How to Hide My IP Address in 2026

Hiding an IP address is quite simple if you know which tools to use.

If you’re like me, someone who wants to hide my IP to access geo-blocked sites, bypass IP bans, and maintain online anonymity, keep reading.

Below, I’ve listed 7 proven ways to hide your IP address including methods to keep your Internet connection encrypted and fully anonymous.

Not all IP-hiding methods are created equal. Some offer a high level of security but make your internet extremely slow. Others are lightning fast but leave you vulnerable to tracking and data theft. And a few? Well, they’re about as effective as hiding behind a glass door.

Before we dive deep into each method, let’s take a quick look at how they stack up.

7 Ways to Hide Your IP Address

Check out these eight effective ways to alter your IP address.

1. Get a VPN Software

Probably the best and most convenient way to change your IP is to choose a good VPN service.

Here’s what VPN does:

• Hide’s your IP address
• Encrypts your internet traffic
• Allows you safely torrent
• Allows you to get access to geo-blocked sites like Netflix and Hulu.

As you can see, the benefits of a Virtual Private Network are precisely the same as the benefits of changing your IP address.

No surprise here; VPNs assign new IP address to systems connected to them. As you connect to a virtual network, you’ll be assigned a second IP address, which spoofs your real one.

Setting up your VPN client takes minutes, and once you’re all set up, connecting to it and thereby changing your IP happens at the click of your button.

“That’s all great, Andrey, but how does a VPN change my IP address?”

Great question – I’m excited to tell you.

While you’re connected to a VPN, the VPN provider will assign you a virtual IP address. While your real IP address will still be used to connect to said VPN, all other traffic will be tunneled through your private network and as such this external traffic will only connect to your second, virtual IP address.

I’m recommending NordVPN ($3.49/mo) because it’s by far the most anonymous and reliable VPN software we’ve tested to date. It’s secure and it doesn’t track your IP address. You can choose from their 9,000+ servers (different IPs) across 181+ locations. The company has undergone multiple independent audits by firms like PwC and Deloitte in recent years, confirming its strict no-logs policy. You can read our NordVPN review here.

Another good VPN service option (at a cheaper cost) is Surfshark ($2.49/mo). It offers the lowest price for a two-year plan among major providers, while also providing excellent security features and unlimited simultaneous connections. Read our Surfshark review here.

ExpressVPN is also an option, it currently costs $2.49/month for its cheapest plan (two-year subscription). Read our ExpressVPN review here.

2. Use a Proxy – Slower than VPN

Proxy servers are great little tools that act as a bridge in the flow of your internet traffic. These man-in-the-middle servers connect your information packets to their desired destination while changing their appearance as they go through the Proxy.

In simpler terms, the Proxy server intercepts your traffic and takes control of your connection. From here, everything you do, the proxy server repeats; it mirrors your behavior. The destination servers (websites you’d like to access) think of the proxy as your traffic.

The beauty of this system is that you can connect to any proxy server in the world.

Say you want to access the UK’s BBC. You’ll quickly find out that most of their content is blocked and inaccessible for people outside the United Kingdom. In comes the Proxy server. You connect to a UK based Proxy and voila – for all intents and purposes, you’re henceforth as British as fish and chips.

Proxy servers are very efficient at low profile necessities such as bypassing geo-blocked content or IP restrictions.

Being able to mask your real IP address is where the similarities between VPNs and Proxies end.

While being more than adept at handling Netflix geo-restricted content, Proxies can’t compete with a VPN’s many layers of security. Outside spoofing your IP address, Proxy servers neither encrypt your data nor remove any identifiable markers from it. Proxies will do nothing to shield you from the prying eyes of your ISP, government or anyone with access to your data.

The final big difference between Proxies and VPNs is the former’s lack of encompassing spoofing. While a VPN will encrypt any and all data coming into and out of your system, a Proxy will intercept traffic on a per-application basis.

Say you connect your web browser to a proxy server. Great! You can watch all the Netflix you want. Don’t go torrenting files, however. That’s because your torrenting traffic won’t be intercepted by your Proxy and your ISP can easily see what you’re up to.

Further reading: Difference between VPN and Proxy

3. Use TOR – FREE

TOR, named after the original project “The Onion Router” is a free client that anonymously connects you to a volunteer-operated network of servers. This enables you to be assigned a new IP address, on the same basis as a VPN client.

Also known as the “dark/deep” web, Tor has the added benefit of enabling you to access websites that are otherwise inaccessible with normal browsers. Such “onion” websites have very different domain names as they are mostly randomly generated.

Check out the domain name of the anonymity search engine DuckDuckGo:

http://3g2upl4pq6kufc4m.onion

TOR being a widely accessible, free and anonymous network, it has become a hub for criminal activity. It’s also one of the reasons why you may be put on a “list” if you access TOR. From false identities to heavy drugs and even weaponry, a big chunk of the network’s users connect to it to carry out illegal transactions.

Another big drawback of TOR is the extremely slow loading times. These long loading times are predicated on the inefficient and long-winded routes that your data packets are sent on, relayed from server to server, until they finally hit their destination. This, of course, is all done in the name of safety.

However, it’s crucial to keep your Tor Browser updated as security vulnerabilities can be exploited. In late 2024, an important security patch was released for a zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2024-9680) that was being actively exploited in the wild, affecting both Firefox and Tor Browser users.

Further reading: Tor vs. VPN (What is the difference)

4. Multiple Layers of Connection – Slow but secure and anonymous

Using multiple layers of connection for privacy and security involves combining different technologies like VPNs, proxy servers, and the Tor network. This approach adds extra layers of encryption and IP masking, making it more difficult for anyone to track your online activities or determine your real IP address. Let’s delve into how this can work:

VPN Over Tor

How it Works: This setup involves connecting to a VPN service after your traffic has already been routed through the Tor network. Essentially, you first connect to the Tor network, and then the traffic from the Tor exit node goes through a VPN.

Advantages:

• Enhanced Anonymity: Your ISP can’t see you’re using Tor, as the traffic they see is only between you and the VPN.
• Website Anonymity: Websites see the VPN’s IP address instead of the Tor exit node’s IP, which can be helpful since some websites block Tor exit nodes.
• Additional Encryption Layer: The VPN encrypts your data even after it leaves the Tor network, adding an extra layer of security.

Disadvantages:

• Speed Reduction: Both Tor and VPNs reduce internet speed, so using them together can lead to significant slowdowns.
• VPN Trust Required: You must trust the VPN provider because they can see your traffic after it exits the Tor network.

Tor Over VPN

How it Works: In this configuration, you first connect to a VPN server, and then use the Tor network. Your internet traffic is encrypted by the VPN and then routed through the Tor network.

Advantages:

• ISP Cannot See Tor Usage: Your ISP and anyone monitoring your local network can’t tell you are using Tor, as they only see encrypted VPN traffic.
• Access to Tor-Blocked Services: Some services block Tor exit nodes, but with this setup, you can access those services, as the VPN IP is what the service sees.

Disadvantages:

• Speed Issues: Similar to VPN over Tor, the combined use of both services can significantly slow down your internet connection.
• Entrusting VPN Provider: The VPN provider won’t know what you’re doing inside the Tor network, but they will know that you are using Tor.

Proxy Chains

How it Works: This involves using multiple proxy servers in a row. Your traffic is routed through several different proxies, making it more complicated to track your original IP address.

Advantages:

• Layered IP Masking: Each proxy server masks your IP with its own, adding layers of IP addresses that need to be unraveled to trace back to you.
• Can Be Combined with VPN/Tor: Proxy chains can be used in conjunction with Tor and/or VPNs for added security.

Disadvantages:

• Complex Setup: Setting up proxy chains can be technically challenging.
• Variable Security: Proxies don’t necessarily encrypt your traffic, so the level of security depends on the types of proxies used and their configurations.

Overall Considerations

• Trust and Jurisdiction: Always consider the trustworthiness and jurisdiction of the VPN or proxy providers.
• Legal Implications: Be aware of the legal implications in your country when using such methods.
• Purpose and Needs: Tailor your approach based on your specific privacy and security needs.

Using multiple layers of connection can significantly enhance privacy and security, but it’s important to understand the complexities and potential trade-offs, particularly in terms of internet speed and trust in service providers.

Further reading: 17 Safe Internet Browsing Tips for Beginners

5. Use Mobile Network (Mobile Data Tethering) – Slow and not encrypted

A quick way to change your IP address, if you fear yours has been compromised, is to use your cell phone’s data. As it’s a different system, it will have a different IP address.

This, of course, is no substitute for a laptop/PC workstation. It may aid you in rare emergency situations, such as when your IP is obviously being attacked, but outside of that, relying on Mobile Data is both ineffective and short-sighted.

Mobile data tethering, also known as mobile hotspot, is a method to share your smartphone’s cellular data connection with other devices like laptops, tablets, or other phones. This can be done via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB. Here’s a detailed overview:

How Mobile Data Tethering Works

1. Activation: You enable the tethering feature on your smartphone. This turns your phone into a portable Wi-Fi hotspot.
2. Connection: Other devices can connect to this hotspot just like they would connect to any Wi-Fi network.
3. Data Usage: The connected devices use your mobile data plan for internet access. This means any data they use will count against your mobile data quota.
4. IP Address: Each device connected to the mobile hotspot gets a different IP address, which is assigned by your mobile network. This IP address will be different from your home or office network IP address.

Advantages

• Convenience: It’s a quick and easy way to get internet access, especially when you’re away from a Wi-Fi network.
• Portability: As long as you have mobile network coverage, you can set up a hotspot anywhere.
• Security: Using your own mobile data can be more secure than public Wi-Fi, as it’s less susceptible to common Wi-Fi threats.
• No Need for Additional Equipment: Unlike a dedicated mobile hotspot device and similar methods, tethering doesn’t require any extra hardware.

Disadvantages

• Data Usage and Limits: Mobile data plans often have data caps and can be more expensive than regular broadband. Heavy usage can quickly deplete your data allowance.
• Battery Drain: Tethering can significantly drain the battery of your smartphone.
• Speed Limitations: Mobile data speeds can vary greatly depending on your location, network congestion, and signal strength.
• Device Limitations: Some mobile carriers or plans might restrict tethering or charge extra for it.

Use Cases

• Emergency Internet Access: When your regular broadband is down, tethering can be a quick alternative.
• Traveling: Useful for travelers who need internet access on devices like laptops but don’t have access to secure Wi-Fi.
• Temporary Setup: Ideal for situations where you need a temporary internet connection for a short period, like in a meeting or conference outside the office.

Technical Considerations

• IP Address: The IP address you get when tethering will be different from your home network’s IP. It’s assigned by your mobile carrier and can change.
• NAT and Firewall: Your phone acts as a router, which means it will likely use NAT (Network Address Translation) and may have its own firewall settings that could impact connectivity for certain applications.
• IPv4 vs. IPv6: Depending on your carrier, you might get an IPv4 or IPv6 address, which can have implications for certain applications or services.

In summary, mobile data tethering is a versatile method to access the internet on the go, offering convenience and portability. However, it’s important to be mindful of its limitations, particularly in terms of regarding data usage, speed, and battery life.

6. Connect to Public Wi-Fi – Not Secure

As IP addresses don’t travel with you, using your laptop to connect to a coffee shop’s open Wi-Fi network is an easy way to change your IP address. Same as with Mobile Data, this is neither an effective IP change method nor a sustainable way of surfing anonymously & securely. With phone usage exploding since 2010 (+2.6B users by 2024), way more people are doing “coffee shop internet” on the regular, which makes the risk more common than it sounds.

Public Wi-Fi networks come with significant security risks including data interception, malware, and identity theft. According to recent statistics, approximately 40% of users have reported having their information compromised while using public Wi-Fi. The main threats include:

• Man-in-the-Middle Attacks: In these common attacks, hackers secretly intercept and possibly alter the communication between you and the websites you visit, potentially stealing sensitive information like passwords and credit card details.
• Unencrypted Networks: Many public Wi-Fi networks are left unencrypted (encryption is turned off by default on most routers), creating significant security vulnerabilities. Without encryption, your data is transmitted in plain text that can be easily intercepted.
• Malicious Hotspots: Hackers can create fake Wi-Fi networks that mimic legitimate ones by copying the network name (SSID) or using a near-identical one (like “GoodNight Inn” instead of “Goodnight Inn”) to trick users into connecting, then capture their data.
• Packet Sniffing: This technique allows attackers to capture and analyze data being sent across a Wi-Fi network, intercepting sensitive information like passwords or personal emails on unsecured networks.

If you must use public Wi-Fi, follow these safety tips:

• Use a VPN: A VPN encrypts all your traffic before it leaves your device, keeping it safe from prying eyes and making your public Wi-Fi connection much more secure.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication: 2FA adds an extra layer of security to your logins, making it harder for hackers to access your accounts even if they steal your login details.
• Only Visit HTTPS Websites: Look for websites with “HTTPS” in the URL or a padlock icon, which indicates the connection is encrypted and provides an additional layer of security.
• Avoid Sensitive Transactions: Don’t do banking, online shopping, or any activity requiring sensitive information on public Wi-Fi, regardless of safety precautions.
• Disable Auto-Connect: Turn off the auto-connect feature on your device to prevent automatically connecting to potentially malicious networks.
• Keep Software Updated: Always maintain updated operating systems, browsers, and security software as updates often fix security vulnerabilities.

7. Call Your Internet Service Provider

The bitter truth is that we have zero influence on what IP address our systems get assigned to. We can only ask or force our Internet Service Providers to change our IPs for us.

There are two types of IP addresses that your ISP will assign to you. Static and Dynamic. A static IP is difficult to change as you’ll have to go through a lengthy process with your ISP. Most internet providers will, fortunately, assign dynamic IPs.

Asking nicely, so Mom taught me, is always the first step. Calling up your ISP and simply asking for an IP change will often do the trick, although you may have to face some unexpected and forward questions as to your motivation behind such a request. Telling them you’re teaching your son or younger brother the basics of networking might the trick.

Force an IP change by unplugging your modem

If being nice fails, an easy way to attempt to force an IP change by your ISP is to unplug your modem and reconnect it after a little while. By severing your connection to your ISP, you’re very likely to be assigned a new IP range. This only works if you operate on dynamic IPs, however. You also have to remain disconnected from the internet for several hours to prompt a change in IP address.

Here are some additional steps you can take on Windows before unhooking your Modem:

Windows system connected via cable

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
2. Type “ipconfig /release“, without the quotes and hit Enter
3. Type “ipconfig /renew“, without the quotes and hit Enter
4. Shut down your system.
5. Turn off all Ethernet hubs/switches.
6. Unplug the cable/DSL modem.
7. Leave off as long as you can bare (overnight)
8. Turn everything back on.

Windows system connected via router

1. Log in to the router’s admin console.
2. Release the IP address (Every router is different, Google yours)
3. Shut down your system.
4. Turn off all Ethernet hubs/switches.
5. Unplug the cable/DSL modem.
6. Leave off as long as you can bare (overnight)
7. Turn everything back on.

Are you chuckling yet? I sure am 🙂

I’m not saying the above doesn’t work – it works just fine. I’m saying I’m not about to dial my phone and sit on hold for half an hour or disconnect myself from the internet every time I want to change my IP address.

With ISPs selling my browsing history to the highest bidder, I sure wouldn’t trust them to help me out either.

Effective? Yes! Practical? Heck No!

Unfortunately for you and me, this about sums up the ways we can change our IP address. Sure, there are others, more technical ones. If you’re an expert in networking you can modify your router and force a dynamic IP change that way – but that’s neither simple, nor quick, nor guaranteed.

Changing IP addresses simply isn’t the way to go, Hiding them, however, is another story entirely 🙂

How to Check if Your IP Address is Hidden

You’ve tried a few methods and seen that your real IP is no longer visible. But is it really smart to assume that everything is working perfectly? 

It’s not.

It’s always better to make sure that your IP is actually hidden and not leaking any information. Here’s what I recommend:

Run a Quick IP Check

The fastest way to verify whether your IP is hidden is to visit whatismyipaddress.com. It’s a website that displays your current IP address along with your apparent location.

Open the site and see what information appears on your screen. If you’re not sure what your real IP is to begin with, you can quickly look up your computer IP address before running the test. If you’re connected to a VPN server in Germany, you should see a German IP and location. But if the tool displays your current city and ISP name, it means the method you used didn’t work.

I usually check the website twice. First, I visit it without any VPN or proxy running to see my real IP. Then I connect and refresh the page to see if the IP address and location both change to match my VPN server. If they do, I can be sure that the method I used is working fine.

Test for IP Leaks

Another way to make sure your IP is truly hidden is to check for leaks. You’ll want to do this because even though you might see a different IP address, you could still be leaking your real information through DNS requests, which translate website names into IP addresses, or IPv6 traffic, a newer internet protocol that some methods don’t fully protect.

To check for these leaks, visit a website like ipleak.net. Then run a scan and check the results to see if your real IP address or location shows up anywhere. 

If your actual IP appears in the results, it means you have a leak that needs fixing. 

Quality VPNs typically include built-in leak protection, but proxies and other methods often don’t. If you’re using one of the latter, it may be worth switching to a more secure option like a paid VPN service.

Why Hide IP?

It is very much in our interest to make sure no wrong-doers ever get their hands on such an important identifier as our IP Address. Let’s take a look at the main reasons why you would want to hide your IP address.

1. Hide Your Location

As mentioned above, your IP address functions much like the street address of your home; it tells the Internet Protocol where to send your requested information packets. This is predicated on the IP’s ability to pinpoint your exact location, enabling it to connect you to your nearest network and from there to the world.

Here is a list of geo-location information that your IP address harbors:

• Country
• Region
• City
• ZIP code
• Longitude and latitude

Pretty scary to think that a criminal could have access to your GPS coordinates by simply finding out your IP, isn’t it?

2. Circumvent IP restrictions

Being a very precise location identifier, your IP address is often used to block you from accessing certain information that someone has deemed inaccessible to you.

When governments like those in China, Russia and yes, the United States restrict access to certain websites and services by blocking their nation’s IP addresses, “spoofing, the act of masking your IP address, comes in handy.

From journalists to activists and your everyday person, nobody should be oppressed and restricted from sharing their views in the information era.

Colleges and universities also love to meddle with their students’ internet access. Many schools have banned access to online video game servers. This means no League of Legends, World of Warcraft, CS:GO, and so on. And the same kind of network-level blocking can show up with gambling sites too, where access to platforms like Rainbet may be restricted depending on the country you’re in.

I guess these students are mature enough to rack up $200K in debt for a four-year degree, but giving them access to online games? That’s too much.

Circumventing such IP restrictions is important to make sure you, and only you, get to decide which content you’d like to access.

3. Negate IP Bans

Banning your IP address is an easy way for websites and services to immediately block your access to them. This quickly becomes a problem as you try to connect to your paid-for Netflix account, a service which blocks any and all IPs outside the USA from accessing their US library of movies and TV shows, when you’re sitting in your hotel room overseas.

Spoofing or changing your IP address is a quick and easy way of loopholing your way back into services you’ve been mistakenly or unjustly banned from.

4. Block Targeted Attacks

In 2024, the FBI’s IC3 received 859,532 cybercrime complaints in the U.S. When attacks are that common, hiding your IP address becomes a must-do step once you’ve been targeted by a cyber-criminal who’s after your personal records.

By changing your vulnerable IP address you can throw off and block this specific type of cyber attack on your system.

5. Remain Anonymous on the Internet

Anonymity is to be expected, not asked for. Well, not anymore.

When our Congress passes bills, allowing Internet Service Providers to sell your private web surfing data & browsing history to the highest bidder, retaining anonymity in an ever-shrinking world seems all the more precious and important.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Changing your IP address is one of many security steps as you embark on the journey of securing yourself and your data. While using a VPN remains the most comprehensive protection method, being aware of all available options allows you to choose the one that works best for your specific situation and needs.

In 2025, online privacy has become more crucial than ever. With increasing surveillance, data collection, and cyber threats, taking control of your digital footprint begins with controlling who can see your IP address. Whether you choose a premium VPN service, the free but slower Tor network, or a combination of methods for maximum security, the most important thing is to take proactive steps rather than leaving your digital identity exposed.

Remember that different methods offer different levels of security, convenience, and speed. VPNs provide the best balance of security and usability for most people, while methods like public Wi-Fi should only be used with extreme caution and additional protection measures.

I sincerely hope this article has helped you find your preferred method of keeping your IP address safe on the inter-webs. Please share it with your friends and colleagues and let me know about your experiences with IP addresses.

Surf Safe,

Robert from TheBestVPN.com team