Quick Guide: Change Your IP Address on Windows 10 & 11

Changing IP Address Windows 10: Quick Hook

Ever wonder why your game lags even though your internet is fast? The culprit is often a stale or conflicting local IP, and that’s where changing ip address windows 10 comes in.

Think of your IP as the key that unlocks your network door; a wrong key can lock you out. We’ll walk you through GUI steps for Windows 10 & 11, command‑line tricks, router‑level renewal, and a quick‑reference table.

When a gamer’s lag spikes or a home user sees “no connection” errors, it’s often an IP conflict. A fresh lease can reset the network handshake and clear the digital traffic jam. We’ll keep it simple and fast, so you can get back online in minutes.

Quick Reference Table

A VPN like Forest VPN can assign you a new public IP and keep your local IP hidden. Forest VPN’s interface feels like a breeze, and the price is friendly for gamers and home users alike. Forest VPN’s privacy policy is rock‑solid—no logs, end‑to‑end encryption, and a global server network that keeps latency low for gamers. Its one‑click installer feels like a breath of fresh air, and the monthly price is less than the cost of a coffee per day. Before you start, remember to run any privileged tools as administrator—otherwise you’ll hit permission errors that stall the whole process.

Once you’ve changed the address, a quick ipconfig /all or a simple ping test will confirm the new lease is active. If you see a 169.254.x.x address, that means the DHCP server didn’t respond; a release/renew or a router reboot usually fixes it. We’ll cover all these steps in detail, so you can get back online with confidence and speed.

Try Forest VPN today to enjoy a fresh IP and smooth gaming experience.

Changing IP Address Windows 10: Why Re‑Assigning Your Local IP Matters

If you’re hitting lag while gaming, buffering on a stream, or struggling with a VPN, the problem might not be your bandwidth. Often it’s a stale or conflicting local IP. Re‑assigning your IPv4 address clears those hiccups, refreshes DHCP leases, and can even slip past ISP throttling. For gamers who care about privacy, a fresh local IP keeps your device a step ahead of local snoops.

Technical Reasons

• IP conflicts – Two devices on the same subnet with the same address collide, just like two cars racing in a single lane. Resetting the adapter or releasing the lease fixes the clash.
• Stale DHCP leases – Routers hand out IPs that expire. A quick ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew (new IP address Windows CMD) forces a fresh lease.
• ISP throttling – Some ISPs throttle specific subnets. Cycling your local IP can bypass those throttles, much like changing lanes on a congested highway.
• Local privacy – A new IP masks your device’s presence on the LAN, limiting who can track your local traffic.

Practical Scenarios

• Gaming – A lag spike after a router update? Reset the network adapter Windows 10 to reclaim the original, stable IP.
• Streaming – A streaming service blocks a particular subnet. By renewing your lease, you get a new IP that slips past the block.
• Remote work – VPN users often need a clean local IP to avoid split‑tunnel conflicts.

Quick‑Reference Table

VPN Shielding with Forest VPN

When you connect to Forest VPN, your ISP sees only the VPN gateway, not your local IP changes. Forest’s lightweight protocol masks the local address while still allowing you to ping your home network. This dual benefit keeps your ISP in the dark and your LAN reachable—like a secret tunnel that still lets your cat walk on the roof.

Real‑World Example

A friend streaming Netflix in the living room noticed a 30 % drop in buffering after the ISP rolled out new firmware. He ran ipconfig /release//renew, got a new subnet, and the stream returned to buttery‑smooth playback. The ISP had been throttling the old subnet.

FAQ

Q1: Can I change my IP address without admin rights? A: You need administrator privileges to modify network settings or run ipconfig /release//renew.

Q2: Will resetting the adapter affect my VPN connection? A: Resetting the adapter will drop the VPN; reconnect after the change.

Q3: How often should I refresh my local IP? A: Refresh when you notice performance issues, or as part of routine troubleshooting.

How to Keep It Simple

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet → Ethernet/Wi‑Fi.
2. Click Change adapter options, then Properties.
3. Under Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), choose Obtain an IP address automatically.
4. If you prefer a static address, type the new IP, subnet mask, and gateway.
5. Restart the adapter or reboot.

Use Forest VPN to hide these changes from your ISP while keeping your local network intact. Try Forest VPN today and keep your network smooth and private.

Step‑by‑Step GUI Method for Windows 10

1. Open Settings – hit Win + I. Screenshot of Settings window
2. Click Network & Internet → Ethernet (or Wi‑Fi if you’re on wireless). Screenshot of Network & Internet page
3. Hit Change adapter options. Screenshot of adapter options
4. Right‑click the network icon (adapter) and pick Properties. Screenshot of adapter properties
5. Find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties. Screenshot of TCP/IPv4 properties
6. Choose Use the following IP address and type:

• IP address: 192.168.1.100
• Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
• Default gateway: 192.168.1.1

7. In the DNS servers section, select Use the following DNS server addresses and enter:

• Preferred DNS: 8.8.8.8
• Alternate DNS: 8.8.4.4

8. Click OK to close the TCP/IPv4 window, then hit Close on the adapter properties.
9. Restart the adapter: right‑click it again, choose Disable, wait a beat, then Enable.
10. If the change still feels stuck, reboot the PC.

Administrator elevation

Every step above needs administrator rights. Right‑click the Settings app and choose Run as administrator before you start.

Windows 11 alternative

The same settings exist in Windows 11, but the path is shorter:

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet → Advanced network settings → Change adapter options.
2. Follow steps 4–10 from the Windows 10 list.

Document first – jot down your original IP, gateway, and DNS values. That way you can roll back if something goes sideways.

Quick sanity check Open Command Prompt and run ipconfig /all. The new IP should show up under your adapter name.

Takeaway

Follow these steps, hand‑pick a clean IP, ditch stale DHCP leases, and keep your network tidy. Now tweak that address and feel the difference in your connection.