For websites to see an IP address from a different country, connect through a VPN server located in the country you need.
If you need a new address in the UK, you can try restarting your router, switching to mobile internet, or requesting a replacement from your provider. Reconnecting does not guarantee a new IP. First, we will determine what needs changing: the address itself, or the country that websites see when they look at it.
An IP address is your connection address on the network. The provider issues an address for accessing the internet, while your home router distributes local addresses among your devices. On an ordinary home network, these are two different things.
| Address | Where it is used | What changing it achieves |
|---|---|---|
| Public | This is the address websites see when you connect to them | The website will see a different exit point to the internet |
| Local, e.g. 192.168.1.20 | Inside the home network, between the device and the router | The device's address at home changes; the public IP stays the same |
Websites determine the country using geolocation databases — reference directories that link IP addresses to approximate locations. The country is usually identified correctly; the city is less accurate.
By reconnecting to a British operator, you will usually remain on its British network. For a virtual relocation to the USA, you need an exit through a server with an American IP.
| Goal | Method | Does the country change | What to bear in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obtain a different home IP | Router or a request to your provider | Usually not | A restart may return the previous address; replacing a static IP is arranged with the provider |
| Change the address on a phone | Mobile data or reconnecting | Usually not | The operator may retain the previous public IP |
| Obtain an IP from the UK, the USA or another country | VPN server in the required country | For IP-based detection — yes | A website may take other location signals into account |
| Change the IP for a single app | Proxy, intermediary server | Depends on the proxy's address | Only the traffic configured to do so goes through it |
| Hide the original IP when browsing in Safari | iCloud Private Relay, an iCloud+ feature | You cannot choose a different country | This is not a VPN for the whole device |
A VPN is a virtual private network: an application routes selected traffic through a remote server. For such a connection, the website sees the server's IP. A server in the United Kingdom lets you obtain a British address even when you are connecting from another country. The IP address your provider assigns to your home connection stays the same.
For such a connection, the website sees the server's IP.
Websites determine the country using geolocation databases — reference directories that link IP addresses to approximate locations.
Changing your IP does not change GPS — the device's satellite coordinates — cookies containing the website's stored data, or account details.
To test this scenario, I recommend CitadelVPN: the trial access gives you 5 days, 2 devices and 5 GB, once per account, with no card required. Sign up for access, connect a compatible client following the service's instructions, and compare the IP before and after connecting. This way we can verify the address change on your device.
If your goal is to open a region-locked website, I would not advise treating an IP change as a guarantee of access: a streaming service or shop may detect the VPN or take the account's country into account. The mechanics of choosing a location and the reasons for discrepancies are covered in the guide on how to change your country with a VPN.
A dynamic IP is issued for a limited period and may change. DHCP — the protocol for automatic network configuration — leases addresses out, but tries to return the same address to the client. Switching your router off therefore does not necessarily mean the IP will change. A static address is fixed: replacing it requires a request to the provider, whereas a VPN lets you show websites a different address without altering that assignment.
With CGNAT — a technology in which a single public address is shared among several subscribers — the external IP is also allocated by the operator.
An example scenario: after a restart, the address remains the same. Having checked with your provider about the connection type, you find out the address is static. The next step is now clear: request a replacement. Other options are covered in the section on how to change your IP without a VPN.
On iPhone and Android, switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data changes the exit network. Aeroplane mode lets you reconnect to the operator, but the outcome depends on how addresses are allocated in its network. For phones, use the separate guide on changing your IP on iPhone and Android.
On a Mac or PC, a different country requires a VPN client and a suitable server. Manually changing the local address in the Wi-Fi settings does not change the public IP.
Google uses several sources of location. Changing your IP does not change GPS — the device's satellite coordinates — cookies containing the website's stored data, or account details. Check the location source at the bottom of the search results page: it may be the device, saved places, past activity or the internet address. This is described in Google's help documentation.
No, IP geolocation databases do not indicate a specific house or street. This is explicitly stated by MaxMind. The provider holds details about the subscriber, but a website visitor does not obtain them from the geographic IP database.
No. A website can recognise you after you log into an account, or through your browser's digital fingerprint — a combination of its technical characteristics. I would not advise relying on an IP change as your only safeguard against tracking.
For a new address in the same country, try reconnecting or a request to your provider. For an IP in a different country, use a VPN server in the required location. Check the address and the country separately: a new set of numbers does not, in itself, mean the region has changed.