The IP address is a number that identifies any network device connected to the Internet or any internal network. A computer with a network card is then seen in the local LAN with this IP number, which in turn can obtain a public IP address from the Internet via a dedicated device such as the router or modem (which acts as a gateway, i.e. access).We want to change iP on our device but we don't know how to do it? We came across the right guide to solve every problem: in the following chapters we will show you in fact how to change IP on PC, Router and smartphone when connected in an internal network and, for those who need a dynamic IP address, we will also show you how to get a new external IP every time we connect to the Internet.
Complete guide to change IP address
Since there are two scenarios in which IP addresses are used (internal network and Internet access), it is advisable to separate the two well to avoid confusion between the two categories of IP addresses (similar but profoundly different in uses).
Why do we have to change IP?
Speaking of the PCs and smartphones we use every day to surf the internet, changing IP can mean at least 3 things different. It can change the private IP of the internal network, change the public IP with which the computer is viewed by other devices connected via the internet or change the IP to disguise or hide it.
This is why it is important to understand the difference between private networks and internet network; for those interested, I suggest reading these two theoretical guides:
- How do we connect to the internet and why with the same Public IP address?
- Why do computers at home have an IP address of type 192.168.XX?
By reading these guides we will be able to understand the difference between an IP address for the internal network and the public IP address used to access Internet sites and other associated services.
Who assigns IPs on the network?
The IP addresses on the internal network are assigned by the home modem / router according to an address range that is almost always 192.168.0.x. Even if this IP can be changed as you wish on the PC, always remaining in the range set in the configuration panel of the router, it does not have much use to do so unless you turn around a lot with the laptop and want create profiles and network if your PC connects from different places.
If we change the IP address of the router we can both create a cascade between two routers (so as not to confuse them) and completely change the range of network addresses. For example, if you give the router the address 192.168.22.1, it means that you are moving to the 192.168.22.X network and that the connected computers and smartphones will be automatically assigned (via DHCP) an address from 192.168.22.2 onwards. . The automatic assignment of IP addresses is handled by a service that you call DHCP, which greatly facilitates the users' task and makes it easy to always assign new IPs to connected devices.
Change internal IP address on Windows
To change the private IP on Windows PC all we have to do is open the Control Panel app, open the menu Rete and Internet, open the Network and Sharing Center, click on Change card settings and, with the right button on the network card used to connect to the internet, click on Property.
From the Properties tab we scroll the list, select the Internet Protocol versione 4, we press on Property and we write the IP address that we want to use on the PC, always respecting the network range and writing the address of the Router (Gateway) the Subnet Mask (usually the number 255.255.255.0).
Once the configuration is finished, press OK to make the changes effective. Alternatively we can change IP on PC also from Command Prompt, opening the prompt as an administrator and typing:
netsh interface ip set address name="Connessione alla rete locale (LAN)" source=static 192.168.0.22 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.1
With this command, the IP of the computer will always be the one indicated (in the example 192.168.0.22) statically.
To return to having an automatic assignment you can instead type the command:
netsh interface ip set dns name = "Local Area Connection (LAN)" source = dhcp
In another article we can read all the methods for set fixed and static IP address and change IP with one click.
Change internal IP address on Mac
To change IP address on Mac we can act quickly by pressing the network icon at the top right, clicking on the item Network preferences, selecting the connection in use at that moment, clicking on Advanced, opening the TCP / IP tab and selecting, in the drop-down menu of the Configure IPv4 item, the item Manually.
Now all that remains is to enter the desired IP address in the IPv4 address field and confirm your choice by pressing on OK; alternatively we can quickly obtain a new IP address by pressing the key Renew DHCP assigned.
If we do not find the network icon at the top right we can access the same screens by pressing the Apple icon at the top left, opening the menu System preference and finally clicking on Network.
Change internal IP address on smartphones and tablets
To change the IP address on an Android smartphone or tablet, open the app Settings, let's get to the menu Wi-Fi o wireless, press on the name of the Wi-Fi network to which we are connected and scroll until you find the menu IP settings, so as to set the item Static.
On some models of Android smartphones or tablets the items and menus are slightly different, but the procedure for changing IP is practically identical, it will only be necessary to identify the item that allows you to change the DHCP item to static or to change the advanced network options.
Your iPhone and your iPad everything is much simpler, since the operating system is always the same on all Apple devices still supported; to change IP let's go to the path in Settings -> Wi-Fi, press on the name of the network to which we are connected and scroll down the screen until you find the Configure IP menu, in which we will have to select the item Manual.
We choose a new IP address for the Apple phone or tablet and confirm; to speed up we can also press directly on Renew assignment, so that DHCP can assign a new IP address for the iPhone or iPad.
Change public IP address (modem)
To change the public IP address, that is the address assigned by the provider for our connection, the only effective remedy is to restart the modem: it is therefore advisable to unplug the power socket directly, wait two or three minutes and reconnect the power, so as to get a new IP right away.
Unfortunately, not all landline operators in the city providedynamic IP address: for example Fastweb always assigns the same IP to all its users and places a NAT for the distribution of addresses, so as to create a real "network within the network"; to get a personal static IP on a complex network like Fastweb's, we can also read our guide How to ask for a free public IP from Fastweb.
How to hide public IP (anonymous camouflage)
If, on the other hand, our goal is to hide our public IP, we can rely on a free VPN like ProtonVPN, downloadable from the official website.
Using this service, our IP will be camouflaged, so that we can browse anonymously without anyone being able to derive our real IP address.
To learn more we can also read our guides Best free VPN services and programs for safe and free surfing e How VPN, Proxy and DNS work.
If, on the other hand, we wanted to hide the IP address when we use a phone or a tablet, we can continue reading in our in-depth study Best VPN for Android, iPhone free and unlimited.
Conclusions
Changing IPs on devices or routers is not a routine operation: in fact, many people surf the Internet without ever having changed the assigned IP once, since the modem is able to effectively manage the distribution of these addresses. However, if we encounter IP conflicts, we want to set static IPs or disguise our identity, just keep this article at hand, so that we can read it at the appropriate time.
Still on the subject of IP addresses and network camouflage, we can read our guides How to get a static IP with TIM or other connections e Surf anonymously on the internet with proxy, vpn and fake IP address.
