How to Change IP Address on Android [Fast & Free Ways]

Ever felt the urge to surf the internet with more privacy or just explore content unavailable in your region? You’re not alone. As an internet user, the desire to stay one step ahead is only natural, especially when using an Android phone. Whether it’s to bypass geo-restrictions, troubleshoot network issues, or simply start fresh, knowing how to change your IP address is a useful skill every Android owner should learn.

The Internet Protocol (IP) is like a virtual identity tag, and changing it can help you overcome many digital roadblocks. Luckily, Android devices offer multiple ways to make an address change, each suited to different needs. As someone who regularly switches IP settings while testing apps across regions, I’ve found that mastering this not only improves flexibility but also strengthens digital privacy.

This guide focuses on the different yet effective methods to change IP on an Android phone, empowering you to take full control of your internet presence.

What is an IP address?

An IP address is the unique home address your devices use to send and receive digital messages over the internet. It follows a structured numbering system that helps the Internet Protocol (IP) identify each host connected to a network. Think of it as the digital version of your street address—it tells websites and services where to deliver data.

Traditionally, this comes in the form of IPv4 (Internet Protocol version four), which looks like a set of groups of numbers separated by dots, such as 172.16.254.1.

Due to the finite addresses available in IPv4, a newer version, IPv6, was developed to support more devices and transmit bigger loads of information using nearly infinite address numbers.

As someone who’s tested Android apps in multiple regions, understanding how this system works is crucial. The protocol helps organize the web and ensure that your messages arrive at the right digital doorstep. Without it, our online experience would be chaotic.

Whether it’s IPv4 or IPv6, every device needs one to participate on the internet—and learning to manage this on your Android phone puts you in charge of how and where your traffic flows.

What are the types of IP addresses?

There are different types of IP addresses, but the most common you’ll encounter on an Android phone is the Public IP. This public IP address is what your internet service provider assigns to your device when it’s connected to the internet, and it’s visible to everything you interact with online.

Think of it like a uniquely branded coffee mug you carry everywhere—every website or service you connect to sees that same identifier. This address gets distributed by your provider and is shared across all users accessing the internet through that same connection, though some setups allow for unique assignments.

In my personal experience managing mobile networks, knowing which IP you’re working with can save a lot of time when troubleshooting connectivity issues or setting up region-specific access.

Public IP

When your Android device is connected to the internet, it’s assigned a public IP address by your internet service provider—a unique identifier that lets you connect with everything online.

This public IP is one of the types of IP addresses that’s globally distributed, and it’s shared or individually assigned depending on the service plan from your provider. Picture it like a personalized coffee mug you carry across the digital world—wherever you go online, your identity is visible. In my experience, especially when testing apps that behave differently by region, understanding how your public IP gets distributed and how it’s managed by your ISP can make or break your control over content access and connection quality.

Private IP

A Private IP is an address your router automatically assigns to your device so it can communicate within your local network. These IPs don’t appear on the internet and won’t show up when you search for your public IP—making them ideal for managing multiple devices at home or in an office. Every time I set up test environments on different Android phones, I rely on this hidden layer to isolate traffic and avoid outside interference.

This internal address system ensures that all connected gadgets function smoothly without conflict, while still using a shared public IP to reach the outside world.

Dynamic IP

A Dynamic IP is an address that changes automatically each time you connect to the internet, and it’s commonly assigned by your ISP or even a VPN provider using a system called DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). Unlike static addresses, these are reused and easily rotated across users, which adds a layer of anonymity and reduces the need for manual setup.

From my experience managing mobile configurations, using a dynamic IP can be especially useful when switching locations or resetting your network identity, and many providers prefer this setup for its flexibility and lower maintenance.

Static IP

A Static IP is one of those addresses that don’t change, making it ideal when you need a stable connection to access remote networks or services reliably. Unlike shared IPs that rotate among multiple users, a static IP stays fixed, which can be both a benefit and a drawback.

In my experience, it’s harder to set up manually on an Android phone, but once configured, it’s perfect for secure connections, especially for work-related apps. However, websites may block certain static IPs if they detect thousands of requests from the same source, which is something to consider when using one extensively.

Dedicated IP     

A Dedicated IP is a public IP assigned to just one user, not shared across multiple users on a network, which means that only a single device gets that unique number every time it connects. Unlike dynamic or shared addresses, a dedicated IP is more elaborate to configure but offers consistent access and smoother authentication with services that might otherwise flag rotating IPs.

In my personal setup for testing secure Android apps, I’ve found that using a dedicated IP provides more reliable control, especially when stability is a priority or when services require whitelisted, fixed IPs for access.

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

PROS	CONS
Maintaining privacy	Disrupts your current connection
Accessing blocked sites	May cost you money
Avoiding bans	Banking apps might not like you connecting from a different country
Bypassing geographic restrictions
Using your phone as a computer peripheral

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

Goal	Solution
To use your phone as a Wi-Fi camera	Change manually to a static IP
To share files via FTP	Change manually to a static IP
To set up your phone as a mobile media or web server	Change manually to a static IP
To mask your presence online	Use a VPN or Tor
To access geo-blocked websites and content	Use a VPN or Tor
To overcome censorship	Use a VPN or Tor
To shield your internet activities from your internet service provider	Use a VPN or Tor

How to change your Android IP with a VPN

To change your IP on Android easily, using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is one of the most effective methods I’ve relied on—especially when I need a public IP address from a specific country to access region-locked content. With services like Surfshark VPN, you can download the app from the Google Play Store or via APK if needed, then simply log in, choose a country, and connect to get a new IP instantly.

Unlike a static IP address that requires manual work and a static server, VPNs automate the switch. For tighter anonymity, some users even combine VPNs with tools like Tor, but for quick everyday use, a VPN alone does the job well—once connected, your IP is changed, and any website you visit will see you as browsing from your selected country.

How to change your Android IP with Tor

To change your IP on Android using Tor, you’ll need to download and install the Tor Browser from the Google Play Store or its official site. Once the app is set up, it creates a secure tunnel that masks your actual location, giving you a different IP for each browsing session.

While you surf the internet, your IP is changed every time you start a new session, making it ideal for private, anonymous browsing. However, based on my own testing, Tor is solely for web traffic—it’s not for apps—so if you need to browse securely but still use other apps, this method might not be the best.

Tor connections are also longer to establish and slower than VPNs, but they’re highly effective when privacy is a top priority.

How to change your Android IP manually

To change your IP manually on Android, go to Settings > Networks & Internet > Wi-Fi, then long press the connected network and tap Manage network settings. Under IP settings, switch from DHCP to Static, then enter a new, unused IP address in the IP address field and hit Save.

This method sets a static IP address that doesn’t change each time you connect, making it ideal for stable access but potentially more laborious for beginners. I’ve used this approach when I needed a consistent connection across testing phases, though finding a free IP on the network can feel daunting.

While guides often exist for Windows and Mac, doing this on Android devices can be just as effective once you’ve chosen the right address from your network’s available options, though not as easier as using a random phone app or VPN.

How to find an unused IP address on a Windows PC

To find an unused IP address on a Windows PC, open the Start menu, type “cmd” in the search bar, and launch Command prompt. Next, type ipconfig/all to list all addresses assigned to your device, including the Default Gateway, DNS Servers, and your current network details.

Once you’ve noted the gateway—say 172.16.254.1—try pinging nearby numbers like 172.16.254.2 or higher by typing ping [address]; if the message reads “Destination host unreachable,” the address is likely free.

I usually write down a few of these options for manual IP setups on Android. A “reachable” response, on the other hand, means the IP is already in use by another router or device.

How to find an unused IP address on a Mac

To locate unused IP addresses on a Mac, press cmd + space, type “terminal,” and hit enter to launch it. Start by typing ipconfig/all to view your IP address, DNS Servers, and the Default Gateway linked to your network. Begin searching by pinging a nearby address—for example, if your current IP is 192.168.0.5, try one number higher like 192.168.0.6. If the message says “Destination host unreachable,” it likely means the IP is free and can be used; if reachable, it’s already taken.

I always write down a few good candidates and continue the list until I get a solid option for manual Android setup.

moving forward with changing your IP on Android

Now that this article has shown you how and why changing your IP on an Android device matters, it’s time to choose whether you prefer a VPN or manual work to get it done. Personally, I enjoy using the best VPN tools because they encrypt your connection, avoid restrictions, and effortlessly switch your IP’s location without the need to configure a server.

But if you’re after precision or testing, manual configuration still has its benefits. Either way, both methods allow Android users to shift their location, boost security, and take more control of their digital experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, learning how to change your IP address on Android phone equips you with greater control over your device’s connectivity, privacy, and access to region-specific content. Whether you use a VPN, manual setup, or tools like Tor, each method offers unique advantages depending on your goal—be it privacy, speed, or stability.

This knowledge becomes especially useful when troubleshooting issues like trying to fix not registered on network on Android or needing to enable mock location on Android for testing apps across regions. Moreover, when working around network configurations or encryption limits, such as resolving a could not enable file encryption error in Android, having control over your IP settings can often be the key step in eliminating those roadblocks.

Frequently Ask Questions

How to fix IP address on Android phone?

To fix an IP address issue on your Android phone or tablet, start by opening the Settings app on your device, then scroll to Personal info or network settings depending on the Android version. From there, go to Addresses and look for options labeled Home or Work, where you can enter a custom static address if needed. I’ve often used this method when a network wouldn’t assign an IP properly, and manually setting a stable one helped restore full connectivity without needing a reset.

Does my mobile phone have a fixed IP address?

Most mobile phones do not have a fixed IP address, as mobile IP addresses are usually dynamic and change frequently depending on how the mobile device connects to the cellular network. Each time you reconnect, a new IP address is assigned from a pool of available addresses through dynamic assignment. In my experience with various carriers, cellular providers prefer this method to manage their IP address resources more efficiently, ensuring that devices always stay connected without wasting limited IPv4 space.

Does my mobile phone have a fixed IP address?

Your mobile phone typically does not use a fixed IP address; instead, mobile IP addresses are dynamic and change frequently each time your mobile device connects to a cellular network. This is because your IP address is assigned from a pool of available addresses using dynamic assignment, which helps cellular providers manage their limited IP address resources more efficiently. In my own testing setups, I’ve seen this behavior especially when switching locations or toggling airplane mode—confirming that most mobile connections rely on ever-changing IPs rather than static ones.

How do I make my IP address fixed?

To make your IP address fixed on a mobile device, go to Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi, then tap the gear icon next to your current network. Scroll to IP settings, select “Static,” and then manually type a static IP in the address field. This way, you effectively set up a static IP address that doesn’t change every time you connect. I’ve done this often when configuring Android devices in testing labs where stable access to specific local servers was needed—once done, just hit Save, and your configuration is locked in.

Can you reset your IP address on Android?

Yes, you can reset your IP address on Android quite easily by toggling your Wi-Fi or connecting your Android device to a different network. When you connect to a new network, a new IP address is typically assigned automatically, and even resetting your home router can sometimes give you a different IP. I’ve used this method countless times during testing to simulate location changes without a VPN, and it’s a quick way to refresh your network identity without diving into complex settings.