An IP address is your identity on the internet. Without a unique IP address, you would not be able to access, receive, or share any content. Mostly, public IP addresses are temporary as they change each time you change networks. For example, when you switch from your Wi-Fi to your mobile data, your IP address on your iPhone resets and changes since you’re switching to different internet providers.
The public IP address in your iPhone is unique as it is used by your device to share and receive content online. Without a public IP address, you would not be able to access any content or applications, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, etc.
This is mainly because your IP address is the identity that is used to locate you, and without an identity, getting access to any data on the internet would be impossible. However, your public IP address doesn’t belong to your apple device specifically, rather, it is assigned by network providers, router setup, etc. These Public IPs are usually assigned to you by higher authority devices or platforms such as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), and translated by Network Address Translation (NAT).
As the aforementioned information states, the IP address of your iPhone and other devices that are connected to the internet is assigned by the DHCP server, which is your router.
Normally you would not feel the need to change the IP address on your device, but sometimes you may come across network connectivity problems, technical errors, website blocks, and just general privacy threats, which call for a change of IP address in order to solve the problem.
How to Change Your IP Address on iPhone
There are three ways to do this, and we’ll take a look at each of them below:
Change IP Address by Renewing the DHCP Lease
You can ask for a new IP address from your router. If you do not need a static IP address, this is an easy, automatic fix.
- Go to Settings on your device.
- Tap the Wi-Fi option.
- Tap the information icon to the right of your network’s name.
- Now, tap the Renew Lease option and scroll down.
- Tap the Renew Lease option at the bottom as well.
That’s about it!
Configure Your iPhone to Use a Static IP Address
- Go to Settings on your device.
- Tap the Wi-Fi option.
- Tap the information icon to the right of your network’s name.
- Now, tap the Configure IP option.
- Tap Manual and type your IP address details.
- Once done, hit the Save button to apply the changes.
Changing the IP Address Through a VPN
As you know, a virtual private network (VPN) modifies a public internet connection into a private network, providing you with an anonymous identity on the internet. Typically, VPNs hide your IP address which makes all your activity on the internet completely unlocatable. While hiding your IP Address may seem minor and unnecessary to you, in case someone gets access to your IP Address, they can look into everything you do on the internet, from the time you searched for something to your location.
A VPN service mainly helps you conceal and retain your privacy and browse the internet without any threats. With a VPN, you can easily mask your IP address with an IP your VPN provides you. Through this, you’re shielded from hackers who might access, collect and sell your data for corrupt motives.
Once you have installed a VPN on your device, it will provide you with an extensive list of global servers from across multiple countries such as USA VPN servers. Just select your preferred server and it will conceal your original IP address and give you an alternate persona on the internet.
Lastly, since your iPhone filters and tracks all network activities while using a VPN, when you are shown permission prompt, you will need to allow the VPN to make changes to your configuration settings on your device. Enter your iPhone passcode to verify the permission, after this, your iPhone will automatically connect to your desired server location and change your IP address.
It is extremely crucial to keep your identity and data concealed on the internet, especially in today’s world where cyber threats are evolving by the minute.