Great question—privacy is definitely on a lot of people’s minds these days. There are a few ways you can change your IP address on your iPhone to help with privacy. Here are some options that work for me:
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Use a VPN: This is probably the easiest and most effective way to mask your IP address. VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) let you connect to the internet through a server in another location, so it hides your real IP address from apps and websites. A lot of VPNs have apps for iPhone, and you can even find free ones, but I’d suggest a paid option if you want better security and reliability. ExpressVPN and NordVPN are popular choices, but there are plenty of others.
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Switch to Cellular Data: If you’re on Wi-Fi, try disconnecting and switching to cellular data for a different IP address. Your cellular provider assigns a different IP than your home Wi-Fi, so this can be a quick way to change it up without extra apps. Keep in mind, though, it’s not as secure as using a VPN since your ISP can still track your location.
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Restart Your Router (if you’re on Wi-Fi): This works if you’re at home and using Wi-Fi. Sometimes, just restarting your router will give you a new IP address. It’s not a guaranteed solution, but it’s worth a shot, especially if you want to keep things simple.
Consider using Private Relay (if you have iCloud+): If you’re an iCloud+ subscriber, Apple’s Private Relay (in the iCloud settings) is like a simplified VPN for Safari. It won’t cover all your apps, but it does mask your IP for browsing, so sites can’t track you as easily. It’s also super easy to turn on.
And yeah, you’re absolutely right—just turning off location services isn’t always enough for privacy, because some apps use your IP to approximate your location. Using one or more of the options above should help keep you a bit more private. Hope that helps! Let us know if you try any of these out!