The fastest way to change your IP address in Windows 11

The quickest method is to release your current IP address and request a new one from your router. Open Settings, go to Network & Internet, select your connection type (Wi-Fi or Ethernet), then find the IP settings option. Click "Edit" next to your IP assignment, change the setting from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual, toggle it back to Automatic, and save. Your router will assign you a new IP address within seconds.

If that does not work, restart your modem and router. Unplug the modem for 30 seconds, plug it back in, wait for all lights to stabilize, then do the same with your router. This forces your internet service provider to issue a fresh IP address. Most home users get a new address this way without touching Windows settings at all.

For a permanent manual IP address instead of an automatic one, you will need your router's gateway address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1), a subnet mask (usually 255.255.255.0), and a DNS server address. These details are in your router's manual or on a sticker on the device itself.

Key Takeaways

  • Restarting your modem and router is the simplest way to get a new IP address without changing any settings.
  • You can manually toggle your IP assignment from Automatic to Manual and back in Windows 11 Settings to force a refresh.
  • Assigning a static (permanent) IP address requires your router's gateway address, subnet mask, and DNS server information.
  • Your public IP address (what websites see) and your local IP address (what your router assigns) are different things.

Toggling between automatic and manual IP assignment

Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I. Navigate to Network & Internet on the left sidebar, then select either Wi-Fi or Ethernet depending on how you connect to the internet. Scroll down and click "IP settings" or "Edit" next to your current IP assignment method.

You will see a dropdown that says "Automatic (DHCP)" or "Manual". Click the dropdown and select Manual. Windows will ask you to enter an IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS servers. Instead of filling these in, straightforward toggle the setting back to Automatic (DHCP) and click Save. This forces Windows to release the old address and request a fresh one from your router.

The new address usually appears within 10 to 30 seconds. You can check it by opening Settings again and looking at the IP address field, or by opening Command Prompt and typing ipconfig to see all your network details at once.

Setting a static IP address that does not change

A static IP address stays the same every time you restart your computer. This is useful if you run a home server, need consistent remote access, or want to set up port forwarding rules on your router. To set one, you first need three pieces of information from your router: the gateway address, the subnet mask, and a DNS server address.

Find your router's IP address by opening Command Prompt (press Windows key + R, type cmd, and press Enter) and typing ipconfig. Look for "Default Gateway" — that is your router's address, usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. The "Subnet Mask" is listed right below it. For DNS, you can use your router's address again, or use public DNS servers like 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare).

Go back to Settings > Network & Internet > IP settings and select Manual. Enter an IP address on the same network as your router (for example, if your router is 192.168.1.1, use 192.168.1.100 or higher). Enter the subnet mask and gateway you found in Command Prompt, add your DNS server, and click Save. Your computer will now use that same IP address every time it connects.

Understanding public versus local IP addresses

Your computer actually has two IP addresses. Your local IP address is assigned by your router and is only visible to devices on your home network — it usually starts with 192.168 or 10.0. Your public IP address is assigned by your internet service provider and is what websites see when you visit them.

Changing your IP address in Windows Settings only changes your local address. To change your public IP address, you must restart your modem, because that is what your ISP communicates with. If you want to hide your public IP address from websites, you would use a VPN instead, which routes your traffic through another server.

You can see your public IP address by visiting a site like whatismyipaddress.com in your browser. Your local IP address is what you see in Command Prompt when you type ipconfig. Both are normal and necessary — they serve different purposes on different networks.

Restarting your modem and router for a new public IP

If you want a new public IP address (the one your ISP assigns), restart your modem first, then your router. Unplug the modem's power cable and wait 30 seconds. Plug it back in and wait for all the lights to stop blinking and stabilize — this usually takes 2 to 3 minutes. Then unplug your router, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in.

Once both devices are fully restarted, your ISP will assign your modem a new public IP address. You can verify this by visiting whatismyipaddress.com before and after the restart — the address should be different. This method works for any internet connection type: cable, fiber, DSL, or satellite.

Some ISPs assign new public IP addresses automatically every 24 to 48 hours, so you may get a new one without doing anything. Others keep the same address for months. Restarting the modem is the only way to force a change on demand.

Troubleshooting when your IP address will not change

If toggling the IP setting in Windows does not give you a new address, your router may be holding onto the old one. Restart the router as described above. If you are still seeing the same address after 5 minutes, restart your computer itself — sometimes Windows caches the old address until a full reboot.

If you set a static IP address and it is not working, double-check that the address you entered is on the same network as your router. For example, if your router is 192.168.1.1 and your subnet mask is 255.255.255.0, your static IP should be between 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.1.254. If you used an address outside that range, Windows may not be able to connect.

Another common issue is entering the wrong gateway or DNS address. Open Command Prompt and type ipconfig /all to see all your network settings in detail. Compare what you entered in Windows Settings to what appears in Command Prompt. If they do not match, go back to Settings and correct them.

When you might need a different IP address

You may want to change your IP address if a website is blocking your current one, if you are setting up port forwarding on your router, or if you are troubleshooting a network connection problem. Changing your local IP address (in Windows Settings) helps with router configuration and network access. Changing your public IP address (by restarting your modem) helps if a website or service has blocked your ISP's address range.

Some people change their IP address for privacy reasons, though a VPN is more effective for that purpose. Others do it to reset a connection that has become unstable. In most cases, restarting your modem solves the problem without any manual changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my IP address disconnect me from the internet?

No. Toggling your IP setting in Windows Settings will cause a brief pause of a few seconds while your router assigns a new address, but you will reconnect automatically. Restarting your modem takes longer — usually 2 to 3 minutes — but you will come back online once it finishes booting.

Can I choose what my new IP address will be?

Your router chooses your local IP address automatically when you use DHCP (Automatic). You can pick a specific address by switching to Manual and entering a static IP, but it must be within your router's range. Your public IP address is chosen by your ISP and you cannot change it directly — you can only force a new one by restarting your modem.

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

Usually not. Windows applies IP changes when ready. However, if a program is still using the old address or your connection feels stuck, a full restart of your computer can help clear the issue.

What is the difference between DHCP and a static IP address?

DHCP (Automatic) means your router assigns you a new address each time you connect, which can change. A static IP address is one you set manually and stays the same every time. DHCP is simpler for most users; static IP is better if you need consistent access to your computer from other devices.

Will changing my IP address affect my passwords or accounts?

No. Your IP address is separate from your accounts. Changing it will not log you out of anything or affect your passwords. Some websites may ask you to verify your identity if you log in from a very different location, but that is a security feature, not a result of the IP change itself.