To hide your IP address means to prevent websites and online services from seeing the public IP address normally assigned to your internet connection. Instead, they see another IP address, such as the address of a VPN server, proxy server, Tor exit node, mobile network, or public Wi-Fi connection.
Hiding your IP can improve privacy, reduce location-based tracking, and help separate your normal home or office connection from the websites you visit. However, it does not make you completely anonymous.
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, routes your internet traffic through a VPN server. Websites normally see the VPN server's IP address instead of your regular public IP address.
VPNs are one of the most common ways to hide your IP because they are easy to use and usually protect traffic between your device and the VPN server with encryption.
A proxy server acts as an intermediary between your device and a website. Your request goes to the proxy first, and the proxy then connects to the website on your behalf.
Proxies can hide your IP from the destination website, but they may not protect all traffic on your device. Some proxies only work inside a specific browser or app, and not all proxies encrypt your connection.
Tor Browser routes your traffic through several volunteer-operated servers before it reaches the destination website. The website normally sees the IP address of the final Tor exit node instead of your own IP address.
Tor can provide strong privacy benefits, but it may be slower than a normal connection. Some websites also block or challenge Tor traffic because Tor exit nodes are shared by many users.
Switching from your home internet connection to mobile data, public Wi-Fi, a workplace network, or another internet connection can change the public IP address websites see.
This does not necessarily improve privacy by itself, but it can be useful when troubleshooting IP-based blocks, checking whether your IP has changed, or separating activity from your usual connection.
Some internet providers assign dynamic IP addresses. If your connection uses a dynamic public IP, restarting your router or reconnecting your internet service may sometimes give you a new IP address.
This does not always work. Some providers keep the same address for a long time, and some customers have static IP addresses that do not normally change.
Hiding your IP address does not automatically hide your identity. Websites may still recognize you through cookies, login accounts, browser fingerprinting, payment details, device settings, and behavior patterns.
If you sign in to an account, the website can usually connect your activity to that account even if your IP address is different.
After using a VPN, proxy, or privacy tool, it is a good idea to check what IP address websites can see. You should also check for possible DNS leaks, IPv6 leaks, or browser features such as WebRTC that may expose network information.
If your IP checker shows your normal ISP or location when you expected a VPN or proxy address, your privacy tool may not be working as expected.