How to Hide My IP Address: Safe Methods Compared

To hide your IP address from websites, route your traffic through a VPN, Tor Browser, a proxy, or Apple’s iCloud Private Relay. Each one covers different traffic and puts a different operator in the path. How to hide my IP address comes down to the traffic: a VPN is the usual whole-device option, while Tor and Private Relay cover narrower, browser-focused use. Check your public IP before and after, so you know what changed.

How to hide my IP address: know what changes

Your public IP address is the network address a website normally sees when your request arrives. IP masking sends the request through another network endpoint, so the site sees that endpoint’s address instead. After connecting a VPN, run Loqmi’s WebRTC leak test to see which IPs your browser still exposes. The intermediary becomes part of the route. Your address has not vanished into a tiny internet witness-protection program.

At home, your router usually uses NAT (network address translation) so devices with private local addresses share one public address. Think of the router as a receptionist who answers every call with the same company number. The private IPv4 ranges are set aside by RFC 1918. DHCP assigns local network settings. Changing a local address or DNS server does not hide the public route a website sees.

Your ISP (internet service provider) connects your network to the internet. IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) coordinates public address blocks and delegates them to regional internet registries (RIRs); records do not map your front door. Geolocation databases estimate a region, so an IP lookup can show the wrong city. See why your IP location can be wrong.

Choose by who you want to hide from

Start by naming the observer: a website, your ISP, a shared Wi-Fi operator, or another app. “Hide all IP traffic” is really a question of coverage: one browser, one app, or the whole device. Pick the method that covers the traffic you care about.

A VPN can hide your IP address across apps, but you then trust its provider. A proxy can hide your IP address for one workflow, not the whole device. Tor gives you a separate browser route; its safety guidance recommends using Tor Browser as designed. Private Relay is for eligible Safari traffic. Compare the first two in proxy versus VPN.

Set up a VPN on your device

A provider’s official app is often the simplest setup. Manual settings need the VPN type, server address, and sign-in details from the service or your workplace. Opening the VPN menu alone does not create a working tunnel, no matter how official it looks. Menu labels vary with the device maker, the operating system release, or an employer-managed profile.

Windows 11

Open Settings > Network & internet > VPN > Add VPN, choose Windows (built-in), enter the supplied profile details, and save. Connect from the VPN page or the taskbar network menu. Microsoft’s instructions note that you need a VPN profile first.

macOS

For a saved VPN, open Apple menu > System Settings > VPN and turn it on. To add a manual configuration, open System Settings > Network > Action menu > Add VPN Configuration, then choose the VPN type. Apple’s setup guide lists the required details.

Linux and Ubuntu

On Ubuntu, open Activities, search Network, then click + beside VPN. Choose the type, enter details, and select Add; connect from the system menu. Other distributions or VPN types may need a provider client or NetworkManager plug-in. Ubuntu documents this setup path.

Android

Open Settings > Network & internet > VPN, choose the saved connection, and tap Connect. To add one manually, tap the add button and enter the details. If your menu looks different, search Settings for “VPN”. Manufacturers love to customize Android. Google’s guide also describes always-on VPN for supported configurations.

iPhone and iPad

For a full-device VPN, use the service’s official app or a work or school profile. For Safari, eligible iCloud+ users can turn on Private Relay under Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Private Relay. Apple also lets you adjust IP Address Location to keep a general location or use a broader country and time zone. See Apple’s Private Relay overview for availability and network-specific settings.

Free options and their limits

For a free option, start with the scope you need. Tor Browser is free and routes that browser through Tor. Private Relay is included for eligible iCloud+ subscribers, not a standalone free VPN. Free VPN plans vary, so check their limits and privacy terms.

A browser proxy changes what a site sees for configured requests, not necessarily other tabs, apps, games, or system traffic. HTTPS protects the browser-to-site connection; it does not make a proxy operator trustworthy. Incognito mode does not hide your IP: it mainly limits local history and storage. The curtains close inside the room, but the street address stays on the mailbox.

DNS (Domain Name System) changes affect name lookup; restarting a router or switching to cellular may change your address. None provides the same intermediary route as Tor or a VPN, or removes accounts, cookies, browser fingerprinting, and device location permissions. See public versus private IP addresses.

Check that the new route is active

For a quick self-test, open Loqmi’s IP checker and note the public IP, ISP, and approximate location. Connect the VPN or open Tor Browser, then reload Loqmi in that same browser. A new IP means the site sees another endpoint; it does not prove every app is covered or make you anonymous. See our VPN verification steps.

Test the specific app too. A changed browser result does not guarantee a game follows the VPN, especially if split tunneling excludes it. Compare performance separately with Loqmi’s speed test; slower does not necessarily mean exposed.

A hidden IP is only one privacy layer. The service you use still matters, and an account login still tells a site who you are.