How to Hide Your IP Address in 2025: A Complete Guide

Hiding your IP address means making your real online identity invisible to websites, apps, and trackers. Think of it like calling someone but using a private number. They hear your voice but can’t see the number. Similarly, when you hide your IP, websites still receive your data request but don’t know where exactly it’s coming from.

So how do you do it? You can mask your IP by using tools like VPNs, proxies, or the TOR network. Or, with even simpler tricks like switching to mobile data or connecting to a public Wi-Fi. This guide explains all of that without tech jargon—just practical advice anyone can follow.

Ever walked through a crowd with sunglasses and a hat, hoping no one notices you? That’s basically what hiding your IP does online. It lets you move around the internet without waving a giant flag that says, “Hey, it’s me, from this exact location!” If you’re using an iPhone, here’s a simple guide on how to hide your IP address on iPhone.

What is an IP Address?

An IP address is like your home’s address—but for the internet. It tells websites and apps where to send the data you request. Without it, the internet wouldn’t know where you are or how to respond.

But here’s the thing—an IP isn’t just about connection. It’s actually a powerful source of information about you. Your location, your internet provider, and even clues about your device type can be revealed just by knowing your IP. Want to see what your IP says about you? Our service specializes in exactly that. Check your IP right now and find out what’s visible to the online world.

Curious about how to check your own IP? We’ve got a full guide on how to find your IP address.

IP Address vs. MAC Address

If the IP address is like your house address, the MAC address is like the license plate on your car. It identifies the device itself within your local network, not the wider internet. Check out our detailed breakdown on MAC Address vs. IP Address for more.

IPv4 vs. IPv6: Why It Matters

There are two versions of IP addresses—IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4 is older and still the most common, but it’s running out of combinations. IPv6 fixes that problem and can handle billions more devices. Privacy-wise, IPv6 sometimes exposes more info if not configured correctly. We cover the full details in IPv4 vs. IPv6 – What’s the Difference?.

5 Ways to Hide Your IP Address

1. Use a Proxy or Online Web Proxy

A proxy server is like sending someone else to do your shopping. The store doesn’t see you—it sees the person you sent.

Proxies are handy for quick tasks like bypassing regional blocks or hiding your IP temporarily. But unlike VPNs or TOR, they don’t encrypt your traffic. Anyone monitoring your network can still see what you’re doing.

Example: At work and the company blocks certain websites? Use a proxy to access them quietly.

Want to understand how proxies compare to VPNs? Check our full guide: Proxy or VPN – Which Should You Choose?. Plus, explore Free Web Proxy Online if you’re looking for fast, free ways to hide your IP for basic tasks.

2. Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A VPN wraps your internet traffic in encryption and reroutes it through a remote server. Your IP becomes that server’s IP.

No one online sees your actual IP. All they see is the VPN’s IP. Sometimes that IP changes every time you connect (a dynamic IP). Other times, it stays the same—a static IP, handy if you want a reliable identity for work systems or private networks, but without giving away your real location.

So yeah, a VPN doesn’t delete your IP. It just puts a mask over it. As far as the internet’s concerned, you’re wherever that VPN server happens to be—not where you actually are.

Example: Traveling in Spain but want to watch US Netflix? A VPN makes it look like you’re sitting in New York.

Or think about journalists reporting from restrictive countries—a VPN keeps them safer online.

3. Use the TOR Network

TOR bounces your connection through several volunteer-run servers around the world. It’s slow but extremely private.

TOR was originally developed by the U.S. Navy to protect government communications, but today it’s open-source and run by volunteers worldwide. It’s not just a tool for hiding your IP—it’s designed for serious privacy and anonymity.

Example: Imagine mailing a letter from the US to Canada, then to France, then Japan, and finally back to the US. That’s what TOR does with your data—bounces it globally before reaching the destination.

TOR is available on multiple platforms. You can use it on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and there are workarounds to run it on iOS (through third-party apps like Onion Browser).

If privacy is your main goal and you don’t mind the slower speeds, TOR is one of the most effective free tools out there for hiding your IP.

4. Switch to a Mobile Network

Need a quick change? Turn off your Wi-Fi and switch to mobile data. Your phone gets a completely different IP.

Example: Your home Wi-Fi blocks a website you need. Toggle to mobile data, and suddenly it’s accessible.

5. Connect to Public Wi-Fi

Every Wi-Fi has its own IP. Hop on coffee shop Wi-Fi, and you instantly take on their IP instead of your home one.

Example: Can’t stream a video on your office Wi-Fi? Head to a nearby cafe, connect to their Wi-Fi, and try again.

Public Wi-Fi changes your IP but doesn’t encrypt your data. Use a VPN for full protection.

How to Hide Your IP Address for Free?

You don’t always need to pay. Here’s how to hide ip address for free:

• Free web proxies.
• The TOR browser.
• Public Wi-Fi.
• Switching to mobile data.

Heads-up: Free often means compromises. Proxies may track you. TOR is private but slow. Public Wi-Fi exposes you unless combined with encryption.

Why You Might Want to Hide Your IP Address

There are plenty of practical reasons to hide your IP, and they have nothing to do with hacking or shady activity.

1. Stop Annoying Tracking

Ever notice how you search for something once, and suddenly it feels like the entire internet knows? Ads for the same product follow you from site to site. Your IP address is one of the tools websites use to make that happen. Hide it, and those tracking tactics instantly become far less effective.

2. Keep Work and Personal Data Private

Working from home or handling sensitive information? Your IP is a little beacon telling the online world where you are. Exposing it is like leaving your front door ajar. Hiding it is like locking the door and pulling the blinds—keeping your work and personal data yours, and yours alone.

3. Get Around Censorship and Blocks

If you’ve ever hit a wall online where a website says “This content isn’t available in your region,” then you know how frustrating geo-blocking can be. Changing your IP makes it seem like you’re browsing from another part of the world—one where those blocks don’t exist.

4. Stay Safer on Public Wi-Fi

We’ve all used public Wi-Fi at airports, cafes, or hotels. It’s convenient, sure, but it’s also a goldmine for hackers. Your IP is wide open in those networks. Mask it, and you’re far less of a target. It’s like being invisible in a crowded room.

5. Beat Price Discrimination

Strange but true: many websites show different prices based on your location. You might check a flight at home and see one price, then check again from a different location—or with a different IP—and see a cheaper deal.

Hiding your IP lets you shop smarter, not harder.

6. Unlock More Streaming Options

Streaming services play the geo-restriction game too. Content available in one country might be blocked in another.

Streaming services play the geo-restriction game too. Here’s a quick look at who does it:

Service	Geo Restrictions
Netflix	Different libraries per country
Hulu	Only in US & Japan
Disney+	Available globally, libraries vary
Amazon Prime Video	Library changes based on location
BBC iPlayer	UK only
HBO Max	Limited to select regions
Peacock TV	US and limited UK
DAZN	Different sports content per country
Paramount+	Different catalogs per region

Change your IP, and suddenly those “not available in your region” messages disappear. It’s your subscription—you should get full access.

7. Speak Freely Without Worry

In places with strict internet rules, even harmless comments can be risky. Whether you’re sharing your thoughts on social media or reading independent news, hiding your IP means protecting your identity and keeping your voice heard safely.

8. Keep Torrenting Private

Even if you’re downloading perfectly legal files, torrent networks expose your IP to everyone sharing the file. It’s like publishing your address in a public directory. Mask it, and you vanish from that list—no questions, no exposure.

9. Business Security Matters Too

For companies, it’s not just about privacy—it’s survival. Businesses hide their IPs to prevent cyberattacks, protect sensitive client data, and secure remote teams. Imagine leaving your company’s server unlocked—that’s what exposing your IP can feel like in today’s digital world.

Whether you’re sidestepping creepy ads, avoiding unfair prices, streaming freely, or protecting sensitive info, hiding your IP isn’t a luxury. It’s a modern necessity.

Example: Imagine shopping for shoes online. You check one store and then visit another—suddenly, ads for those same shoes follow you everywhere. That’s IP tracking in action. Mask it, and you break that chain.

Can IP Addresses Really Be Hidden?

Not entirely. You can mask your public IP from websites and trackers, but your internet provider still knows you’re online and can see you’re using a VPN or TOR.

Public vs. Private IP Addresses

Think of your public IP as your online mailing address. It’s the number the internet uses to find you. When you open a website, it sees your public IP and knows roughly where you are.

Your private IP, though, stays inside your home. It’s how your Wi-Fi router keeps your devices—like your laptop, phone, or TV—talking to each other.

Example: At home, your phone might be 192.168.1.5, your laptop 192.168.1.9—both private. But online, they show up as the same public IP, like 85.12.55.102, which is what the outside world sees.

Key point: When you hide your IP address, it’s the public one you’re hiding—the one the internet uses to track or locate you. Your private IP never leaves your home network.

In short: Public IP talks to the world. Private IP stays in your house. Learn more in What is a Private IP Address.

What Is My IP Address?

If you’re wondering, “What’s my IP right now?”—it depends on how you’re connected.

IP Address on Mac

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Go to Network.
3. Select your connection. Your IP appears on the right.

Need to change it? Here’s how: How to Change IP on Mac OS.

IP Address on Windows

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Network & Internet.
3. Select Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
4. Click Properties to see your IP.

IP Address on Android

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap About Phone.
3. Tap Status or Network.
4. Look for your IP address.

IP Address on iPhone

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Wi-Fi.
3. Tap the ‘i’ next to your network.
4. Your IP address is listed.

Conclusion

Hiding your IP isn’t some hacker trick. It’s basic online hygiene—like locking your front door or shredding sensitive mail. Whether you’re dodging creepy ads, avoiding censorship, or just securing your coffee shop browsing session, learning how to mask your IP gives you more control.

Even if you start simple—like using public Wi-Fi or switching to mobile data—you’re taking a step in the right direction. For stronger privacy, VPNs and TOR are reliable allies.

In a digital world full of prying eyes, knowing how to hide your IP address isn’t optional. It’s smart.

Frequently Asked Questions