How To Change IP Addresses On Android Phone Permanently- {Best In 2024}

Your IP address is a unique identifier that reveals your location and other sensitive information to websites and online services.

Changing it can help you protect your identity, access geo-restricted content, and prevent tracking.

If you’re using an Android phone, this guide will walk you through the process of changing your IP address permanently.

How To Change IP Addresses On Android Phones Permanently- Best In 2023

In this digital era, our smartphones have become an extension of ourselves, holding vast amounts of personal information.

Ensuring your online security and privacy is paramount, and changing your IP address is an effective way to achieve that.

Why Change Your IP Address?

Changing your IP address offers numerous benefits. It allows you to bypass online restrictions, access content not available in your region, and maintain anonymity while browsing.

Additionally, it can thwart unwanted tracking attempts and prevent advertisers from building a detailed profile about you.

Understanding IP Addresses

An IP address is like a virtual street address for your device on the internet. It consists of a series of numbers that identify your device’s location.

There are two types of IP addresses: IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4 addresses are the most common and look like four sets of numbers separated by periods (e.g., 192.168.1.1).

The Importance of Permanence

Permanently changing your IP address ensures that you consistently benefit from the advantages it offers.

With a dynamic IP address, your device’s address can change periodically, making it harder to maintain uninterrupted access to region-specific content or services.

Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Your IP Address

5.1 Disconnect from Wi-Fi

To initiate the process, disconnect from any Wi-Fi networks on your Android device.

Here’s why disconnecting from Wi-Fi is crucial:

1. Clean Break: By severing your device’s connection to the current Wi-Fi network, you create a clean break from the existing IP address. This break is necessary to ensure that your device is no longer tied to its previous online identity.
2. Preparation for Change: Disconnection paves the way for the other steps involved in changing your IP address. It’s the first step in a sequence of actions that collectively lead to the acquisition of a new IP address.
3. Privacy Enhancement: Disconnecting from Wi-Fi contributes to enhancing your privacy during the IP address change process. It prevents any potential interference from the current network, reducing the chances of tracking or data retention during this transitional phase.

To disconnect from Wi-Fi on your Android phone, follow these steps:

1. Open your device’s “Settings” app.
2. Navigate to the “Network & Internet” section.
3. Tap on “Wi-Fi.”
4. Toggle the switch to turn off Wi-Fi connectivity.

5.2 Enable Airplane Mode

Enabling Airplane Mode will temporarily disable all wireless connections. This step helps ensure a clean break from your current IP address.

Here’s why enabling Airplane Mode is a crucial step in the process:

1. Complete Disconnection: When you turn on Airplane Mode, your device disconnects from all wireless networks. This complete disconnection is essential for breaking ties with your current IP address, allowing you to proceed with the subsequent steps to obtain a new one.
2. Uninterrupted Transition: Airplane Mode ensures that no incoming or outgoing data transmissions occur during the IP address change. This interruption-free environment is conducive to a successful transition without any conflicts.
3. Preventing IP Clinging: Some devices tend to hold onto their existing IP addresses, especially when there’s an active data connection. Enabling Airplane Mode mitigates this by creating a blank slate, making it easier to acquire a fresh IP address.

To enable Airplane Mode on your Android phone, follow these simple steps:

1. Open your device’s “Settings” app.
2. Navigate to the “Network & Internet” section.
3. Tap on “Airplane Mode.”
4. Toggle the switch to turn on Airplane Mode.

It’s worth noting that while Airplane Mode is active, you won’t be able to make or receive calls, send text messages, or use mobile data.

This is because all wireless communication features are temporarily disabled. However, this brief inconvenience is outweighed by the benefits it brings to the IP address change process.

5.3 Forget Wi-Fi Networks

Forget all saved Wi-Fi networks to prevent automatic reconnection. This will allow you to reconnect with a fresh IP address.

Here’s why forgetting Wi-Fi networks is a critical action in the IP address change process:

1. Cleansing Connection History: Wi-Fi networks you’ve connected to previously might have associations with your old IP address. Forgetting these networks wipes the slate clean, preventing any inadvertent reconnection to the same IP.
2. Establishing a Blank Slate: When you forget Wi-Fi networks, you essentially erase any potential connection bias. This prepares your device to seamlessly connect to a new network with a different IP address.
3. Reducing Data Collection: Some networks collect data about connected devices. By forgetting networks, you minimize the chances of your device’s data being tracked or stored by these networks.

To forget Wi-Fi networks on your Android phone, follow these steps:

1. Open your device’s “Settings” app.
2. Navigate to the “Network & Internet” section.
3. Tap on “Wi-Fi.”
4. Find the network you want to forget and tap on it.
5. Select “Forget.”

By following these steps, you ensure that your device no longer has any stored data about the Wi-Fi network. This action creates a more neutral starting point as you progress through the IP address change process.

5.4 Use a VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) masks your IP address and encrypts your internet connection. Choose a reliable VPN service and connect to a server of your choice.

Here’s why using a VPN is a crucial step in the IP address change process:

1. Anonymity and Security: A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a secure server. This shields your online activities from prying eyes, including your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and potential hackers.
2. Geo-Unblocking: By connecting to a VPN server located in a different region, you can access content and services that might otherwise be unavailable in your current location due to geo-restrictions.
3. IP Address Replacement: When you connect to a VPN, your device adopts the IP address of the VPN server. This replacement offers you a new online identity and effectively changes your virtual location.

To use a VPN on your Android phone, follow these steps:

1. Install a reputable VPN app from the Google Play Store.
2. Open the app and follow the setup instructions.
3. Choose a VPN server location. Select a server from a different region if you’re looking to change your IP address for specific purposes.
4. Tap the “Connect” button to establish a secure connection.

It’s important to note that while using a VPN is a powerful method for changing your IP address, it might impact your internet speed slightly due to the encryption and rerouting processes.

However, the trade-off between speed and enhanced security is well worth it.

5.5 Restart Your Router

If you’re using mobile data, this step won’t apply. However, if you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network, restarting the router can assign a new IP address to your device.

Here’s why restarting your router is a crucial action in the IP address change process:

1. IP Address Reassignment: Routers often utilize a pool of available IP addresses to assign to connected devices. By restarting the router, you increase the chances of receiving a different IP address from this pool.
2. Overcoming IP Persistence: In some cases, devices might cling to their existing IP addresses even if other steps have been taken to change them. Restarting the router can help overcome this persistence and trigger the assignment of a new IP.
3. Network Refresher: Restarting the router can refresh the network environment, potentially eliminating any factors that might have been causing IP conflicts or limitations.

To restart your router, follow these general steps:

1. Locate your router. It’s typically a device with antennas and lights that are connected to your internet modem.
2. Unplug the power cable from the router.
3. Wait for about 10-15 seconds.
4. Plug the power cable back in and wait for the router to fully restart. This might take a minute or two.

It’s important to note that while restarting the router can potentially lead to a new IP address assignment, it’s not a guaranteed method.

IP address assignment depends on your internet service provider’s practices and the availability of addresses in their pool.

5.6 Disable Location Services

Disabling location services ensures that apps and websites can’t access your device’s precise location, further enhancing your privacy.

Here’s why disabling location services is a critical step in the IP address change process:

1. Minimize Tracking: Location services allow various entities to track your movements and activities. By disabling them, you reduce the chances of being tracked during the transitional phase of changing your IP address.
2. Protect Personal Data: Some apps and websites request access to your location data, which can be used for targeted advertising or other purposes. Turning off location services helps protect your personal information from unnecessary exposure.
3. Privacy Enhancement: Disabling location services contributes to a more comprehensive privacy strategy. It complements the goal of changing your IP address to establish a more private and secure online presence.

To disable location services on your Android phone, follow these steps:

1. Open your device’s “Settings” app.
2. Navigate to the “Privacy” or “Location” section.
3. Toggle off the switch for “Location Services” or similar options.

While disabling location services enhances your privacy, it’s important to note that certain apps and features might require location access to function properly.

You can choose to enable location services for specific apps when needed.

Technical Considerations

6.1 Dynamic vs. Static IP Addresses

Most users have dynamic IP addresses assigned by their ISPs.

These addresses change periodically. In contrast, static IP addresses remain constant and are typically used by businesses or advanced users.

6.2 Potential Drawbacks of Changing IPs

While changing your IP address has its benefits, it might disrupt certain online services that rely on your IP for authentication or personalization.

Staying Safe Online

Taking control of your IP address is just one step toward maintaining online safety.

Regularly updating your device, using strong and unique passwords, and being cautious of phishing attempts are also crucial.

FAQs

Q: Is changing my IP address legal?

Ans: Yes, changing your IP address is legal. However, using it for illegal activities is not.

Q: Can I use a free VPN to change my IP address?

Ans: Yes, you can use free VPNs, but be cautious of their privacy policies and limitations.

Q: Will changing my IP address prevent all forms of tracking?

Ans: While it enhances privacy, it might not completely eliminate tracking.

Q: Can I change my IP address without using a VPN?

Ans: Yes, by restarting your router and disconnecting from Wi-Fi, your IP address can change. However, a VPN offers more security.

Q: How often should I change my IP address?

Ans: This depends on your security needs. You can change it whenever you feel the need for enhanced privacy.

conclusion

taking control of your online security and privacy is paramount. Changing your IP address on an Android phone can be a powerful tool for achieving that goal.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can enjoy a safer and more private browsing experience.