1
Open Command Prompt as Administrator
Right-click the Start button and select Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin) to open an elevated session.
How to Change Your IP Address
Changing your IP address is a network configuration operation that replaces your device's current network identifier by requesting a new DHCP lease (RFC 2131) from your router, assigning a static address manually, or prompting your ISP to reassign your public address. Public IPs are controlled by your ISP and shared across your entire home network via your router; private IPs are assigned by your router to each individual device on your LAN. Both can be changed independently using different methods. If your goal is to mask your IP for privacy, see the guide on how to hide your IP address instead.
Public IP vs. Private IP — What You Are Actually Changing
You have two IP addresses: a public one that your ISP gives your router, and a private one that your router gives each device. The method you need depends on which one you want to change.
Every internet-connected home network uses two distinct layers of IP addressing, and the method you need depends entirely on which layer you want to change.
Your public IP address is the address your ISP assigns to your router. It is the address external servers see when you browse the web, and every device on your home network shares it. Your ISP controls this address — it is issued via DHCP (RFC 2131) from your ISP's address pool and may change if the DHCP lease expires or you disconnect for an extended period.
Your private IP address is the address your router assigns to your specific device on the local network — your laptop, phone, or desktop. These addresses fall within the ranges defined by RFC 1918 (10.x.x.x, 172.16–31.x.x, 192.168.x.x) and are not routable on the public internet. Your router issues them via its own DHCP server. See the public IP vs. private IP guide for a full breakdown of the RFC 1918 ranges and NAT mechanics.
Changing your public IP and changing your private IP require completely different approaches. Methods 1 and 4 below address your public IP. Methods 2 and 3 address your private IP. Most users troubleshooting local network issues need Method 2. Users troubleshooting ISP-level issues or needing a different external address need Method 1 or 4.
Method 1 — Router Restart: Changing Your Public IP
Restarting your router can give you a new public IP if your ISP uses dynamic addresses. Unplug it for 5–10 minutes, then check your IP again.
Most residential ISPs issue dynamic public IP addresses via DHCP. When your router disconnects and reconnects, the ISP's DHCP server may issue a different address from its pool — particularly if enough time has passed for the existing lease to be reclaimed.
To maximize the chance of receiving a new address:
- Note your current public IP using the IP Lookup tool.
- Power off your router completely — unplug the power cable, not just a soft reboot.
- Leave it offline for at least 5–10 minutes. Some ISPs require longer.
- Power the router back on and wait for a full reconnection (typically 60–90 seconds).
- Check your IP again with the IP Lookup tool to confirm whether it changed.
This method does not always produce a new IP. ISPs frequently use sticky DHCP leases that reassign the same address to the same router MAC address. If the address persists after multiple attempts, contact your ISP directly (Method 4) or use the What Is My ISP tool to confirm which ISP controls your current public address.
Do it yourself
Method 2 — DHCP Release and Renew: Changing Your Private IP
To change only your device’s local (private) IP, release and renew its DHCP lease. On Windows, run ipconfig /release and then ipconfig /renew.
DHCP release and renew is the standard method for refreshing your device's private (local) IP address without touching the router. Your device sends a DHCP Release message to your router, which frees the existing lease. It then broadcasts a DHCP Discover, and the router responds with a DHCP Offer and Acknowledge per the four-step handshake defined in RFC 2131 (Discover → Offer → Request → Acknowledge). The DHCP server communicates over UDP ports 67 (server) and 68 (client).
This changes your private IP only. Your public IP is unaffected. For DHCP lease mechanics and lease duration theory, see the static IP vs. dynamic IP guide.
Windows Command Prompt
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renewRun Command Prompt as Administrator. The /release command sends a DHCP Release. The /renew command initiates the full Discover → Offer → Request → Acknowledge cycle and prints the new assigned address.
Windows PowerShell
# View current IP configuration
Get-NetIPConfiguration
# Release and renew via ipconfig (fastest method)
ipconfig /release; ipconfig /renewmacOS Terminal
# Renew DHCP lease on Wi-Fi interface (en0)
sudo ipconfig set en0 DHCP
# If connected via Ethernet, replace en0 with en1 or the correct interface
# Run 'ifconfig' to list active interfacesAlternatively, open System Settings → Network → select your connection → click Details → TCP/IP tab → click Renew DHCP Lease.
Linux dhclient
# Release current lease
sudo dhclient -r eth0
# Request new lease
sudo dhclient eth0Linux NetworkManager (nmcli)
# Reconnect the active connection to trigger a fresh DHCP lease
nmcli con down "Wired connection 1" && nmcli con up "Wired connection 1"Online lookup tools like WhatIsMyIPNow query from an external server, so results always reflect your public IP — not the private address changed by this method. Use ipconfig or ifconfig locally to confirm the private IP change.
Do it yourself
Method 3 — Static IP Assignment: Setting a Fixed Local Address
Static IP assignment replaces your DHCP-assigned private IP with a fixed address you specify manually. This is required for local server hosting, port forwarding rules, printer sharing, and network device allow-listing — any scenario where a device's local IP must not change between reboots.
When assigning a static local IP, choose an address in your router's subnet (e.g., 192.168.1.x if your router is 192.168.1.1) and outside the router's DHCP assignment range to avoid conflicts.
Windows
Open Settings → Network & Internet → select your connection → click Edit next to IP assignment → choose Manual → toggle IPv4 on → enter your desired IP address, subnet prefix length (typically 24), and default gateway (your router's IP) → click Save.
Via PowerShell (run as Administrator):
# Assign a static IP to the Wi-Fi adapter
New-NetIPAddress -InterfaceAlias "Wi-Fi" -IPAddress 192.168.1.100 -PrefixLength 24 -DefaultGateway 192.168.1.1
# To return to DHCP
Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias "Wi-Fi" -Dhcp Enabled
Remove-NetIPAddress -InterfaceAlias "Wi-Fi" -Confirm:$falsemacOS
Open System Settings → Network → select your connection → click Details → TCP/IP tab → change Configure IPv4 to Manually → enter your IP address, subnet mask (255.255.255.0), and router address → click OK.
# Via Terminal
sudo networksetup -setmanual Wi-Fi 192.168.1.100 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1
# Return to DHCP
sudo networksetup -setdhcp Wi-FiLinux
# Using nmcli
nmcli con mod "Wired connection 1" ipv4.addresses 192.168.1.100/24
nmcli con mod "Wired connection 1" ipv4.gateway 192.168.1.1
nmcli con mod "Wired connection 1" ipv4.method manual
nmcli con up "Wired connection 1"
# Return to DHCP
nmcli con mod "Wired connection 1" ipv4.method auto
nmcli con up "Wired connection 1"Android
Open Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi → long-press your network → tap Manage Network Settings → expand Advanced → change IP Settings to Static → enter your desired IP address and gateway → tap Save.
iOS / iPadOS
Open Settings → Wi-Fi → tap the information icon next to your network → tap Configure IP → select Manual → enter your IP address, subnet mask, and router address → tap Save.
Method 4 — ISP Request or Mobile Network Switch
If a restart doesn’t work, ask your ISP for a new IP. For a quick, temporary change, switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data.
If a router restart does not produce a new public IP, contact your ISP directly. Most ISPs will reassign a dynamic public IP on request. A permanent static public IP — required for hosting a publicly accessible server — typically requires a paid plan upgrade and a formal request to your ISP's business or technical team.
For a quick, temporary change to your public-facing address without VPN software, disconnect from your home Wi-Fi network and switch to your mobile carrier's data network. Your device is assigned a public IP from your carrier's address pool — entirely separate from your ISP's home network assignment. This is useful for testing whether a service blocks your home IP, or verifying that geolocation differs between your home and carrier addresses. Use the IP Lookup tool to confirm the address change and the What Is My ISP tool to verify the new carrier assignment.
For sustained IP masking using VPN tunneling or proxy routing, see the hide your IP address guide and what is a VPN — those methods are out of scope for this procedural guide.
IP Address Change Methods Compared
| Method | What It Changes | Duration | Platforms | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Router power cycle | Public IP address | Until next ISP DHCP renewal | All devices on the LAN | Physical or admin access to router |
| DHCP release and renew (ipconfig, dhclient, nmcli) | Private IP (local network only) | Until next DHCP cycle | Windows, macOS, Linux | Administrator or sudo privileges |
| Static IP assignment | Private IP (local network only) | Permanent until changed manually | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Admin access; valid subnet address outside DHCP range |
| ISP request | Public IP address | New dynamic assignment or permanent static | All (via ISP account) | ISP account credentials; static IP may require a paid plan |
| Switch to mobile data | Public IP address (carrier-assigned) | Duration of mobile data session | Smartphones and tablets | Active mobile data plan |
How to Release and Renew Your IP Address on Windows
Use Command Prompt to send a DHCP Release and Renew cycle, requesting a fresh private IP from your router — no router restart required.
2
Release your current DHCP lease
Type ipconfig /release and press Enter. Your router receives a DHCP Release message and clears your current local IP assignment.
3
Request a new IP address
Type ipconfig /renew and press Enter. Your DHCP client requests a new lease from the router per RFC 2131.
4
Confirm the new assignment
Type ipconfig and press Enter to view your adapter's updated IPv4 address. A matching address indicates no free leases were available.
5
Verify your public IP address
Run the WhatIsMyIPNow IP Lookup tool to confirm your public-facing IP address as seen by external servers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a public and a private IP address?
Your public IP is assigned by your ISP to your router and is visible to external servers on the internet — all devices on your home network share it. Your private IP is assigned by your router to your specific device within your local network and is never exposed to external servers. Changing your public IP requires ISP action or a router power cycle; changing your private IP is done directly on your device via DHCP or static configuration.
What is a DHCP lease and why does it control my IP address?
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), standardized in RFC 2131, is the protocol routers and ISPs use to automatically assign IP addresses to connected devices for a defined lease period. When a lease expires or is explicitly released with ipconfig /release, the DHCP server can issue a new address from its available pool. On home networks, your router acts as the DHCP server for local devices, while your ISP's DHCP server assigns your router its public IP.
How do I change my IP address on macOS?
Open System Settings, navigate to Network, select your active connection, click Details, then choose the TCP/IP tab. Click Renew DHCP Lease to request a new private IP from your router. To perform the same action via Terminal, run sudo ipconfig set en0 DHCP — replacing en0 with your active interface name if different. Your public IP changes only if your ISP issues a different address to your router as part of that lease renewal.
Why didn't my IP address change after restarting my router?
ISPs using DHCP often reassign the same IP address when a router reconnects quickly, because the DHCP server retains the existing lease tied to your router's MAC address. Leave the router offline for at least 5 to 10 minutes before reconnecting to increase the probability of receiving a new address. If the address persists after multiple attempts, your ISP may have issued a long-duration or static lease — contact your ISP directly to request a reassignment.
How long does it take for a new IP address to take effect?
A private IP change via DHCP release and renew takes effect within 10 to 30 seconds on Windows and macOS. A public IP change via router restart depends on your ISP's DHCP lease duration, which typically ranges from 24 hours to 7 days — shorter offline periods may not trigger a new assignment. Switching to mobile data assigns a carrier IP almost immediately. Verify any change using the WhatIsMyIPNow IP Lookup tool.
Does WhatIsMyIPNow store or log the IP addresses I look up?
WhatIsMyIPNow does not store or log the IP addresses you look up on this site. All lookup queries are processed in real time and no query data is retained after the result is returned to your browser.
Can I change my IP address on Android or iPhone?
On Android, open Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi, long-press your network, tap Manage Network Settings, expand Advanced, change IP Settings to Static, and enter your desired address and gateway. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings → Wi-Fi, tap the information icon next to your network, select Configure IP, and choose Manual. Both methods change your private local IP only; your public IP remains the address your ISP has assigned to your router.