Changing Your IP Address Is Probably Easier Than You Think. Here’s How and Why to Do So

You can use several methods to get a new IP address, including a VPN and a proxy server. Learn how to change your IP address, what an IP address is and the difference in public and private IP addresses.

Your public IP address is a unique string of numbers assigned to your home network by your internet service provider. A public IP address is sort of like a home address in that it's a unique identifier assigned to devices. In addition to a public IP address, each device on your home internet network, like your laptop, gaming console and smartphone, has a private IP address, which is a unique IP address assigned to it by your router. Your router needs to know the separate devices that exist so it can "talk" to them.