As indicated by the terms, Public IP Address is visible to everyone on the internet and Private IP address can only be seen by other devices connected to the same Home/Office network.
In a typical Home/Office network, Public IP Address is assigned to the Modem/Router by Internet Service provider and Private IP Address is assigned by the Router to computers, phones and other connected devices.
Change Public IP Address
In most cases, Public IP Address as assigned by the internet service provider is of dynamic nature and it should automatically change when its current DHCP lease expires.
If you are in urgent need of connecting to internet using a New IP Address, you can try to change your current Public IP Address by using methods as provided below in this guide.
1. Change Public IP Address by Switching Networks
The simplest way to quickly change your Public IP Address is by connecting to internet using a different network.
For example, if you are currently using your Home or Office Wi-Fi Network, you can change your IP Address by switching to Ethernet or Cellular Network.
2. Restart Modem/Router
Another way to change IP Address is by switching OFF the power supply to Modem/Router for about 5 minutes and switching it back ON again.
If you are lucky, your service providers network may end up assigning a New IP Address, when the Modem/Router rejoins the network.
However, this method is not reliable and it is recommended that you check and confirm whether or not your public IP Address has changed by typing “What is My IP” in the web browser on your phone or computer.
Tip: If the IP Address has not changed, leaving the Router unplugged for a longer time can help.
3. Hide Your Public IP Address By Using VPN
If the reason for changing your IP Address is to access restricted services or by-pass surveillance, you can make use of a VPN service to connect to the Internet.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) completely hides your IP Address and allows you to connect to the Internet using a different IP Address that is assigned by the VPN service provider.
How to Change Your Private IP Address?
As mentioned above, the IP Address of a computer, phone and other connected devices is only visible to other devices on your Home or Office network and cannot be seen by others on the internet.
Hence, the only reason for changing your Internal or Private IP Address would be to assign a static IP Address to the computer for Network printing, File sharing and other networking services on a Home or Office network.
If you are looking for a way to change the Internal IP Address of a Windows computer, you can refer to this guide: How to Change IP Address in Windows 11/10.
Hope this has helped you in understanding the basic concept of Public and Private IP Address and how to change your public and private IP address.