Does an IP Address Change with Location? Real Facts 2025

Your Internet Protocol (IP) address can reveal your real location. An IP is like your mailing address, helping internet data reach its destination. Although this is necessary by design, it raises many questions and security concerns.

Is sharing your IP address dangerous? How do IPs even work? Does your IP change if you move to a different town or country? Find detailed answers in this article.

How Do IP Addresses Work? Overview

It is important to learn how IP addresses work to understand when and why IP addresses change.

An IP address is a unique identification number assigned to every device connected to the web. It is necessary for the devices to communicate with each other and trace Internet traffic to a specific location. Your IP address is like your device’s ID card.

IP addresses are assigned by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN. ICANN distributes IP addresses to government bodies and internet service providers, which then provide them to the public.

Currently, two versions of IP addresses exist:

• IPv4 — This is an older version of IP addresses using a 32-bit scheme. The IPv4 system can store over 4 billion addresses, which isn’t enough for the rapidly growing Internet user base.
• IPv6 — This is a newer version of IP addresses that uses a 128-bit scheme. The IPv6 system can store 2¹²⁸ addresses.

IPs were first introduced in the 1980s when few people in the general public had access to the Internet. At that time, the Internet was mainly used by the military, so 4 billion addresses seemed like a lot. However, we began running out of IPv4 addresses in the 1990s. Despite this, IPv6 addresses were only introduced about a decade ago.

You likely have an IPv6 address, which looks like eight groups of four digits separated by colons. Website hosts, your Internet Service Provider (ISP), and potentially other third parties see your IP address when you interact with web content.

So, here are important takeaways to keep in mind:

• Your IP address is unique to your network.
• Every device on the web has an IP address.
• Without IP addresses, devices wouldn’t be able to send data via the internet, the same way a postman couldn’t find a house without a mailing address.

That’s really all the average internet user needs to know. But if you want to dive deeper, let’s learn about the packet journey.

All data you send or receive online is broken up into packets. Each packet only contains 1,500 bytes of data and has a wrapper with a header and footer. This wrapper includes information on the data type, origin, destination, and connection with other packets.

Data packets move in a stream and might travel through different network backbones. In other words, data might arrive out of order, even if it’s data from one message. As all packets arrive, the destination device reassembles them into their original state.

IP addresses are essential for your data to travel to the correct destination. They also help the receiving computer understand that all data packets have the same origin.

Private vs. Public IPs

Your ISP assigns you an external or public IP address. This address is visible to website hosts and other parties to monitor traffic when you are on the internet.

You also have an internal or private IP address, which is assigned by your router or cable modem, to identify your device within your home or work network.

Your internal and external addresses are different. Let’s assume your computer’s private IP is 193.165.1.1. If you connect your smartphone and console to the router, their private IPs will be 193.165.1.2 and 193.165.1.3, respectively. In other words, the last digit will indicate the device.

However, your public IP will remain unchanged regardless of your device. Third parties cannot determine which device you use to access the internet based on your IP (but there are other methods).

Shared vs. Dedicated IPs

A dedicated IP address is exclusively yours. You can use it for different devices within your company or home network. However, unregistered users from other networks cannot access it. On the other hand, a shared IP address is used by multiple parties who don’t require each other’s consent.

Shared IPs are cheaper and good enough for casual browsing. However, dedicated IPs are better suited for business applications or users concerned about privacy.

For example, a dedicated IP can grant you secure remote access to company files, prevent data breaches, and ensure your cold emails don’t get into the Spam folder.

Dedicated IPs also help avoid CAPTCHAs and might help bypass geo-blocks, as they are less likely to get blacklisted by services.

Static vs. Dynamic IPs

You can have a static or dynamic IP address. A static IP doesn’t change unless your network architecture changes. Static IPs are usually used for important equipment such as servers.

Static IP addresses are better suited for business applications, like setting up dedicated services such as FTP or mail. However, they cost you more and are complicated to configure. Most ISPs assign dynamic IPs by default, so you must request a static IP.

Dynamic IPs are typically assigned to consumer devices and are subject to change. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) servers assign such devices a new IP address whenever they deem necessary, which can happen every minute or once every several months.

A dynamic IP is a cost-effective solution that requires no work. Plus, your real-world location is less accurate with a dynamic address, which is generally beneficial. Conversely, download and upload speeds are typically better with static IP addresses.

Does Your IP Address Change When You Move?

Public IPs are assigned to a network, not an individual device. This means that if you change your physical location, your IP address will also change, even if you use the same computer or smartphone. However, the process is a bit more complex than it seems.

Your IP won’t change if you move to another room in your house or step into your backyard. Instead, you need to connect to a different network, such as public Wi-Fi at a coffee shop or an internet connection in another country. Even with a static IP, switching networks will result in a new IP address.

If you need to maintain the same IP address while traveling, perhaps to access a restricted work system or bypass geo-blocked content, you can use a VPN  with a dedicated IP. A dedicated IP remains constant no matter where you connect from, as long as you use the same dedicated VPN server.

However, most VPNs use shared dynamic IP addresses. You’d have to pay extra for a personal dedicated IP. The benefits of having a personal dedicated IP include:

• Avoiding CAPTCHAs.
• Bypassing the strictest geo-restrictions, as shared IPs are more likely to be blacklisted by service providers.
• Securely accessing your home or work network.

Why Change Your IP Address?

IP addresses are essential for the web’s functioning, so why is it necessary to hide or change yours? Here are the reasons.

Prevent Profiling

Marketing companies use your IP address to track your online activity and show ads based on your activity. Tailored suggestions might seem like a great idea, but many consumers deem it a privacy breach. Plus, some targeted ads will be shown to everyone connected to your router, along with suggestions you may not want to share.

Improve Public Wi-Fi Security

Internet access in public places is convenient but not secure. Cybercriminals can hack your device through a public network to steal your banking details, identity, or other sensitive data. The methods include man-in-the-middle attacks, password cracking, packet sniffing, and security vulnerabilities. Changing your IP mitigates many but not all of these threats.

Access Geo-Blocked Content

Changing your IP isn’t just about security. It can help you bypass geo-restricted content by replacing your real IP address with one from another country. For example, many Western platforms are unavailable in China. Changing your IP, allows you to access sites like Facebook and YouTube while visiting Beijing.

Mask Your Real Location

One primary reason to hide your IP is to prevent your physical location from being tracked. This can help safeguard against DDoS attacks, cyber threats, and other malicious activities.

Avoid Government Surveillance

Some governments enforce strict surveillance laws, which can threaten personal privacy and freedom. Citizens in such countries may hide their IPs to protect themselves from monitoring or potential repercussions.

Get Better Deals

Many websites adjust prices based on a user’s location. By changing your IP address, you may find cheaper flights, hotel rates, or exclusive discounts on various online services.

Prevent ISP Tracking & Throttling

ISPs might throttle connections when a user reaches the data limit or engages in specific actions, such as torrenting. Hiding your IP prevents your ISP from tracking your online activity, so it can’t slow down your internet.

How to Change Your IP Address & Protect It While Traveling

While traveling and using public networks, your data becomes more vulnerable to privacy breaches. Individuals with malicious intent can track your whereabouts via IP address, making it essential to protect it.

A VPN is the best way to protect your IP address during a journey. A VPN is software that establishes a secure connection between your device and a remote server.

The VPN server has a different IP address from your real IP. This way, a VPN prevents third parties from tracking your online activity and getting their hands on your private information.

Moreover, you can connect to a server from anywhere in the world to access regional content or get better flight prices.

However, not all VPNs are trustworthy. Free VPNs might collect user data and sell it to third parties. Even legitimate free services have limitations that might severely affect your experience.

I recommend choosing a top-rated premium VPN like ExpressVPN for fast internet speeds and guaranteed privacy. Reputable VPN providers offer money-back guarantees, giving you peace of mind while testing their services.

Here are the three best VPNs on the market that you should consider:

1. ExpressVPN

The best VPN overall. It has all the bells and whistles, excellent performance further enhanced by proprietary technology, wide device compatibility, and helpful customer support. ExpressVPN has high-speed servers all around the world, so you can easily change your IP address to just about anywhere and obscure your true location and activities. It covers up to eight devices simultaneously.

Get ExpressVPN

2. CyberGhost

Cyberghost is a fantastic choice for first-time or advanced users. It offers all the expected privacy and security features, overall great performance and device compatibility, and helpful customer support. It has a strong global server network, plus dedicated high-performance servers for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. It covers up to seven devices simultaneously.

Get CyberGhost

3. PIA

A top VPN offering the most servers of any VPN on the market. It has industry-standard privacy and security features, a built-in ad blocker, great device compatibility, streaming-dedicated servers, and helpful customer support. PIA’s trustworthiness is enhanced by its being entirely open-source. It covers unlimited devices simultaneously.

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How to Find Your IP Address

If you’re concerned about hiding your IP address, you’ll want a way to determine your typical public IP so you can compare it with your resulting public IP once you try to change it. You can find out your public IP address with an online tool. Type “what is my IP” into your Google search bar, and you’ll get your exact address. Alternatively, you can use websites like WhatIsMyIPAddress.com.

However, online tools can’t find your private IP.

To find your private IP on a Mac, follow the steps below:

1. Click on the Apple logo in the upper-left corner.
2. Navigate to System Preferences.
3. Select “Network.”
4. Select your connection type. Your IP will be displayed under the Status section to the left of the sidebar.

To find your private IP on Windows, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Click on “Settings.”
3. Select “Network & Internet.”
4. Click on “Properties” under your current connection type.
5. Scroll down. Your IP will be displayed to the left of “IPv4 address” or “IPv6 address.”

Similarly, you can find your IP address on a smartphone via the Connection Settings menu. If you’re using a VPN, your virtual server IP will be displayed on the VPN’s dashboard. Note that the exact place where your IP is displayed may vary by application.

Conclusion

Many people have misconceptions about how IPs work. Hopefully, this post debunked popular myths and helped you understand the security risks associated with sharing your IP.

Whether you use your home or company network, consider masking your IP with a VPN. It will keep your online activities private and mitigate cyber threats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Topic: Internet