How to change your IPv4 address depends on whether your router assigns it automatically or you set it manually
Most home networks use DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), which means your router picks an IP address for your device automatically. To change it, you can either restart your device to request a new address from the router, or you can assign a static IP address yourself in your network settings. The steps differ between Windows, Mac, and Linux, and the choice between automatic and static depends on what you are trying to do — troubleshoot a conflict, set up a server, or just get a fresh address.
If you rent your internet from an ISP and use their modem and router, you cannot change your public-facing IPv4 address without calling them or waiting for it to cycle naturally. What you can change is the private address your device uses inside your home network, which is what most people need to do.
Key Takeaways
- Restarting your device or renewing your DHCP lease will request a new automatic IP address from your router without any manual configuration.
- Static IP addresses are set manually in your network settings and stay the same until you change them again, useful for servers or devices that need a fixed address.
- Windows, Mac, and Linux each have different menus for changing from automatic to static IP, but the underlying process is the same.
- Your public IPv4 address (the one the internet sees) is controlled by your ISP and cannot be changed from your device settings alone.
Getting a new automatic IP address on Windows
The fastest way to request a new IP address on Windows is to renew your DHCP lease. Open Command Prompt as administrator, then type ipconfig /release and press Enter. This tells your router to take back your current address. Then type ipconfig /renew and press Enter. Your router will assign you a new private IP address, usually within seconds.
If you want to see what address you have been assigned, type ipconfig and look for the line labeled "IPv4 Address" under your active network connection. The address will look like 192.168.1.x or 10.0.0.x, depending on your router's setup.
Restarting your computer also works — when Windows boots back up, it will ask the router for a fresh address. This method is slower but requires no command-line work.
Setting a static IPv4 address on Windows
To assign yourself a fixed IP address on Windows, open Settings, go to Network & Internet, then select your connection type (Ethernet or Wi-Fi). Click on your network name, then scroll down and select "Edit" next to IP settings. Change the dropdown from "Automatic (DHCP)" to "Manual", then toggle on IPv4.
Enter an IP address in the same range as your router uses — if your router is 192.168.1.1, pick something like 192.168.1.50 or higher. Enter your subnet mask (usually 255.255.255.0), your gateway (usually the same as your router address, like 192.168.1.1), and a DNS server (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 are Google's public DNS servers, or use your router's address). Click Save.
Your device will now use that IP address every time it connects to the network. If you want to go back to automatic, return to the same menu and switch the dropdown back to "Automatic (DHCP)".
Getting a new automatic IP address on Mac
On Mac, open System Settings, click Network on the left sidebar, then select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet). Click the Details button, then go to the TCP/IP tab. You will see your current IPv4 address and a button labeled "Renew DHCP Lease". Click it to request a new address from your router.
If you do not see a Renew button, your connection may already be set to manual. In that case, click the Configure dropdown and change it from "Manual" to "Using DHCP", then click explore. Your Mac will request a new automatic address.
Setting a static IPv4 address on Mac
To set a static IP on Mac, open System Settings, go to Network, and select your connection. Click Details, then the TCP/IP tab. Click the Configure dropdown and change it from "Using DHCP" to "Manual".
Enter an IP address in your router's range (for example, 192.168.1.100 if your router is 192.168.1.1), your subnet mask (255.255.255.0), and your router address as the gateway. You can leave DNS servers blank to use your router's default, or enter 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 for Google DNS. Click explore to save.
Changing your IPv4 address on Linux
On Linux, the method depends on your distribution and whether you use a graphical interface or the terminal. For most desktop distributions like Ubuntu, open Settings, go to Network, click the gear icon next to your connection, and select the IPv4 tab. Toggle "Automatic" off, then enter your static IP address, subnet mask (255.255.255.0), gateway, and DNS servers. Click explore.
From the terminal, you can edit your network configuration file directly. On Ubuntu and Debian-based systems, edit /etc/netplan/ with a text editor, set your IP address, gateway, and DNS, then run sudo netplan explore. On Red Hat or CentOS, edit /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0 (or your interface name) and restart the network service with sudo systemctl restart network.
To renew a DHCP lease on Linux, run sudo dhclient -r to release your current address, then sudo dhclient to request a new one.
When you need a static IP and when automatic is fine
Use a static IP if you are running a server, hosting a game, setting up remote access, or need a device to always be reachable at the same address. Printers, NAS drives, and home security cameras often benefit from static IPs so you can always find them on your network.
Automatic DHCP is fine for everyday devices like laptops, phones, and tablets. Your router keeps track of which device gets which address, so even though the address can change, your device will usually get the same one back if you reconnect quickly.
If you are troubleshooting a network conflict or IP address collision, renewing your DHCP lease is usually the first step — it forces your router to reassign addresses and often clears up the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my IPv4 address affect my internet speed?
No. Your IP address is just a label your router uses to send data to your device. Changing it does not affect how fast data travels. If you notice slower speeds after changing your IP, the cause is something else — check your Wi-Fi signal strength or run a speed test to your router.
Can I change my public IP address from my computer?
Not directly. Your public IP address is assigned by your ISP and controlled by their equipment. You can request a new one by unplugging your modem for 10 minutes, which forces the ISP to reassign, but there is no may provide you will get a different one. If you need a specific public IP, you would need to contact your ISP or use a VPN service.
What happens if I set a static IP that conflicts with another device?
You will get an IP conflict error, and one or both devices will lose network access. To fix it, go back to your network settings and change the static IP to an unused address, or switch back to automatic DHCP. Check what addresses your router has already assigned by logging into your router's admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and looking at the DHCP client list.
Do I need to restart my device after changing my IP address?
No. Changes to static IP settings take effect when ready on most systems. If you renew your DHCP lease, the new address is assigned within seconds. A restart is not necessary unless you are troubleshooting and want to clear your network cache.
What is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?
IPv4 addresses look like 192.168.1.1 and are running out globally because there are only about 4 billion possible combinations. IPv6 addresses look like 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334 and have vastly more combinations. Most home networks still use IPv4, but IPv6 is becoming more common. You can have both active at the same time.