Changing your IP address can improve your privacy, resolve network issues, or even bypass certain restrictions. In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the steps to change your IP address on Windows 10 and 11. Whether you’re using an Ethernet or wireless connection, this guide will cover everything you need to know.
Key Takeaways
- Learn how to manually change your IP address on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
- Understand the difference between DHCP-assigned IP addresses and static IP addresses.
- Get tips on using Google’s DNS for faster and more reliable connections.
1. Accessing the Control Panel
- From your desktop, click the Start button or press the Windows key + S to open the search bar.
- Type in “Control Panel” and select the best match.
- In the Control Panel, change the view to Small Icons for easier navigation.
2. Navigate to Network and Sharing Center
- Once in the Control Panel, find and click on Network and Sharing Center.
- On the left side, select Change Adapter Settings to view all network adapters on your system.
3. Selecting the Correct Network Adapter
- Identify the network adapter you’re using. If you’re on a desktop, this is typically labeled Ethernet.
- For laptops or devices using Wi-Fi, look for the wireless network adapter.
Example: If you’re using a VPN like ProtonVPN, you might see additional adapters like Ethernet 3 for VPN connections. Ignore these and focus on your main network adapter.
4. Viewing Current Network Settings
- Right-click on your network adapter and select Status.
- Click on Details to view your current network connection settings. Pay attention to the IPv4 address and whether DHCP is enabled.
5. Changing Your IP Address
- Close the details window and select Properties for your network adapter.
- In the list of options, find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and double-click it.
- Choose Use the following IP address to manually enter a new IP.
6. Finding an Available IP Address
- Open PowerShell as an administrator (or Command Prompt, depending on your setup).
- Type
IPConfigand press Enter to see all assigned IP addresses. - To find an available IP address, use the command
arp -a, which will list all IP addresses on your network.Pro Tip: Make sure the IP address you choose isn’t already in use to avoid conflicts. The range is typically from 192.168.x.2 to 192.168.x.255, with your router usually assigned to .1.
7. Entering Your New IP Address
- Back in the Internet Protocol settings, enter the new IP address you’ve selected.
- The Subnet Mask field should fill automatically. If not, it is usually 255.255.255.0 for home networks.
- Enter your router’s IP address as the Default Gateway (you can find this in the IPConfig results or typically set to 192.168.x.1).
- For DNS Servers, you can use Google’s DNS by entering 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 for faster, reliable resolution.
8. Confirming Your New IP Address
- After applying the changes, right-click your network adapter again and choose Status.
- Click Details to verify your new IP address and ensure that DHCP is disabled, confirming you’ve set a static IP.
9. Reverting to a DHCP IP Address (Optional)
- If you need to switch back to a dynamically assigned IP address, simply return to the Internet Protocol settings and choose Obtain an IP address automatically.
- You can also revert your DNS settings to be assigned automatically by the router.
Why Change Your Local IP Address?
Changing your local IP address can be useful for several reasons related to your device’s interaction within your local network:
- Avoid Network Conflicts: If two devices on the same network accidentally share the same IP address, it can cause connectivity issues. Changing your local IP address can resolve these conflicts and ensure smooth network performance.
- Better Device Management: Assigning a static local IP address to a device, like a printer or a server, can make it easier to manage and access consistently within your network.
- Improved Local Security: In some cases, changing your local IP address can help protect your device from being easily targeted by others on the same network. This can add an extra layer of security in shared or public networks.
Remember, changing your local IP address only affects how your device is identified within your local network and does not change your public IP address, which is assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). However, your public IP can be changed with a VPN like ProtonVPN.
Conclusion
Changing your IP address on Windows 10 or 11 can be an essential skill for managing your network and protecting your privacy. Whether you’re switching to a static IP or troubleshooting network issues, these steps should help you achieve your goals. Remember to choose IP addresses carefully and verify changes to avoid conflicts.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between a dynamic and static IP address?
A dynamic IP is automatically assigned by your router, while a static IP is manually set by the user and does not change unless done so manually.
2. Can changing my IP address affect my internet connection?
Yes, if done incorrectly. Choosing an IP address that’s already in use can lead to conflicts, resulting in no network access.
3. Is it safe to use Google’s DNS?
Yes, Google’s DNS is considered safe and can even speed up your browsing experience. The addresses are 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
4. Will this process work on other versions of Windows?
The steps are similar for Windows 8, but this guide is specifically for Windows 10 and 11. Windows 7 has a different interface but follows a similar logic.
5. Can I change my public IP address using this method?
No, this tutorial changes your local IP address on your network. To change your public IP, you usually need to contact your ISP or use a VPN.
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- How to Change IP Address on Windows 10 [Step-by-Step Guide]
By Ariel | Follow |
Last Updated
Sometimes, we have to change IP address out of many reasons. How to change IP address on Windows 10? If you are also searching for the answer, you can follow this Windows 10 guide provided by MiniTool to change IP address.
Before You Do
How to change your IP address? In order to change IP address Windows 10 smoothly, it’s required to log in to Windows 10 using an administrator account. Besides, you need to find the IP address of your router and computer. To do so, follow the steps below.
Step 1. Press the Win + I keys to open the Settings app and go to the Network & Internet section.
Step 2. In the Status tab, scroll down the right sidebar and click on the View your network properties option.
Step 3. Now, scroll down the new screen to find the Default gateway and IPv4 address sections. The router’s IP address is next to the Default gateway and the IPv4 address identifies your computer. Remember the IP addresses you have found.
Now, let’s see how to change IP address Windows 10 in the following part.
How to Change My IP Address in Windows 10
Here we will walk you through 2 methods. Each method will be discussed in detail. Now, let’s start learning how to change IP address Windows 10.
Method 1. Change IP Address Windows 10 Using the Settings App
The first and simplest way to change IP address is to use the Settings app. Here’s a full guide for you:
Step 1. Open the Settings app by pressing Win + I keys and then click on Network & Internet.
Step 2. In the pop-up window, select the network type based on your situation. If your device connects to the Internet through a wireless card, select the Wi-Fi section. If your device is using a wired connection, select the Ethernet section.
Step 3. Scroll down the right sidebar to locate the IP settings section and click on the Edit button.
Step 4. In the pop-up dialog box, select Manual from the drop-down menu and enable the IPv4 switch.
Tip: If you want the Windows 10 IP address is to be assigned by the router automatically, you can select Automatic (DHCP) option from the drop-down menu.
Step 5. Enter all the required details below including IP address, Subnet prefix length, Gateway, etc.
IP address: It refers to the static IP address that you want to use.
Subnet prefix length: It refers to the prefix length that determines the size of the subnet.
Gateway: It refers to the IP address of your router.
The Preferred DNS and Alternate DNS settings are not mandatory to enter. The setting will be automatically assigned by your router if they are blank.
Step 6. After the details are entered, click on the Save button to change IP address.
Method 2. Change IP Address Windows 10 in Control Panel
In addition to the above method, you can change IP address Windows 10 through the Control Panel. Here’s how to do that:
Step 1. Type control in the search window and select the Control Panel app from the best match.
Step 2. Change the View by to Category, and then click on View network status and tasks under the Network and Internet section.
Step 3. Navigate to the View your active networks tab and click on your Internet connection next to it.
Step 4. In the pop-up window, click on Properties and then select the Internet Protocol Version 4 or IPv6, which depends on the IP address that you’re ready to change.
Step 5. Click on the Properties button.
Step 6. In the Properties window, select the Use the following IP address option if you want to set a static IP address.
Step 7. Then you need to enter all the required details manually including IP address, subnet mask, and Default gateway. After that, click on OK to save the changes and exit the window.
How to change your IP address in Windows 10? I believe that already have known detailed steps. Now, it’s your turn to have a try.
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Ariel has been working as a highly professional computer-relevant technology editor at MiniTool for many years. She has a strong passion for researching all knowledge related to the computer’s disk, partition, and Windows OS. Up till now, she has finished thousands of articles covering a broad range of topics and helped lots of users fix various problems. She focuses on the fields of disk management, OS backup, and PDF editing and provides her readers with insightful and informative content.
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Have you ever wondered how you can change your IP address and location on Windows 11/10? It is legal to change IP address or location. There are many instances like IPs blocked by certain websites or geo-blocked websites or services where we need to change the IP address or location to access them. In this guide, we show you a few ways to do it.
If you ever want to change your IP address or location for any reason, these are the following ways that can help you do it.
- Use a VPN or Proxy
- Use Tor
- Disconnect your modem
- Change ISP
- Ask ISP for a new IP address
Let’s get into the details of each method.
1] Use a VPN or Proxy
Whenever you use a VPN, it generally masks your real IP address with its IP address from the location you have selected. All the web activity seems to take place through that new IP address from the location you’ve selected. This is one way to change your IP and location easily with just a click when you use VPN software.
A proxy works just like a VPN, but it is more like a middleman. It connects the website you visit with the proxy instead of you. The main difference between a proxy and a VPN is that the data is not encrypted whereas VPN has various protocols to encrypt it. There are many proxy programs that can help you do it easily.
2] Use Tor
Tor is accessible only through the Tor browser which you have to download from Torproject.org. Whenever you use Tor, it sends the traffic and communication through numerous nodes around the world masking your IP and location. It is just like a VPN but without many options or features where only security takes the front seat. You need to give up on internet speeds when you use Tor.
3] Disconnect your modem
The internet you use has an IP address assigned by the internet service provider that you use through a modem or router. Disconnect your modem or router and wait for a few minutes to get a new IP address, if the previous IP is given to someone else. Also, there is no guarantee that you don’t get the same IP address again.
Read: How to block ISP tracking your traffic and data usage
4] Change ISP
IP addresses are assigned by internet service providers. Whenever you get an internet connection, you are assigned an IP. So, if you change your internet service provider, you will get a new IP address.
Read: How to set a Static IP Address in Windows 11/10
5] Ask ISP for a new IP address
As the internet service provider (ISP) is responsible for assigning IP addresses, you can ask your ISP for a new IP address. Most of them provide as they have numerous IPs. Changing IP once or twice is possible, but asking them to change IP multiple times, will not work.
These are the different ways to change your IP address and location on a Windows 11/10 PC.
Read: What can someone do with your IP address?
Can I change my IP address to a specific location?
IP addresses are assigned by internet service providers. You cannot change to a specific location with it. You have to use a VPN to change your IP (a new one provided by VPN) to a specific location. Even, VPNs may not have the servers in the specific locations you may want.
Does VPN change IP location?
Yes, VPN changes IP location. Not only, does it change the IP location, but also, hides your IP address by assigning you a new one from the country or location you select. It cannot change the location of your original IP address.
Related read: Find out, renew, and change IP address in Windows.
Guru is a Communications graduate with hands-on experience with computers, cameras, and editing tools. A tech enthusiast and a movie buff who loves writing about computers, he dreams of living a life devoid of all tech and modern-day advancements in a forest.
Your public IP address is unique and visible to websites and network admins. It contains information about your internet service provider, city, region, and country.
As you can imagine, having your public IP address visible is not the best for privacy.
Moreover, the information provided by your IP is the reason why you can’t access a lot of sites due to geo-restrictions or governmental regulations.
For this reason, many people use VPNs to hide their IP. But VPNs do much more than that, and you may not want to pay for a full VPN service if you only need it for changing your IP.
Luckily, there are other ways you can change your IP address on Windows 10.
What is an IP address?
An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a long string of numbers assigned to every device connected to a network.
→ In version 4 of the internet protocol (IPv4), an IP address is a 32-bit number in the form x.x.x.x, where x is a value between 0 and 255.
→ However, if your internet provider offers IPv6 (internet protocol version 6) on its network, you will have something like this: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334
In theory, IPv6 is safer and more secure, but it’s not supported by a lot of ISPs and applications due to outdated infrastructure.
Both are equally safe for most online activities, but IPv4 is still the preferred choice because of this compatibility issue.
Now, let’s see how you can change your IP address.
How to change IP without VPN on Windows 10
If you want to change your IP address without using a VPN on Windows 10, you can try a few different methods.
1. Use a proxy server
Like a VPN, a proxy is a middleman between your device and the internet. Websites and apps see the IP address of the proxy server and not your actual IP address.
A VPN is technically a proxy that can be an SSL, SSH, or SOCKS proxy.
Here’s how to set up a proxy server on Windows 10:
- Open the Windows Settings.
- Click on “Network & Internet.“
- Select “Proxy” from the left-hand menu.
- Turn on the “Use a proxy server” toggle switch.
- Enter the IP address and port number of the proxy server you want.
- Click “Save” to apply the changes.
✅ Pros
- Configurable in existing apps like your browser
- There are free proxy servers available online
❌ Cons
- Real IP could be exposed if the proxy connection drops for some reason
- Susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks
- They lack encryption and other security features
Changing your IP address using a proxy server can help protect your online privacy and security.
Moreover, it will allow you to access geographically restricted content and bypass network restrictions.
2. Use the Tor browser
When you connect to Tor, your internet traffic is encrypted and routed through a random sequence of these volunteer “nodes,” which are sort of like proxy servers.
Tor browser uses nodes that hide your IP address whenever you access any network. The nodes will change each time you use them. That guarantees your anonymity as well.
Websites can only see the IP address of the last server in the sequence, called the exit node.
Each time you visit a website, the nodes’ sequence changes, making tracing activity back to the original IP address practically impossible.
✅ Pros
- It’s completely free
- Easy to use
❌ Cons
- Some websites block connections from known Tor nodes
- May sometimes leak IP address
Tor is used to avoid censorship, ensure online privacy, and avoid targeted ads based on browsing history.
3. Use the Command Prompt
Changing your IP address using Command Prompt can help troubleshoot network issues or protect online privacy.
Following these simple steps, you can release your current IP address, renew it with a new one, and verify your new network configuration information.
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type “cmd” and hit Enter to open the Command Prompt.
- Now, type “ipconfig /release” and hit Enter.
- Type “ipconfig /renew” and hit Enter to obtain a new IP address from your network.
✅ Pros
- Helpful in diagnosing network problems
- Improves privacy
- It resolves network issues such as slow internet speed
- Free
- Changes IP within seconds
❌ Cons
- Disruption to the network connection.
- Changes IP to one belonging to your ISP
- It doesn’t stop tracking
When experiencing network issues and looking to protect your online privacy, this method can help with quick resolution.
4. Change your router’s MAC address.
The MAC address is a unique identifier for a computer’s network interface, with which websites can track online activities.
When using a router, every device on the network has a unique identifiable MAC address.
By changing your router’s or system’s MAC address, you can change your IP address or that of all devices connected to the router’s network.
Here’s how to change your system MAC address, hence IP address on Windows 10:
- Press the Windows key + X and select “Device Manager” from the menu.
- Expand the “Network adapters” section.
- Right-click on the network adapter you are using and select “Properties“.
- Click “Advanced” and select “Network address” from the list.
- Select “value” and enter the new MAC address you want to use.
- Select “ok” to apply changes.
✅ Pros
- Bypass network traffic restrictions by allowing your device to appear as a different device on the network, potentially gaining access to restricted resources..
- Improves online security
- It makes it difficult for websites to link your device to your previous activities.
❌ Cons
- Limited effectiveness as some ISPs may not assign a new IP address
- Technical knowledge is required
- Can disrupt network connection
Some public WiFi networks may restrict access to specific devices based on MAC addresses.
If you cannot connect to a public WiFi network, changing your MAC address can help you bypass these restrictions and access the network.
How to change IP without VPN on Windows 11?
The methods of changing your IP address on Windows 11 are similar to that of Windows 10, as outlined above.
Therefore, you can change your IP address without VPN on Windows 11 using the Command Prompt, proxy server, or Tor browser.
The main difference between Windows 11 and Windows 10 is the location of some of the settings.
In Windows 11, the Settings app has a new design and layout, but the options for changing your IP address are still in the Network & Internet section.
Summary
Changing your IP address without a VPN on Windows 10 is possible, but it’s important to proceed cautiously and understand each method’s potential risks and benefits.
By using a proxy server, releasing and renewing your IP address, or changing your MAC address, you can take steps to protect your online privacy and access blocked content.
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Из данной статьи вы узнаете, как изменить публичный IP-адрес и частный IP-адрес на компьютере под управлением Windows. Публичный IP-адрес передается компьютером в другие сети, а частный IP-адрес присваивается компьютеру в локальной сети. Если изменить любой из этих адресов, можно решить проблемы с подключением.
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Большинство интернет-провайдеров назначают динамические IP-адреса, которые время от времени меняются. Если на какое-то время отключить модем, скорее всего, компьютеру будет присвоен новый адрес.
- Сначала узнайте текущий IP-адрес.
- Просто отключите маршрутизатор и модем от источника питания.
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Так компьютер не подключится к маршрутизатору, когда вы включите его. Для этого:
- Щелкните по значку
в нижнем правом углу экрана.
- Щелкните по «Беспроводная сеть» во всплывающем окне.
- Щелкните по значку
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Некоторые интернет-провайдеры назначают новый IP-адрес через пять минут; если это не помогло, отключите маршрутизатор на ночь (на восемь часов).
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Если к беспроводной сети подключено другое устройство (например, телефон, игровая консоль или другой компьютер), маршрутизатор и второе устройство затребуют старый IP-адрес.
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Если сделать это после того, как другие устройства попытались подключиться к сети, скорее всего, публичный IP-адрес компьютера будет изменен.
- Еще раз узнайте текущий IP-адрес, чтобы убедиться, что он изменился.
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В редких случаях он назначает статический IP-адрес. Чтобы изменить такой адрес, необходимо связаться с провайдером. Как правило, статический адрес можно изменить только один раз.[1]
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Воспользуйтесь прокси-сервером. В этом случае компьютеру будет присвоен IP-адрес другой страны. Как правило, хорошие прокси-серверы и VPN-сервисы являются платными.
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Как обновить частный IP-адрес
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Оно находится в правом нижнем углу экрана. Если необходимо изменить IP-адрес, чтобы устранить проблему с подключением, обновите его, а не меняйте вручную.
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Запустится процесс поиска утилиты «Командная строка».
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Вы найдете его в верхней части меню «Пуск».
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Эта опция находится в нижней части выпадающего меню.
- Если вы вошли в систему в качестве гостя, указанная опция не отобразится, то есть вы не сможете обновить IP-адрес компьютера.
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Откроется окно командной строки.
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Текущий IP-адрес будет удален.
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IP-адрес будет обновлен. Этот метод, скорее всего, приведет к решению некоторых проблем с подключением, но не факт, что IP-адрес компьютера изменится.
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Как изменить частный IP-адрес
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Для этого войдите в меню «Пуск»
и выберите пункт «Параметры»
.
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Это первый пункт на панели слева.
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Промотайте вниз, чтобы найти этот раздел.
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В открывшемся диалоговом окне выберите в выпадающем меню опцию «Вручную».
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». Откроются несколько текстовых полей.
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Ниже поясняется их содержание:
- IP-адрес. Стандартный IP-адрес выглядит примерно так: 192.168.1.X (или другой набор цифр), где «X» — это число, которое относится к устройству. Замените «X» на число от 1 до 100. Убедитесь, что вы не ввели IP-адрес, который уже занят другим устройством в вашей сети (например, вашим телефоном).
- Маска подсети. Ее значение зависит от IP-адреса, но обычно маска выглядит так: 255.255.255.X.
- Основной шлюз. Это IP-адрес вашего маршрутизатора.
- Предпочтительный DNS-сервер. Введите адрес предпочтительного DNS-сервера (например, 208.67.222.222 для сервера OpenDNS или 8.8.8.8 для сервера Google).
- Альтернативный DNS-сервер. Введите адрес вторичного DNS-сервера (например, 208.67.220.220 для сервера OpenDNS или 8.8.4.4 для сервера Google).
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Внесенные изменения будут сохранены, а компьютеру будет присвоен новый частный IP-адрес.
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Советы
- Измените публичный IP-адрес, если, например, ваш аккаунт был заблокирован на игровом сервисе (таком как Steam). Поменяйте частный IP-адрес, чтобы исправить ошибки, которые возникают при загрузке сайта.
- Если использовать прокси-сервер, фактический IP-адрес не изменится, но поменяется IP-адрес, который будет доступен другим устройствам и пользователям.
- Также можно воспользоваться браузером типа Tor, чтобы скрыть IP-адрес, хотя такие браузеры считаются не очень безопасными и работают медленнее обычных браузеров.
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Предупреждения
- Если вы меняете частный IP-адрес компьютера, другие устройства, которые в данный момент используют тот же IP-адрес, будут отключены от сети.
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