Wondering how to change IP address on iPhone? I understand your concern!
Your IP address plays a bigger role in your online experience than you might think. It doesn’t only act as your iPhone’s unique identifier over the internet. Your IP determines whether you can listen to that particular song on Spotify or stream a certain movie on Netflix.
Changing your IP address can give you content access and protect your privacy by hiding your real IP address.
So, this is what today’s blog is all about. I’ll show you how to change your IP address on iPhone in different ways.
But let’s first clarify some basics about the types of IP addresses you’ll encounter in the process.
Table of Contents
Public IP Address vs Private IP Address
Before learning how to change IP address on iPhone, it’s good to know about different types of IP addresses. Any device that connects to the internet has two basic types of IP addresses, namely public and private IP. Confusing between the two and mistakenly changing the wrong IP address can land you in trouble.
So, let’s know what these IPs are.
Public IP Address
A public IP address is the one that your internet service provider (ISP) assigns to your home network. When devices connect to your WiFi network, they get this IP as their public IP address.
All the devices that use your WiFi network share the same public IP address. In other words, any given network has a single and unique public IP address.
This IP address is visible to the outside world, including websites and servers. That is why some also call it “external” or “global IP address.”
Since your ISP assigns it, you don’t have much control over this address. It’s also the one that changes when you use VPNs, proxies, or IP spoofing.
Private IP Address
If public IP is your home address, private IP address is like your home’s room numbers.
Your router assigns a unique private IP address to each device that connects to it.
So, when your iPhone connects to WiFi, it gets a private IP address that differs from, let’s say, your PC’s.
This address is inward-facing and only visible within your home network. Websites and other online services you interact with cannot access it. For this reason, “internal” or “local IP” are its alternative names.
Since these IPs cannot route traffic over the public internet, they’re also called “Non Routing IP Addresses.”
Now that the differences are clear, let’s learn how to change your IP address on iPhone.
How To Change Your IP Address on iPhone Using WiFi
Before we begin, is it even possible to change the private IP address of an iPhone?
The good news is, yes, it is possible and easy to do through iPhone settings.
Changing Private IP Address Using WiFi
To change the private IP address on your iPhone using Wi-Fi, follow these seven steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap on WiFi. You’ll see a list of available networks.
- Find the one you’re using. Tap the i icon next to the name of your WiFi network.
- Scroll down and select Configure IP. You’ll see different options for how your IP address is assigned.
- Select Manual. This option lets you manually enter a new IP address. You’ll also need to enter the subnet mask and router address.
- Enter your desired IP address. Make sure it’s within the same range as your router’s IP address to avoid conflicts. For example, if your router address is 192.168.1.1, your iPhone’s IP should be something like 192.168.1.x. Here, x can be any number between 2 and 254.
- Tap Save. Your iPhone will now use this new private IP address for its online activities on this network.
Remember that this method works only if you’re using WiFi. The cellular network settings don’t allow changing the private IP address.
With the private IP aside, let’s see how to change public IP address on iPhone cellular data and WiFi.
How To Change IP Address on iPhone Cellular Data and WiFi (Public IP)
Since your private IP address stays hidden from the outside world, there’s rarely a need to change it.
What’s actually important is knowing how to change IP address iPhone, which plays the main role in online activities. We’re talking about the public IP address as it is more vulnerable due to its use for routing your traffic.
The methods to change the public IP address are the same whether you’re using WiFi or a cellular network.
1. Use a VPN
A VPN replaces your public IP address with one from its servers.
VPNs route your internet traffic through their network of servers in different geographic locations. That is why it appears as though your requests are coming from a different region.
In addition to hiding your real IP address, a VPN encrypts your internet traffic.
2. Proxy Server
Proxies work similarly to a VPN, but they usually lack encryption.
A proxy assigns you a new public IP from one of its proxy servers. So when you send requests, they go through the proxy server before reaching their destination.
3. Use Tor Browser
Using the Tor browser is another way to change your public IP address, especially if privacy is your main concern.
Tor routes your internet traffic through multiple servers, known as nodes. The sophisticated encryption of Tor makes it extremely difficult to trace your online activities back to your real IP address.
4. Ask Your ISP for IP Change
If you need a more permanent solution, asking your ISP to assign you a new IP could be a way. They may issue a new dynamic or a static IP address that permanently remains the same.
Note that not all ISPs offer the option to change IP addresses upon request. Even if they do, it is not a quick fix. There can also be an extra price for the service.
FAQ
How can I change my IP address on my iPhone directly?
You can change your private IP address directly from your iPhone’s settings. You can do it by configuring your WiFi settings. However, changing your public IP address requires third-party tools like a VPN, proxies, or special browsers.
Does your phone IP address change when you travel?
Yes, your phone’s IP address can change when you travel because you connect to a different WiFi network. Each network you connect to will assign a new private IP address.
However, if you’re using the same cellular network while traveling, your public IP might remain the same.
What is my iPhone IP address?
To find your private IP, open the Settings app, tap on WiFi, and tap the i icon beside your connected network. Your private IP address will be here. To find your public IP, search my IP on Google, and one of the top results will display it.
Geolocate iPhone IPs With geoPlugin!
Knowing how to change IP address on iPhone hides your real IP address from websites and advertisers.
However, changing your IP address is useless in the long run if you want a personalized experience. Websites personalize the content based on your preferences and geographic location.
Besides that, websites and advertisers can still see your new public IP address and target it with ads.
With that said, if you want to deliver personalized content to your visitors, you should try a geolocation service.
This is where geoPlugin comes in handy. geoPlugin analyzes IPs and reveals information such as country, city, and even the ISP.
This geolocation data can help you implement location-based strategies such as geolocation marketing and geofencing.
So try geoPlugin now and start personalizing experiences for your visitors!
