How to Hide My IP Address: All Ways Explained [2024]

In today’s age of privacy concerns, all users should educate themselves on adequate protection methods. Hiding the device’s IP address is one popular way of protecting online anonymity.

Also, hiding your internet protocol address has a lot of other benefits, such as accessing geo-restricted content, for example. Below, you’ll learn how to stop websites from tracking your IP, hiding it, and getting private IP addresses. Let’s start.

Can I Hide My IP Address? How to Do It?

Yes, you can easily hide your IP address. In fact, there are many different methods of doing so. In this article, we will cover five different ways of concealing one’s IP address. You will learn the following:

1. How to hide your IP address for free using a VPN
2. How to hide your IP address using proxy servers
3. How to hide your IP address using TOR
4. How to hide your IP address by connecting to public Wi-Fis
5. How to force an IP change by unplugging your modem

Bear in mind that even though these methods work, some might be better than others. So, what is the best way to hide your IP address?

Method 1 ‒ Use a VPN Solution

The safest and most reliable method to hide IP addresses worldwide is to use a VPN to hide IP addresses.

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, and it is a solution that acts as an additional layer of security between the user and the internet.

We all know that threat actors, third-party apps, and ISPs track one’s online presence. Using VPN to hide IP addresses enables users to remain anonymous and get a new one (IP) when browsing the web.

With such extensive assistance, it’s the best and easiest way to mask your IP address and stay hidden in the virtual world.

There are many benefits to using a VPN, some of which include the following:

• Accessing geo-restricted content and streaming content of your choice
• Encrypting traffic
• Providing additional security
• Hiding the device’s IP address and assigning a new IP address
• Protecting your identity when downloading pirated content
• Keep the real location detail secured in an easy way
• Access to a wide range of different IP addresses belonging to distant locations

In short, using a VPN service is among the browsing habits of the seekers of unmatched online privacy and does not get tracked by search engines at an affordable subscription fee.

How Does a VPN Work?

When a user connects their device to a VPN, all internet traffic is delivered via a secure connection that cannot be tracked. That means that all transmitted data comes from the VPN provider’s servers instead of the actual computer. Data, at times, is fully decrypted. This is how the internet works.

The VPN acts as a security layer that conceals the device’s real IP address and protects the user’s identity. By creating a highly encrypted tunnel between the user and the internet, a VPN protects the data better than other ways.

Moreover, it completely hides the user’s online activity. Even if the data were somehow intercepted, it would be rendered useless because it is encrypted. No one will be able to find out the original IP addresses.

How to Choose a Suitable VPN Provider?

There are many trustworthy VPN providers on the market, some better than others. When choosing a suitable VPN service provider, you should look at ratings, reviews, static IP addresses, security protocols, full refunds, and features.

Also, it is always recommended to purchase a subscription plan instead of going for the free version. Free versions offer limited server locations, slow internet traffic, fewer or zero private IP addresses, and fewer security options.

If you don’t mind that, then using a free version is fine. Or, a better option is to pick a VPN that offers a money-back guarantee. Some of the best VPNs offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. It’s easy to have peace of mind while protecting sensitive information.

One of the most popular and highly-rated VPN providers is ExpressVPN.

What makes this particular company great is the fact that it is jam-packed with great features, some of which include:

• Unlimited bandwidth
• Unlimited server switches
• Great encryption
• No-log policy
• IP addresses from more than 70 countries
• Split tunneling
• Kill switch
• Great security protocols – OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, SSTP, PPTP
• Zero-knowledge DNS
• Superb compatibility with third-party apps, operating systems, and other devices

Its overall rating is 4.7/5, which is very high compared to other brands. Here is what a verified user had to say about ExpressVPN and its service:

Rating: 5/5

✔️ “Hey guys, I want to drop this here: if you’re in China, this VPN works excellently! I can watch Netflix and pretty much everything I do online back home. I think if it works in China, where the net restriction is notorious, it must work in most countries.

❌ “I got not a few times disconnected on my Macbook. I had to install a patch and have since experienced no problem.”

Method 2 ‒ Use a Proxy Server

A proxy server is another type of software that acts as a gateway between the user and the internet to keep data private. It was the most popular way of hiding one’s IP address before VPNs became prevalent.

A proxy server receives requests that are passed between the endpoint and the network and performs specific actions on the requester’s behalf. Because it acts as a gateway between the computer and the web, it doesn’t use the computer’s real IP address.

Instead, it uses a different IP address.

Pros and cons of using a proxy server to hide your real IP address:

Method 3 ‒ Use the TOR Browser

TOR stands for The Onion Router, and it’s a volunteer-run system that helps users conceal their internet activity and retain anonymity if an original IP address is not revealed.

When the user’s device is connected to the TOR network, the outgoing web traffic is rerouted through a random series of relays before it reaches the final destination.

Besides using an arbitrary string of relays, TOR encrypts the network multiple times but doesn’t encrypt all data that goes through.

That means the internet service provider won’t be able to see the contents of the user’s online activity.

This is what makes it less famous than proxy servers and VPN servers. It takes a lot to beat what a VPN service offers. Also, it’s believed that the current IP address is replaced by a public IP address only. No private or static IP addresses are granted. Nevertheless, it is amongst the best ways to hide your IP address in the present era.

Pros and cons of using the TOR network to hide your IP address:

Method 4 ‒ Use Public Wi-Fi Connections

This is probably the easiest and most dangerous method of hiding your IP address. Whenever a user connects to a new network, their IP address changes as well.

That happens because the router assigns IP addresses once the network is accessed. So, using a public Wi-Fi connection will effectively conceal the IP address.

However, public Wi-Fi is prone to malware, man-in-the-middle attacks, and data interception.

This is why experts advocate using the assistance of dependable VPN server providers while using public Wi-Fi internet connections for better online privacy and to keep online activity a secret.

Pros and cons of using public Wi-Fi to hide your IP address:

Method 5 ‒ Forced IP Change ‒ Unplug Your Modem

If you’re not a fan of using IP ghosting software, then you can force an IP change by unplugging your modem. When you disconnect from your internet service provider, you will likely get a completely new IP address.

However, this only works if your devices operate on dynamic IPs. In the case of a static IP address, you seek no help.

Just make sure to unplug your modem and keep it offline for a while ‒ at least a couple of hours.

Here are some additional steps you can take before forcing an IP change.

How to Hide Your IP Address on a Windows 10 System That’s Connected Via Cable

Step 1: Run the Command Prompt as an Administrator.

Step 2: Enter the following text ‒ ipconfig/release and press Enter.

Step 3: Enter the following text ‒ ipconfig/renew and press Enter.

Step 4: Stop internet activity and turn off your computer.

Step 5: Turn off ethernet switches and hubs.

Step 6: Disconnect your DSL modem or unplug your cable.

Step 7: Leave everything off for as long as possible.

Step 8: Turn the system back on.

How to Hide Your IP Address on Windows Systems That Are Connected Via Router

Step 1: Log onto the router’s admin page.

Step 2: Release your device’s IP address. Google steps for your particular router because the method may vary depending on the device that you’re using.

Step 3: Turn off your computer.

Step 4: Turn off ethernet switches and hubs.

Step 5: Disconnect your DSL modem or unplug your cable.

Step 6: Leave everything off for as long as possible.

Step 7: Turn the system back on.

Pros and cons of forcing an IP change:

Why Should I Hide My IP Address?

There are many reasons why someone would like to conceal their device’s IP address. In general, the main reasons include:

Protecting Your Anonymity

In today’s age of privacy concerns, data breaches, cyberattacks, and lack of anonymity, users face a lot of risk of exploitation.

Data farming has become extremely popular because it’s lucrative and it enables companies to know more about their customers.

This type of information is used for targeted advertising, spam, tracking shopping habits, creating user profiles, and so on. Without advanced online privacy, your data is accessible to everyone.

Safe Torrenting

Downloading content from torrent websites is a popular way of accessing paid content such as premium software solutions, movies, TV shows, video games, etc. However, torrenting is illegal in many countries.

The authorities and internet providers locate individuals downloading pirated content by tracking their IP addresses.

That is precisely why some users want to hide their IP addresses with VPNs for torrenting.

Moreover, besides being illegal, torrenting can also be unsafe.

Cybercriminals use pirated downloads to track users or implant malware onto their computers.

Hiding your IP address using the above methods will mitigate this issue.

Accessing Geo-Restricted Content

Many services, such as Netflix and Hulu, offer different video content depending on the user’s location.

Moreover, many national channels, for example, are geo-restricted, and only users from that particular country can access them.

Companies enforce these geo-restrictions by tracking the user’s IP address.

So, if you’d like to access restricted content, you need to hide your IP address. Services such as VPNs and proxies offer server locations in various countries.

And if you’d like to access content from a specific country, you should connect to that country’s local server.

Bypassing Other Restrictions

Streaming services aren’t the only ones who enforce restrictions on their content. Some governments censor various websites so they would be able to control what their citizens can see online.

Moreover, schools and workplaces often enforce restrictions to increase productivity and prevent students and employees from being distracted.

However, hiding your device’s IP address can easily bypass all these VPN restrictions.

How Do I Hide My IP Address on Google Chrome?

If you’d like to hide your IP address on Google Chrome, you can easily do that by setting up proxy servers.

Google Chrome offers different options that help users set up proxies directly from the browser.

Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Find a suitable proxy server.

You can find many free proxy options online by performing a quick Google search. Once you’ve completed your subscription, write down the details needed to set up a connection.

Step 2: Open Google Chrome, then open Settings.

Step 3: Open Advanced Settings and locate the System section. There, you will see the Open Your Computer’s Proxy Settings option.

Step 4: Your computer’s Network & Internet Settings will pop up. Locate the Proxy tab.

Step 5: You will see a proxy configuration page. Enter the details you’ve previously written and press Save.

If all the steps have been completed successfully, then your proxy settings will be enabled in Chrome.

Conclusion

Whether you want to conceal your internet activities, protect yourself from cybercriminals, or access geo-restricted content, understanding how to hide your IP address is valuable knowledge that will keep you safe online.

Your IP address reveals a lot more about you than you might think. Luckily, fixing that issue is very easy. All you need is a bit of awareness about hiding your IP address.

By following any of the methods listed above, you will be able to enjoy safe and stress-free browsing.