Want to access a website blocked in your country, but don’t know how? The idea that the websites you visit know your real IP address just doesn’t go down well, because you are particularly attentive to your privacy, and would you like to know a system to prevent this from happening? Well, know that you are in the right place, at the right time!
In fact, during this tutorial of mine, I will explain to you step by step how to hide IP , putting into practice a series of particular strategies, applicable both from smartphones and tablets, and from computers. Don’t worry if you are not a top expert in terms of technology, you have no reason: in addition to explaining how to get your result quickly and easily, I will take care to provide you with clear indications about the various techniques listed, so that you can be aware of what you are about to do.
So, without waiting any longer, make yourself comfortable and carefully read everything I have to explain to you on the subject: I’m sure that, after reading this guide, you will have acquired the necessary skills to succeed brilliantly in your business. Having said that, there is nothing left for me to do but wish you a good reading and a good navigation!
Index
- Preliminary information: IP masquerading systems
- How to change PC IP
- Via Proxy (Windows/macOS)
- Via VPN (Windows/macOS)
- Via TOR (Windows/macOS)
- Via private relay (macOS)
- How to change phone ip
- Via proxy (Android/iPhone/iPad)
- Via VPN (Android/iPhone/iPad)
- Via Tor (Android/iPhone/iPad)
- Via private relay (iPhone/iPad)
Preliminary information: IP masquerading systems
In the IT field, there could be various reasons that require the modification of one’s IP address: to protect privacy during navigation, to access sites with regional restrictions or for other needs of this type. In this regard, you must know that there is not a single system that allows you to obtain the desired result, quite the contrary! There are many tactics that can be applied to mask your IP and, although they offer the same final result, they have different requirements and application methods: below, I list the ones that, to date, are the most used options in the category.
- Proxy server: this is a remote server to which you can connect to request access to web pages on your behalf: in this case, the IP address visible during navigation will be that of the chosen proxy. While proxy servers are extremely easy to get hold of and mostly free of charge, they may lack encryption and protection for data in transit and can be very slow. Also, the action of proxy servers is limited to web browsing only.
- VPN: acronym for Virtual Private Network (or virtual private network), it is a system that allows you to hide your IP, as well as all data traffic, by establishing a secure and encrypted connection (called tunnel) to a dedicated server. The “nationality” of the IP with which you exit via VPN is decreed by the position of the server itself and data traffic is completely protected, not only during navigation, but for any program and app in use on the device. Although there are free VPN services, the most efficient and secure ones are almost always paid.
- Tor network: also in this case, we find ourselves in the presence of a computer system which, completely free of charge, allows you to mask your IP address. The traffic generated by the Tor network “bounces” from one computer to another several times, so that the data reaches its destination, but without the recipient knowing who generated it. Be careful, though: in the past, the Tor network has been deemed insecure due to some structural vulnerabilities; moreover, anonymous browsing through this system could be particularly slow, precisely because of the ways in which it occurs, and does not allow you to choose the ultimate position of the exit node (and, consequently, the “nationality” of the assigned IP ).
Choosing one service over another should be strongly influenced by what you need: for example, if you need to reach an informational website bypassing the regional limits applied in your area, you could use a proxy; if, on the other hand, you simply need to navigate without your IP being visible, you can give the Tor network a chance. If, on the other hand, you are particularly concerned about the anonymity and security of your data, and you need a quick service that allows you to choose your precise virtual geographical position, you should opt for the use of a VPN. You can find out the difference between proxy and VPN in my dedicated article.
How to change PC IP
Having clarified the differences between the various “camouflage” systems, the time has come to show you how to put them into practice on the PC.
Via Proxy (Windows/macOS)
As regards the use of proxies , you can proceed in at least two different ways: the first, as well as the most immediate, consists in using a special online service , which allows you to use a proxy server to access a given website, without having to change the Windows or macOS settings.
Among the best services of this type there are certainly Hide.me and FilterBypass : both allow you to start browsing to a specific Internet page by simply typing it in the dedicated text field and selecting the location of the proxy to use, among those available. In detail, all you have to do is connect to the website of the chosen platform, enter the URL of the page to visit in the appropriate text field and choose the “nationality” of the proxy to apply, using the dedicated drop-down menu (for example eg Proxy Location or Select Server ). Finally, click on the Go/Navigate button and you’re done.
If, on the other hand, you need to mask your IP with the aid of a proxy on multiple browsers at the same time, you need to get the “coordinates” of the proxy to apply (i.e. address and port ) from a portal such as hidemy.name and, after having Once you have chosen the server that best suits your case, set it for use by browsers directly in the Windows or macOS settings.
- Windows 11: press the key combination Win + I on the keyboard (the Windows key is the one depicting the operating system logo), click on the item Network and Internet and then on the wording Proxy . Subsequently, click on the Configure button corresponding to the Use proxy server box and move the switch corresponding to the Use proxy server item to ON . Finally, type the address and port of the proxy server previously chosen in the dedicated fields, place the check mark next to the wording Do not use proxy server for local addressesand press the Save button .
- Windows 10: press the key combination Win + I on the keyboard, click on the items Network > Proxy and, having reached the proxy configuration panel, follow the same instructions already seen for Windows 11.
- macOS: open the System Settings , click on the Network icon and press on the (i) symbol , corresponding to the connection in use. Then press the Advanced… button located at the bottom right, put a check mark next to HTTP or HTTPS (depending on the type of proxy server chosen) and type the IP and port of the proxy, respectively, in the Proxy server fields Web and Connection Port . Finally, press the Apply and OK buttons .
Remember, once you have completed the above adjustments, that your IP has indeed been changed, using one of the many online services that allow you to see your IP address . If, for some reason, you need additional help for the use and setting of proxies on computers, I refer you to a careful reading of my in-depth analysis dedicated specifically to proxy servers .
Via VPN (Windows/macOS)
If you have chosen to change the IP of the computer (and to protect all incoming/outgoing traffic) using a VPN , you must first of all take care to choose the service that best suits you, paying attention to the number of servers available , the location of the same (essential to obtain a “localized” IP address based on the country) and the level of privacy guaranteed.
Among the best options available on the market, there are certainly NordVPN ( here my review), Surfshark ( here my review), Express VPN , Privado VPN and ATLAS VPN , all equipped with rather fast servers and located in over 20 countries around the world; in any case, if you need a detailed overview of the various platforms available, take a look at the guide where I list the best VPN services available on the market: I’m sure it will come in handy.
In any case, having made your choice, download the official program directly from the website of the chosen platform, install it on your operating system and run it; therefore follow the instructions you receive on the screen to register for the service and, having completed this step, open the program and choose the server to connect to, among those available. Finally, click on the button to establish the connection (eg Connect , Connect or similar) and you’re done. To verify that the IP address has actually been changed, once the connection is established, visit the Whatsmyip.org website or one of the many other online services useful for seeing your IP address .
If you need an extra hand to download or configure a VPN service on your computer, carefully read my tutorial dedicated to VPN programs , where you will find a series of concrete examples of using some of the services mentioned above.
Via TOR (Windows/macOS)
The simplest way to access the Tor network consists in using a particular modified version of the Mozilla Firefox browser , called Tor Browser , which includes everything needed to surf the Web in total anonymity, and without having to manually apply configurations any kind. Among other things, the program in question is configured to block technologies potentially harmful to user privacy, such as JavaScript.
To get Tor Browser, connect to this website and click on the Download Tor Browser button ; then press the Download button for [name of your operating system] and wait patiently for the setup file to be downloaded to your computer. Once the download is complete, run the file obtained and install the program with the most suitable procedure for the operating system (eg by clicking on the OK and Install buttons or by dragging the Tor Browser icon into the computer’s Applications folder).
Once setup is complete, open the program and click on the Connect button : if everything went smoothly, the Tor Browser welcome tab should finally open. To verify that you are connected to Tor successfully, open this web page and verify that the message Congratulations, this browser is configured to use Tor appears on the screen , along with the new IP address assigned to the browser.
I point out that, if necessary, you can change the security settings for browsing on Tor (completely blocking, for example, the reproduction of multimedia contents), request a new IP address or perform other operations useful to improve the browsing experience ; to find out more, consult the in-depth guide in which I explained how to change IP with Tor Browser .
Via private relay (macOS)
If yours is a Mac , you can also mask your IP address while browsing using a service entirely made in Apple, called private relay . In detail, private relay allows you to protect the user’s privacy, preventing third parties (or Apple itself) from obtaining the list of sites visited, but not only: during navigation, an IP address is also assigned to the user completely random, which masks the IP assigned to the computer, making it invisible.
In detail, the Internet connection is “sorted” between two different nodes: the first, managed by Apple, encrypts the information in transit to and from the device; the second, however, takes care of disguising the real IP address and reaching the desired website.
Private Relay is a service that can be activated on the most recent editions of macOS, and is reserved for all holders of an iCloud+ subscription ; however, protection is only offered when you access the Internet using the Safari browser and does not affect other browsers or applications.
Having clarified this, let me explain how to enable browsing with private relay on the Mac: first open the System Settings , by clicking on the gear symbol residing on the Dock (or using the dedicated item, available in the Apple menu located at the top left) , then press on your name and then on the item iCloud . Finally, click on the Private relay option and press the Activate private relay button , located on the next screen. For further information, take a look at the appropriate information section , available on the Apple website.
How to change phone ip
As I have already mentioned in the introductory bars of this guide, you can also mask your IP address on smartphones and tablets, using the same methods already seen for computers (albeit with slightly different methods of use): you will find everything explained below.
Via proxy (Android/iPhone/iPad)
To change the phone’s IP address while browsing through a proxy , on smartphones and tablets, you can follow at least two different paths: using a special Web service , such as FilterBypass or Hide.me , accessible directly from the browser; or by configuring a web proxy directly from Android, iOS and iPadOS settings.
In the first case, all you have to do is visit the home page of the service you prefer, enter the Web address to visit in the dedicated field and press the server selection button to choose the “nationality” of the exit IP address ; finally, press the button labeled Go , Go , Navigate (or similar), to start browsing.
If, on the other hand, you prefer to manually configure the use of the proxy by all the browsers installed on the device, you must act directly from the latter’s settings; however, keep in mind that manually configured proxies only work under Wi-Fi networks , and not when using the cellular data network. Take this into consideration.
Having said that, first of all, connect to the hidemy.name platform and choose the proxy server you prefer to use, among those listed; after taking note of the relative IP address and the corresponding port , proceed to configure it on the device: therefore open the menu Settings > Wi-Fi (or similar ) of the device, press the pencil symbol , the gear or the icon (i ) located next to the name of the network to which you are connected and press on the Proxy menu (on Android) or on the Configure Proxy> Manual items (on iPhone/iPad).
Finally, type the information obtained previously into the Proxy Hostname/Proxy Server and Port fields . Finally, press the Save button to apply the changes. In case of doubts or problems with the use of proxy servers on Android, iPhone and iPad , carefully read the in-depth tutorial I have dedicated to the subject, full of useful information on the subject.
Via VPN (Android/iPhone/iPad)
Basically, both Android and iOS/iPadOS have options useful for “manually” configuring the use of a VPN system ; however, since this is not an immediate operation (and certainly not suitable for beginners), everything can be simplified by simply downloading and installing the app of the chosen VPN service , directly from the official Google and Apple stores. In detail, all you have to do is choose the VPN service that best suits your needs (e.g. the presence of a given country for the outgoing IP address) among those I have indicated to you in this tutorial, open the Play Store or the App Store and download the app of the same name.
After obtaining the app in question, it is sufficient to start it, grant it the required permissions and proceed with the creation of an account for access to the service platform (and with the subscription of a subscription plan, if provided), following the indications that appear on the screen. Once this step has also been passed, all that remains is to choose the preferred server (i.e. the one whose IP address will be acquired) and press the button to establish the connection , in order to immediately protect the incoming/outgoing traffic on the device and disguise your IP address.
To learn more about the subject, I refer you to reading my guide to the best VPNs for Android , which is also valid for iPhone and iPad (the apps dedicated to the various services are almost always identical, on all platforms).
Via Tor (Android/iPhone/iPad)
Masking your IP address through the Tor network is little more than child’s play, even on smartphones and tablets: in this regard, the Tor Browser application for Android (also based on a modified version of the Firefox browser) comes in handy , just like its computer counterpart ) and the Onion Browser app for iPhone and iPad.
Therefore, if you use a smartphone or tablet equipped with an Android operating system and Google services, download the Tor Browser app directly from the Play Store, following the usual procedure for your device . If, on the other hand, you don’t have the Play Store, try looking for the app on the alternative market on board the phone (or tablet) or install Tor Browser using the dedicated APK package available directly on the app’s official website; if you have never done this last operation before, consult my guide on how to install APK , in which I explain how to proceed.
Regardless of the steps used to install Tor Browser, start the latter app and tap the Connect button to establish the connection to the Onion network; once the procedure is complete, connect to this website and check that the connection to the Tor network has actually been successful and that your IP has, in fact, been disguised. I point out that, using the appropriate banner present in the Android notification area , you can obtain a new IP address on the fly, by pressing on the wording New Identity .
If, on the other hand, yours is an iPhone or an iPad , download the Onion Browser app from the App Store, open it and press the item Force , to access the browser home screen; subsequently, press the Connect to Tor button , tap the Next button and choose the security level you prefer to use when browsing, among those available ( Gold , Silver or Bronze ).
Once you have made your choice, tap the Start Browsing button to access the Internet. Also in this case, I suggest you visit the check.torproject.org site , to make sure that the connection to the Tor network has actually been successful. In case of doubts or problems, take a look at the tutorial where I show you how to change IP with Tor .
Via private relay (iPhone/iPad)
If you have an iPhone or an iPad and you have an iCloud+ subscription plan , you can mask your IP address using the iCloud private relay service, which I have already told you about in the chapter dedicated to the computer. Again, the same conditions apply: the original IP address is visible to your provider and to the first “node” managed by Apple, while the connection to the website you are about to visit is made using a temporary IP; Apple or other third-party sites can see the addresses of websites you visit; and lastly, and very importantly, the private relay service only works with the Safari browser .
Having said that, to activate navigation with private relay (and Safari) on iPhone and iPad, first open the device Settings by tapping on the gear symbol available on the Home screen or in the App Library; then tap on your name , then on the iCloud and Private Relay items and make sure that the switch corresponding to the Private Relay item is set to ON . As a result of this operation, all the websites you visit using the Safari browser will not be able to identify your real IP address.
