What is an IP address?

The Internet Protocol is a vast and complex mechanism on which the modern virtual world is built upon. It manages all communications and routes internet traffic. Almost like an automated phone exchange operator flipping switches and connecting different lines. Of course, the line has to lead somewhere.

An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a long string of numbers for the set of rules of the whole internet communication. Take it as a phone number for any device on the network to be called by other machines. This virtual identifier is necessary for any type of internet browsing or peer-to-peer (P2P) connections.

Read on to learn more about IP addresses. As a bonus, we’ll teach you how and why it’s beneficial to change yours using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

How an IP address works

In the real world, we all have addresses in order to be found. That information is necessary for any number of reasons, chief among which is the noble act of pizza delivery. The primary characteristic of addresses is uniqueness – no two are exactly the same.

Similarly, an IP address is a unique code used to identify any network device (node), such as your PC, router, or smart fridge. It’s the number of a digital house on a digital street if you will. Unlike in the real world, having an IP is a mandatory prerequisite for communication between devices.

If you type “Amazon.com” on your browser, the first thing your computer does is convert the domain name (Amazon.com) into a language machines understand – an IP address. That’s the job of DNS servers, which act as a virtual phonebook, where your device looks up the destination. Once it has the IP address, it can open the website.

That’s a simple example of how IPs work, but the same is true for any online or on-LAN interaction between devices. Whether you’re browsing the web or using a P2P program, your IP is what makes it possible.

Types of IP addresses

There are various types of IP addresses and they come in several shapes and sizes. First of all, we have to distinguish between the main types out there in the wild:

• Public
• Private
• Static
• Dynamic

Additionally, each can be one of two versions – IPv4 or IPv6. Let’s untangle this mess.

Public IP address

A public IP address is the most likely meaning behind the general term “IP Address”. This is your address to the internet outside your Local Area Network (LAN). As you might guess, it’s actually the address of your entire home network, rather than your personal computer.

Every device that connects to the internet through your router has the same address, commonly known as your IP. Your public IP is assigned to you by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and can only be changed through very specific means. One of them being virtual private networks (VPNs). Read on to learn how.

Private IP address

A Private IP address is an address on the LAN, “behind” the router. Each device on your home network has an IP (different from your public IP) for communication with each other and your router. You can change your private IP all you want, as long as the one you choose isn’t occupied by another device on your home network.

Dynamic IP address

Dynamic IP addresses are temporary IPs assigned to new users on a network and serve several purposes. Primarily, ISPs use dynamic IPs to simplify the management of IP assignments and to minimize resources.

When you connect to the internet, a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server assigns an IP to your router. Once you disconnect, it can give that same IP to another user, thus decreasing the required number of unique IPs to make connections possible. The truth is most IPs are dynamic.

Static IP address

Static IPs are mostly used by businesses, who are more likely to require functionalities dynamic IPs can’t offer. Basically speaking, a static IP is one that remains the same from connection to connection throughout any time. This allows such things as hosting websites or web services.

IP address versions

There are two different versions of IP addresses still hanging around – IPv4 and IPv6. So, what do they look like visually speaking? IPv4 is the common one you’ve seen a hundred times and looks like these:

192.168.0.254
4.294.967.296

The IPv6, though, is a bit more uncanny looking like these ones:

2001:0db8:0000:0042:0000:8a2e:0370:7334
fe80:0000:0000:0000:0202:b3ff:fe1e:8329

Obviously, IPv6 is a lot longer and includes letters as well as numbers because of its hexadecimal nature. This makes tremendously more unique combinations possible, which is the entire point of a new standard.

When IPv4 started being used in 1983, no one could foresee how successful and revolutionary the internet would become. People were probably fairly sure that 4,294,967,296 addresses would be enough.

That is obviously not the case anymore, therefore, the new IPv6 was designed to theoretically have 3,402,823,669,209,384,634,674,607,431,768,211,456 unique addresses. Quite a few more than is possible to wrap one’s head around.

Although IPv6 completely solves the unique IP issue, nowadays most traffic is still routed using IPv4. One issue is that IPv4 and IPv6 don’t communicate with each other, and it’s, therefore, more difficult to make a transition from one to the other. As such, we’ll probably live with IPv4 for a bit longer.

How to see my IP address?

Finding out will depend on which IP address you’re looking for – your public or private one. Seeing your public IP is easier – use one of many online tools like whatismyipaddress.com, or ipleak.net. You can do this with any device that has a browser, including your phone, tablet or even a gaming console.

If you want to find your private IP address, your actions will depend on your platform.

On Windows

Here’s what you would do as a Windows user:

1. Open Windows Search and write “command prompt” or “cmd”. This will open a black terminal where you can enter commands.
2. Type “ipconfig” (without quotation marks) and press Enter.
3. Find your IP address. As a side note, your “Default Gateway” is the IP of your router.

Alternatively, you can find the IP address in the computer’s settings:

1. Press Start and go to your Settings.
2. Select Network & Internet.
3. Go to the Network and Sharing Center.
4. Click on your Wi-Fi and then that network’s properties.
5. At the bottom you’ll see the network information including your IPv4 or IPv6 addresses.

On macOS

If you are a Mac user, follow these steps:

1. Open the Terminal (/Applications/Utilities/).
2. Type “ifconfig |grep inet” (without quotation marks).
3. You’ll see your IP at the bottom (ignore the 127.0.0.1 address)

Alternatively, you can find the IP in System Preferences:

1. Enter the Network settings.
2. You’ll see your IP on the right.

Why would you want to change your IP address?

You probably understand that your IP can tell quite a lot about you. For starters, it can show someone what your ISP and location are, and there’s not much separating your location from your identity. Needless to say, this can be risky for a number of reasons.

For example, perhaps you’re a political activist in a dictatorship or maybe you’re torrenting copyrighted material somewhere in Germany. Whatever the case, leaving your real IP out in the open can bring trouble to your doorstep.

On the other hand, changing your IP is a great way to bypass geo-blocking. Be it foreign libraries of your favorite video streaming platform or a region-locked website. Services that have any type of location-based restrictions always check the IP address you’re connecting from.

Thankfully, there are ways to solve these problems – tools that will change your IP address and thus your location and identity.

Ways to change your IP address

There are a couple of ways of doing so using different tools, the main two of which are proxy servers and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

A proxy server is essentially a gateway that works at the app level. This means it protects only the data you send using the app that has a proxy connection set up. For example, if you set up a proxy on your browser, it will protect only your browser traffic.

However, most proxies won’t encrypt your data and, on top of that, require some advanced tech-savvy knowledge. In this case, we generally recommend VPN services as they are tremendously safer are way easier to set up.

A virtual private network, on the other hand, works like an intermediary between your device and ISP. It also encrypts all data within its network and makes it impossible to trace the source. Even more, a robust VPN incorporates a plethora of other security features to keep your browsing not just private, but safer as well.

Beyond hiding your IP address, a VPN will also let you access geo-blocked content or bypass the Great Firewall of China. It can also potentially make your connection speeds faster if your ISP is throttling it for one reason or another.

Change your IP address with a VPN

First off, you have to get your hands on a VPN. To help you make an easy and quick choice, we gathered our top 3 best VPN services which are an outstanding mix of safety, convenience, and value.

1. NordVPN

   The best VPN for changing location
   9.8
2. Surfshark VPN

   Affordable VPN with numerous country choices
   9.5
3. Bitdefender VPN
   8.2

To change your IP through a VPN, follow these few short steps:

Conclusion

IP addresses are an essential part of modern internet structure. As every house has its address, so do internet-connected devices have their unique addresses to remain distinct from each other. Plus, knowing how IP addresses work is useful not only to web developers but also to any everyday user.

Changing your IP address holds many benefits starting from your virtual safety, wider access to the internet, and even bypassing geo-blocking. And the best part – it can be done as easily as just a few clicks if you choose the right tools for the job.

Have you tried changing your IP address? How did it go? Tell us in the comments below.

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You may also like to read:
What is IP geolocation
How to hide your IP address
Best VPN with Dedicated IP
What is IP spoofing
How to check your torrent IP
VPN vs Proxy servers

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FAQ

What is an IP address?

It’s a distinct address of your device on the network. An IP address is used for any type of internet or LAN communication between machines. It’s displayed as a long string of numbers separated by dots or colons depending on the version of your IP address. You can learn more about how IP addresses work.

Can I change my IP address?

Yes, there are a few methods of changing your IP address. One of the easiest and most reliable ways is using a VPN. A premium VPN, like NordVPN, will not only change your IP, but also encrypt your internet traffic and protect your browsing. Right now it’s 74% off if you use valid discount codes.

How to change your IP address without a VPN?

You can change your IP address by either using a proxy server, the Tor browser, or switching your network. However, all of these methods have their downsides in speed or security departments. That’s why, for a task like this we usually recommend a robust VPN, such as NordVPN.

Who can use my IP address?

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and the websites you visit can see your IP address. They usually collect all the data related to your browsing history or location. This can result in different targeted ads or pricing for services or products. You can hide your IP with NordVPN, now 74% off.