Privacy

How to hide your IP address

Hiding your IP address makes it harder for websites, advertisers and third parties to track your location and online activity. Here are the four most effective methods, with their trade-offs.

1. Use a VPN (recommended)

A Virtual Private Network encrypts your traffic and routes it through a server in another location, so websites see the VPN's IP address instead of yours. VPNs are fast, easy to use and protect all your apps at once. Choose a reputable no-logs provider.

2. Use a proxy server

A proxy forwards requests for a specific app or browser, changing the IP websites see. Proxies are useful for lightweight tasks but usually do not encrypt your traffic, so they offer less privacy than a VPN.

3. Use the Tor network

The Tor Browser routes your connection through several volunteer-run relays, making it very difficult to trace. It offers strong anonymity but is noticeably slower and not ideal for streaming or large downloads.

4. Switch networks

Because your public IP is tied to your current network, connecting through a different Wi-Fi network or your mobile data will change the IP address others see. Restarting your router can also request a new dynamic IP from your ISP.