Maybe your IP got blocked by a website, you want a different location, or you simply want a fresh address. Whatever the reason, there are several reliable ways to change your public IP address — the one websites see — and each works in a different situation. This guide covers all of them, explains why some fail, and shows how to confirm that the change actually happened.
First, check what your IP is right now
Open the Show-IP.ir home page and note your IP address, country and ISP. You will compare against this after each attempt. If you are not sure what the different kinds of IP are, read private vs public IP first: the methods below change the public address, not the 192.168.x.x address your router gives your phone or laptop.
Method 1: Restart your modem or router
Most home connections receive a dynamic IP that is leased to the router for a period of time. Powering the router off for a few minutes (some guides say 5–10, longer if the lease is still valid) and on again often gets you a new one.
- It does not work if your ISP gave you a static IP, or if your ISP's system hands the same address back to the same router.
- Unplug the power, wait, then plug it back in — a quick "restart" button sometimes keeps the old lease.
Method 2: Switch to another network
The simplest change of all: move to a different connection. Switch from home Wi-Fi to your phone's mobile hotspot, or connect to a different Wi-Fi network. Your IP will be the one belonging to that network. Mobile operators usually put many customers behind a small pool of shared addresses (see what is CGNAT), so a mobile IP can also change from one session to the next.
Method 3: Toggle airplane mode (mobile data)
On a phone using mobile data, turn airplane mode on for 10–20 seconds, then off. The device reconnects and is frequently assigned a different address from the operator's pool. This is quick but not guaranteed.
Method 4: Use a VPN
A VPN routes your traffic through a server run by the VPN provider, so websites see that server's IP and location instead of yours. It is the most flexible option: pick a server in the country you want and your apparent location changes with it. Read how a VPN changes your IP address for what happens under the hood. Two caveats: you are trusting the provider with your traffic, and VPN addresses are shared and sometimes flagged by websites (see checking an IP blacklist). Rules about VPN use differ between countries and services, so make sure it is allowed where you are.
Method 5: Use a proxy
A proxy forwards the traffic of one browser or app and shows the proxy's IP to the site. It is fast and simple but usually not encrypted, and it only covers what you configure. Compare the options in proxy vs VPN vs Tor.
Method 6: Use Tor Browser
Tor sends your traffic through several volunteer relays; sites see the address of the last one (the exit node). Choosing "New Identity" or "New Tor circuit for this site" gives you a different exit. It is strong for anonymity, but slower, and many sites treat Tor exit addresses with suspicion.
Method 7: Ask your ISP
If you need a permanent change, contact your provider. You can ask for a new dynamic address, or — if you need the opposite — a fixed one. Our guide on getting a static public IP explains the process and the wording to use.
How to confirm the change worked
- Reload Show-IP.ir (a hard refresh avoids cached pages).
- Compare the IP address with the one you wrote down.
- Check the country, city and ISP / ASN. With a VPN you should see the VPN company or a datacenter network; after a router restart you should still see your own ISP. If you want to understand that line, see what an ASN is.
- If you used a VPN or proxy, the Security status section may flag it as a VPN/proxy/datacenter — that is expected, and it confirms the traffic is going through it.
What changing your IP does not do
- It does not make you anonymous. Logins, cookies, browser fingerprints and the apps you use can still identify you.
- It does not change the private address inside your home network. That is controlled by your router's DHCP settings.
- It will not fix an account ban or a permanent block that is tied to your account or device rather than your address.
- If you are on CGNAT, a new address may simply be another shared one — and its previous users' reputation comes with it.
Key takeaways
- Restarting the router, switching networks and toggling airplane mode are the quickest ways to get a new dynamic IP.
- A VPN is the best way to choose a location; a proxy is lighter but less secure; Tor is the most anonymous but slowest.
- Always verify the result with an IP lookup, and check the ISP/ASN line, not just the number.
- Your IP is only one of many identifiers — changing it is not the same as being anonymous.