Everyday Internet & Troubleshooting
How to Change Your IP Address (Public & Private)
You might want a fresh IP to dodge a block, fix a conflict, or boost privacy. Here are the methods that actually work.
Change your public IP
- Use a VPN — the fastest, most reliable way. Websites see the VPN server's IP instead of yours, and you can pick a country. Verify it worked with our privacy & leak test.
- Restart your modem/router — if your ISP hands out dynamic IPs, powering the modem off for a few minutes often assigns a new one on reconnect. Not guaranteed.
- Use a proxy or the Tor Browser — routes traffic through another server, changing the IP sites see.
- Ask your ISP — they can sometimes reassign your address, or sell you a static IP if you need a fixed one.
- Switch networks — moving from Wi‑Fi to mobile data (or another Wi‑Fi) gives you a completely different public IP.
Change your private IP
Your private IP is assigned by your router via DHCP. To get a new one, release and renew the lease:
- Windows:
ipconfig /releasethenipconfig /renew. - macOS/Linux: toggle Wi‑Fi off/on, or renew the DHCP lease in network settings.
How to confirm it changed
Reload IP Ducky before and after — if the address is different, it worked. IP Ducky can also flag when your IP changed since your last visit. For a clear before/after, use the snapshot feature in the leak test.