Change IP Address in Windows 7 and Vista

This article will show you how to easily change your IP address in Windows 7 and Vista, within just a few minutes. However, it is very important that you follow those steps very closely. In particular, the instructions for disconnecting and reconnecting hardware, and turning hardware ON/OFF, are extremely important. So as much as you may be tempted skip a step, doing so will just waste your time.

You most likely already have your own reasons for wanting to change your IP address in Vista/7. Perhaps you're concerned about privacy, or wish to throw off marketers that track your surfing habits. Whatever the case may be, be sure to also delete your browser cookies after making the changes below. Cookies can also be used to track your surfing, and failure to clear them may render your IP change useless.

ONE WARNING: Your ISP may not appreciate subscribers who change their IP address frequently, and doing so may result in surcharges, or even service disruption. Therefore, if you need a more versatile option, be sure to check out our homepage for other options.

STEP #1 - If you have a router:

Turn both your router AND your modem OFF.
Disconnect the router from your computer and modem.
Connect your modem directly to your computer.
Restart your computer and modem.
Wait 30-60 seconds for connection to restart.
After restarting, surf to some websites to make sure that your connection is back online.

(If you have any trouble reconnecting to the Internet, try restarting your modem+computer again, and then disabling/enabling your Local Area Connection)

STEP #2 to change IP address in Windows 7 / Vista

Surf to iPrivacyTools.com/my-ip-address/ and make a note of your current IP address.

Step 2 to change IP address in Vista and Windows 7

STEP #3 to change your IP in Windows 7 / Vista

Click on your START menu and type "cmd" in the white box (don't include the quotes around cmd).
Hit Enter.

Step 3 to change IP address in Windows 7 / Vista

STEP #4:

At the prompt type "ipconfig /release" (without the quotes, and with a space before the slash)
Hit Enter.

STEP #5 to change IP address in Windows 7 / Vista

Turn your modem OFF.
Wait 30-45 seconds.
Turn modem back ON.
Wait another 30-60 seconds (until all the modem lights are back to normal).

STEP #6:

Click your START Menu -> Control Panel

STEP #7 for changing IP address in 7 and Vista

Click on "Network and Internet", and then "Network and Sharing Center"

Step 7a - change IP in Windows 7 and Vista

STEP #8:

Click on the link for "Manage network connections"

STEP #9:

Right-click on your "Local Area Connection" and click "Disable".
Wait 10 seconds.

STEP #10 to change your IP address in Windows 7 & Vista:

Again, right-click on your Local Area Connection, but this time click "Enable".
Wait 30-45 seconds. This is IMPORTANT.

STEP #11:

Click refresh on iPrivacyTools.com/my-ip-address/ to verify that your IP address has changed.

Congratulations, you're done changing your IP address in Windows 7 and Vista!

Remember to clear your browser cookies before surfing. Otherwise, it's possible that websites will simply associate your previous IP with your new one by identifying an already installed cookie.

As mentioned earlier, you should really not use this method more than once per week unless you're sure it's okay with your ISP. If you need to do so more often, you should consider other methods, whether that be our IP Changer or another solution.

Change IP Address in Windows 7 & Vista