Three easy ways to change the IP address on your Android device

How to change your Android IP manually

Changing your Android IP manually means setting it to a chosen static IP address (one that doesn’t change from connection to connection – we explain it later in the article) instead of getting a random one each time you connect. 

Note that some of the options mentioned in the guide may be called differently on your device – that’s normal with Android devices. 

1. Open Settings (usually by tapping on the gear icon in the drag-down menu on the main screen).
2. Tap Connections or Networks & Internet. 
3. Select Wi-Fi.
4. Tap and hold your current Wi-Fi connection until the menu appears. 
5. Tap Manage network settings or a similar option on the menu. 
6. In the window that pops up, change IP settings from DHCP to Static. 
7. In the IP address field, enter a free, unused IP address (a guide to finding one can be found down the page). 
8. Tap Save. 

That’s it – you have now changed your Android IP address manually!

How to change your Android IP with Tor

If you want to know how to change your IP on Android solely to mask your actual location, why not use Tor? It will only work for the browser and not the apps, but your IP will be changed – a few times during a longer browsing session!

1. Find the Tor Browser on the Google Play store.
2. Download and install the app.
3. Every time you surf the internet over the Tor Browser, you’ll have a different IP!

Tor will change your IP address every time you browse – and even during the session if you browse for a longer time. However, it will not change your IP address for apps other than the Tor Browser. 

How to change your Android IP with a VPN

If you want to change your IP to that of a specific country, instead of using Tor, use a VPN. With a VPN, you can choose the country your new IP will come from. It won’t be static (unless you connect to a static server), but you don’t have to do any manual work. And if you want a new IP to access content from a specific country, it will allow you to do that.

1. Find a VPN app on our website or on the Google Play store. 
2. Subscribe, download, and log in.
3. Click Connect.
4. You have changed your IP!

What is an IP address?

An Internet protocol address is like your home address, but for your devices. Without an IP address, digital messages wouldn’t know where to go, and the internet wouldn’t exist. The internet uses IPv4 addresses, which come in a format like this: 172.16.254.1.

There are two types of IPs: dynamic and static. 

• Dynamic IP (DHCP) is what internet service providers usually assign to users since they change with every connection, don’t need any manual setup, and can be easily reused. 
• Static IP is harder to set up but has benefits like allowing a more stable connection, being something that can be bypassed, and used to access remote networks reliably.

If you’re researching how to change your IP on Android manually, you’re probably changing it from DHCP to static.

How to find an unused IP address

Here’s a guide for finding an IP address you can change your Android’s address to.

On a Windows PC:

1. Open the Start menu or use the search bar.
2. Type cmd.
3. Select the Command prompt.
4. In the Command prompt, type in ipconfig/all.
5. Write down the addresses next to Default Gateway (the IP address of your router) and DNS Servers.
6. Start looking for free IP addresses by typing in ping in the Command prompt followed by an address one number higher than the Default Gateway (so, if your default gateway is 172.16.254.1, try 172.16.254.2).
7. Continue going up the ping list until you get the message Destination host unreachable. Write down that address – it’s free and unused!

On a Mac:

1. Press cmd and space at the same time.
2. Type in terminal.
3. Type in ipconfig/all in the terminal.
4. Write down the addresses next to Default Gateway and DNS Servers.
5. Start searching for unused IP addresses by typing ping followed by an address one number higher than the Default Gateway.
6. Continue going up the ping list until you get the message Destination host unreachable. Write down that address – it’s a free one!

Should you change your IP address on Android: pros and cons

There are several reasons why you’d want to change your Android IP address – and maybe several why you wouldn’t. Here’s a table:

Which method of changing your Android IP address should you use?

Don’t know which method of changing your IP address works for you? It depends on what you want to do:

In short: Moving forward with changing your IP on Android

This article laid out not only how to change your IP on Android but also why. So, if you want to change it for reasons that don’t involve turning your Android device into a server or some other tool, you’re better off doing it with a VPN. It won’t require any manual work, it will allow you to change the IP’s location effortlessly, and it comes with such security benefits as an encrypted connection. So if you want to change your IP, why not start with Surfshark?

FAQ

Can I change the IP address of my phone?

Yes, you can; you can use a VPN, Tor, or do it manually. The latter involves finding an unassigned IP address and then changing your current IP to the new one in your Wi-Fi connection’s settings. 

How do you change an IP address?

The fastest and easiest way to change your IP address is to get a VPN and connect to a VPN server.

Does a VPN change your IP?

Yes: While you’re connected to a VPN server, the world sees the server’s IP, not yours. 

What happens if I change my IP address?

Any website or service that records your IP address will record the new one; similarly, any service that detects your location based on your IP will use the new IP for that purpose. 

This means that, if you lived in London and connected to a VPN server located in Germany to change your IP address, online services would think that you’re connecting from Germany.