A Step-By-Step Guide to Aquire a New IP Address

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Learn how to change your IP address using different methods

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: June 9, 2023 Fact Checked

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Unplugging Your Router

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Using Command Prompt on Windows

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Changing a Private IP Address on Mac

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Q&A

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Warnings

Do you need to refresh your IP address? Sometimes, your IP address won't register and sites won't load, or you can't get your emails. This can easily be remedied by refreshing your public IP. If your printer won't connect to your computer, or your other local devices are having issues, you might need to reset the private IP addresses for each of them. This wikiHow article teaches you how to change your computer's IP address in a few different ways.

Things You Should Know

If you're having trouble connecting to a network or receiving emails, check your public IP; if your printer is not printing, look at your private IP.
Change your public IP address by unplugging your router.
For troubleshooting methods, you may need to change your private IP address in Command Prompt or in System Preferences for Mac.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Unplugging Your Router

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1
Find your device's current IP address. In order to know whether or not your IP address change is ultimately successful, you need to know your device's current IP address.
- This method isn't guaranteed since your router might re-assign your old IP address.
2
Turn off your device. This should be the computer, phone, or tablet whose IP address you would like to change.
- Since IP addresses are applied to every device accessing the internet, even your tablet has one, which you can reset by following these steps.
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3
Unplug your modem and router from the Internet and power sources. This will essentially reset your Wi-Fi.
- If your modem and router are comprised in the same unit, simply unplug the entire unit.
This should be enough time for your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to provide your network with a new public IP address.
It will begin lighting up. You'll want each light on the face of the modem to be on or flashing before you continue.
After a couple of moments, the router's light will begin flashing, then turn constant.
It should reconnect to the Internet once it finishes rebooting, though you may need to manually select a network and connect to it.
8
Check your IP address. You can use any web browser to check Google and see if your IP address has changed.
- Simply search Google for "what's my IP?"
- If you don't see a different IP address, you may need to keep your router off for a longer period of time. Try turning it off for an entire night and then re-enabling it in the morning.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Command Prompt on Windows

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1
Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Press the Win key and type Command Prompt into the Start menu to find that program, then right-click the result for "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator."
- Click Yes when prompted.
- This process will only work if your computer is on an Ethernet connection with other devices. Trying to change your public IP address (or your IP address on Wi-Fi) with this method won't work. You can change your private (or local) IP address for troubleshooting steps, like if your printer won't connect to your computer.
This command displays your current IP information.
It's to the right of the "IPv4" or "IPv6" value; the number here corresponds to your specific device on a local network.
Doing so releases your IP address.
This command assigns a new IP address to your device.
It will be to the right of the "IPv4" value. If the number here is different than it was before releasing and renewing your IP address, your device's local IP address has successfully been changed.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Changing a Private IP Address on Mac

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It's the apple-shaped icon in the top-left corner of the screen.
You'll see this option in the Apple Menu drop-down window.
This will open the Network window.
You'll do so from the left-hand pane in the Network window.
It's in the lower-right area of the window.
This tab is near the top of the Advanced window.
This number is your Mac's current IP address.
It's to the right of the IP address area. Doing so will refresh your device's current IP address.
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Look at your new IP address. It will be to the right of the "IPv4" value. If the number here is different than it was before releasing and renewing your IP address, your device's local IP address has successfully been changed.
- This process will only work if your computer is on an Ethernet connection with other devices. Trying to change your public IP address with this method won't work.
- If you aren't able to change your computer's IP address to one you want, try using a VPN.
- You can also use a Proxy or a Tor network to change your IP address.

Community Q&A

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Question

If I renew my IP address, will my ISP contact me asking why I did so?

Community Answer

No.

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Question

Where are IP address are generated?

Community Answer

These are either programmed manually (rarely) or automatically assigned by the DHCP interface in a cablemodem or router, devices which are in turned assigned an IP address by the ISP. If these aren't available or the computer isn't on a network, it will generate its own IP address.

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Question

Aside from static IP addresses, are there ways to make my public IP change?

Community Answer

Yes, if it is served through DHCP. Just turn your modem or modem/router (both mostly) and wait for 5 minutes. Plug it back in and it should change.

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