How to Change IP Address by Using Proxies and Stay Anonymous

The necessity to know: how to change IP address of a device can arise from many circumstances. The users often modify their IP address in frustration from encountering blocks or region based restrictions. Another case could be if the user is utilizing a blacklisted address and this problem can be solved with the use of proxy settings.

What is proxy settings useful approaches:

• Bypassing the site's security mechanisms while handling multiple accounts.
• Data gathering including spying on competitors is done silently.
• Shielding personal information from advertisers and other unrelated digital insiders.

Now that we’ve looked at the benefits of anonymizing your real address, let's shift our attention to ways: how to modify an IP address utilizing a proxy.

How to Change IP Address: Methods for Windows, macOS, and Browsers

So, let's start with: can you change your IP address? Yes, indeed. As in any other configuration, information such as the server's IP address and port number are required. In the case of private options, it may also be necessary to include a username and a password.

Nevertheless, the setup steps differ depending on which method you will use. In this section, we will discuss the most frequently encountered cases: at the operating system level and in the browser. So, if you are asking: how to hide my IP address, there are plenty of ways to do so described below.

Windows

We will consider the configuration process for Windows because most applications default to utilizing the system’s settings. In Windows, there are multiple methods how to change the proxy server settings:

• through the graphical interface of the OS or third-party programs;
• using command-line scripts in Windows or terminal commands in Unix-based systems.

In our previous posts containing guides to Windows 10 and 11, all of the instructions include a full walkthrough for configuration via the GUI. But for our more tech-savvy users, below, we'll outline a few additional methods for proxy server change IP.

Group Policy Editor

One of the more powerful and widely used tools for domain administrators. This feature can be devoted to exploit to change system controls and behavior or to limit control windows utilizing users' domain. If your PC is on a corporate network, and you have some frustrating restrictions on setting up an intermediary server, try this.

1. Start menu, then “Settings”.

   

2. In the search, “policy” – will prompt the correct suggestion.

   

3. Alternatively, you can press the Win + R key combination and type in the following command: “gpedit.msc”.

   

4. Navigate to the following location in the editor. Use the screenshot below.

   

5. Make sure that “Enabled” is checked in the opened window and in the Options section choose “Disable Authenticated Proxy usage”, and then click on “OK”.

   

6. Go back to the editor and browse to: “Configure Connected User Experiences and Telemetry”.

   

7. Once again choose “Enabled” and fill the options with the IP of the proxy server followed by a colon and port, and click “OK”.

   

Utilizing Command Line

In case you own a modified version of Windows and the OS does not follow the default structure, then you may utilize the command line to set the proxy settings.

1. Click on the Start icon, locate cmd in the list, then right click on it and select “Run as administrator”.

   

2. Type the following command: “netsh winhttp set proxy server:port”. Example: netsh winhttp set proxy 82.211.9.160:50100. Hit the “Enter” button.

   

3. Once you complete the required steps to configure the proxy, a dialog box will display in the browser requesting a username and password.

   

4. A prompt of this nature could also pop up from the Windows system itself.

   

5. To reset the configuration, utilize the following command: “netsh winhttp reset proxy”.

Guidance for macOS

On macOS, configuration can be performed on a system-wide basis or limited to the browser. An article that addresses proxy configuration is available for Safari.

To set up system-wide configuration follow this:

1. From the top left, click the apple icon and click System Preferences.

   

2. Network should be selected next.

   

3. From the list on the left, select the network interface you wish to configure and select Advanced.

   

4. You will now select the “Proxies” tab and check the protocols that you want to utilize. It will be necessary to provide a host and port for every one of them. In case of a private server, your username and password should however be entered in their corresponding fields.

   

Alternatively, via Terminal you can change settings too:

• “networksetup -setwebproxy ethernet server host”;
• “networksetup -setwebproxystate ethernet on”.

In this context, the terms server and host are used to refer to the IP address and port.

To restore these settings: “networksetup -setwebproxystate ethernet off”.

Steps for Change Chrome Proxy Settings​

Google Chrome, as a popular browser, utilizes the proxy settings of the operating system. You simply need to change the browser’s settings and go to a part that will automatically take you to the needed window. This is helpful in the case where a user not only browses the internet with chrome but has other applications on the computer that also use the internet.

For a more specific task such as circumventing static IP limitations, controlling what parts of the system use the proxy is only for Chrome's traffic can be accomplished with extensions designed for that purpose. Special tasks, which can include but not limited to:

• web scraping;
• testing;
• posting (useful when frequent IP change proxies are needed).

Certain extensions include advanced features that allow users to effortlessly modify their location, program rotation timers, and add lists of set addresses, ensuring precise and improved adjustment of Chrome proxy settings​.

How to Change IP Address: Conclusion

As described in detail above, one of the most valid ways of anonymous browsing​ is through the use of a proxy server which can be setup on almost any system.

After setting the relevant configurations, confirming that the designated IP works is crucial. Our proxy checker allows you to verify your IP. The IP address, ISP, and location must be in new server mode and should be different from your actual ones. If the information is incorrect, follow our suggestions and correctly configure your network settings to conceal your IP and protect yourself from numerous online restrictions.