You can hide your IP address by routing your traffic through another server so websites see that server's address instead of yours. The main options are a VPN, the Tor network, a proxy, Apple's iCloud Private Relay, or switching to a different network such as mobile data or public Wi‑Fi, and each offers a different balance of privacy, speed and trust.
Why you might want to hide your IP
Every website, app and online service you connect to sees your public IP address. On its own, that address does not reveal your name, but it does reveal your internet provider and an approximate location, and it can be used to link your visits together over time. Our guide to what an IP address is covers exactly what it exposes.
Common reasons to hide it include:
- Reducing tracking by advertisers and data brokers.
- Protecting your browsing on untrusted networks, such as hotel or café Wi‑Fi.
- Keeping your home location private when gaming, streaming or posting publicly.
- Researching or reporting on sensitive topics.
- Testing how a website behaves for visitors in another region.
Before you start, note your current address on the ToolsForAnyone home page so you can confirm the change afterwards.
Method 1: Use a VPN
A virtual private network creates an encrypted tunnel from your device to a server run by the VPN provider. Your traffic exits from that server, so websites see the server's IP address. Your ISP or the local network operator can see that you are connected to a VPN, but not which sites you visit through it.
Strengths: protects all apps on the device, not only the browser; encrypts traffic on untrusted networks; usually fast enough for streaming and video calls; lets you choose the server location.
Limits: you shift trust from your ISP to the VPN provider, which can see the same metadata your ISP used to. Many websites can detect and block VPN address ranges. When choosing a service, look for an independently audited no-logs policy, a kill switch that blocks traffic if the tunnel drops, support for IPv6 or a reliable way to block it, and a clear business model. Be cautious with free VPNs that do not explain how they make money.
Method 2: Use Tor
Tor, used most easily through Tor Browser, sends your traffic through three volunteer-run relays: a guard, a middle relay and an exit. Each relay only knows the hop before and after it, so no single relay sees both who you are and where you are going. Websites see the IP address of the exit relay.
Strengths: the strongest anonymity of any method here; free; no single company to trust; Tor Browser is designed to resist fingerprinting by making users look alike.
Limits: noticeably slower than a direct connection; many websites show extra captchas or block known Tor exit relays; the exit relay can see unencrypted traffic, so stick to HTTPS. Tor Browser only protects traffic sent through it, not other apps on your device.
Method 3: Use a proxy server
A proxy is an intermediary server that forwards requests on your behalf. HTTP proxies handle web traffic, while SOCKS5 proxies can carry other protocols. Websites see the proxy's IP address rather than yours.
Strengths: simple, lightweight and often built into browsers and apps; useful for changing apparent location for a single application.
Limits: most proxies do not encrypt the connection between you and the proxy; they usually cover only the app you configure; and free public proxies are frequently slow, unreliable or run by people who log or alter traffic. Never send passwords through an untrusted proxy over plain HTTP.
Method 4: iCloud Private Relay
iCloud Private Relay is a feature of Apple's paid iCloud+ subscription on iPhone, iPad and Mac. It sends Safari traffic, DNS lookups and some unencrypted app traffic through two separate relays. The first, run by Apple, sees your IP address but not the site you are visiting. The second, run by a third-party content provider, assigns a temporary IP address and connects to the site, but does not know who you are.
Strengths: no extra app to install; designed so that no single party sees both your identity and your destination; the address it assigns can keep your general region so local content still works.
Limits: only Safari is fully covered, not other browsers or most apps; it is not available in every country or on every network; and you cannot choose a specific country. It is designed for privacy, not for changing your location.
Method 5: Switch to mobile data
Turning off Wi‑Fi and using your phone's mobile connection, or tethering a laptop to it, gives you a completely different public IP address from your home broadband. Many mobile carriers use carrier-grade NAT, so the address is shared with many other subscribers and changes frequently.
Strengths: free if you already have a data plan; instantly separates activity from your home IP.
Limits: your mobile carrier still knows exactly which subscriber used the address; data allowances may be limited; geolocation of mobile IPs is often imprecise rather than private.
Method 6: Use a different network or public Wi‑Fi
Connecting through a library, café or workplace network gives you that network's public IP address instead of your own.
Strengths: no setup required.
Limits: the network operator can see which sites you connect to; open networks can be monitored by others nearby; and you may need to log in with personal details. Combine public Wi‑Fi with HTTPS and ideally a VPN.
Comparison at a glance
| Method | Covers | Encrypts locally | Speed | Who can link you to your traffic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VPN | Whole device | Yes | Good | The VPN provider |
| Tor Browser | Tor Browser only | Yes | Slow | No single relay |
| Proxy | Configured apps | Usually no | Varies | The proxy operator |
| iCloud Private Relay | Safari, DNS, some app traffic | Yes | Good | No single relay |
| Mobile data | Whole device | No (beyond HTTPS) | Varies | Your mobile carrier |
| Public Wi‑Fi | Whole device | No (beyond HTTPS) | Varies | The network operator |
What hiding your IP does not protect against
Changing the IP address websites see is only one piece of online privacy. None of the methods above, on their own, stop these forms of identification:
- Logging in. If you sign in to an account, the site knows who you are regardless of your IP address.
- Cookies and tracking scripts. Existing cookies and local storage persist across IP changes. Use a separate browser profile or private window, and clear cookies when switching.
- Browser fingerprinting. Sites can combine details such as screen size, fonts, time zone, language and graphics hardware into a fairly stable identifier. You can see some of what your browser reveals with our User Agent tool.
- WebRTC leaks. WebRTC, used for in-browser calls, can expose local or public IP addresses to a web page even when a proxy is configured. Many VPN apps and privacy-focused browsers block this; check yours.
- DNS leaks. If DNS queries bypass the tunnel and go to your ISP's resolver, your ISP can still see which domains you look up. Good VPNs route DNS through the tunnel.
- IPv6 leaks. Some setups hide your IPv4 address while traffic over IPv6 goes out directly. Run the IPv6 Test while connected to confirm both addresses have changed.
- Malware and phishing. Hiding your IP does nothing to protect a compromised device or a password typed into a fake site.
Frequently asked questions
Does incognito or private mode hide my IP address?
No. Private browsing stops your browser from saving history and cookies after you close the window, but websites still see your real IP address.
How do I check whether my IP is hidden?
Visit the ToolsForAnyone home page before and after connecting. If the address, ISP and location have changed, and the IPv6 Test shows no leak, your IP is hidden from websites.
Can my IP address be hidden completely?
Some network must always know your real address in order to send data back to you, whether that is your ISP, VPN provider, Tor guard relay or Wi‑Fi operator. What these methods control is who sees it.
Is hiding my IP the same as changing it?
Not quite. Hiding routes your traffic through someone else's address, while changing gets you a new address from your own ISP or router. See how to change your IP address for that approach.