and want to return to automatic assignment, the process is straightforward. Go back to Settings > Network & Internet > Change adapter options, right-click your connection, select Properties, find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), click Properties, and select the radio button next to Obtain an IP address automatically. Click OK twice. Your router will assign you a new address within seconds.

This reversal is useful if you manually set an address for a temporary reason — such as testing a network configuration — and want to return to the normal automatic system. The process takes less than a minute and requires no restart.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my IP address affect my internet speed?

No. Your IP address is just a label your router uses to send data to your computer. Changing it does not change your connection speed. If you are experiencing slow internet, changing your IP address is unlikely to fix it — the problem is usually with your router, modem, or internet provider.

Can I use any IP address I want?

No. Your address must be within the range your router uses. Most home routers use addresses starting with 192.168.1 or 192.168.0. If you pick an address outside this range or one already in use by another device, your computer will not connect properly. Stick to the range your current address is in.

What is the difference between my local IP and my public IP?

Your local IP address is what your router assigns to your computer on your home network. Your public IP address is assigned by your internet provider and is what websites see when you visit them. These instructions change your local IP only. Your public IP is controlled by your provider and cannot be changed from your computer.

Do I need to restart Windows after changing my IP address?

No. The change takes effect when ready. You may notice a brief pause in your internet connection while your computer reconnects, but a full restart is not necessary.

What if I set a manual IP address and now I cannot connect to the internet?

Go back to automatic assignment by following the steps in the "Going Back to Automatic IP Assignment" section. If you entered an address outside your network's range or one already used by another device, your computer cannot reach the internet. Switching back to automatic fixes this when ready.