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Beginner / 6 min read

ChangeMyIP: How to Change Your IP Address on Any Device (Beginner's Guide)

A step-by-step guide to using ChangeMyIP to change your IP address on any device, from account setup to proxy configuration and verification.

Windows macOS iOS Android

Overview

Changing your IP address with ChangeMyIP is a straightforward process: you route your internet traffic through one of their proxy servers, which masks your original IP and replaces it with the proxy's IP. This guide walks you through the complete process on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android using ChangeMyIP's HTTP/HTTPS proxy endpoints (SOCKS5 is also available if your application supports it). You will learn how to retrieve your credentials, configure each operating system, verify the change, and troubleshoot common issues.

Note: This guide assumes you have an active ChangeMyIP subscription (flat monthly) and access to the ChangeMyIP dashboard. Exact proxy hostnames and ports may vary by plan; always use the values shown in your dashboard.

Before You Begin

  • Log in to your ChangeMyIP account.
  • Locate your proxy credentials: host (or endpoint), port, username, password.
  • Use the credentials that correspond to your plan (datacenter or residential).
  • Choose a proxy type: HTTP/HTTPS works for most browsers and system-wide settings. SOCKS5 is better for apps that support it (e.g., torrent clients, some scrapers). This guide uses HTTP/HTTPS for system configuration.
  • Decide on a location: ChangeMyIP offers 40+ countries and 300+ cities. Select a country/city from your dashboard if you need a specific IP location. If you just want any new IP, the default endpoint is fine.

Steps

1. Retrieve Your ChangeMyIP Proxy Credentials

  1. Sign in to the ChangeMyIP dashboard.
  2. Navigate to the proxy list or endpoint section.
  3. Copy the following details for the proxy you want to use:
    • Host: e.g., proxy.changemyip.com (example only; use your actual host)
    • Port: e.g., 8080 for HTTP
    • Username: your ChangeMyIP username
    • Password: your ChangeMyIP password
  4. If you want a specific country, select it now. The dashboard will show a country-specific endpoint or a username suffix (e.g., username-country-us). Follow ChangeMyIP's instructions for geo-targeting.

Note: ChangeMyIP may provide separate credentials for datacenter and residential proxies. Use the correct set for your plan.

2. Configure Windows to Use the Proxy

  1. Open Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy.
  2. Under Manual proxy setup, turn Use a proxy server to On.
  3. Enter the proxy address and port:
    • Address: proxy.changemyip.com (replace with your host)
    • Port: 8080 (replace with your port)
  4. Click Save.
  5. When prompted, enter your ChangeMyIP username and password.

Alternatively, use the command line (as Administrator) to set the proxy system-wide:

netsh winhttp set proxy proxy-server="http://proxy.changemyip.com:8080" bypass-list=""

To remove it later:

netsh winhttp reset proxy

3. Configure macOS to Use the Proxy

  1. Open System Settings > Network.
  2. Select your active network connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and click Details.
  3. Go to Proxies.
  4. Enable Web Proxy (HTTP) and Secure Web Proxy (HTTPS).
  5. For each, enter:
    • Server: proxy.changemyip.com
    • Port: 8080
  6. If required, enable Proxy Server Requires Password and enter your ChangeMyIP credentials.
  7. Click OK to save.

For a terminal-only approach, you can export proxy environment variables (this works for many command-line tools):

export http_proxy="http://username:[email protected]:8080"
export https_proxy="http://username:[email protected]:8080"

4. Configure iOS (iPhone/iPad) to Use the Proxy

  1. Open Settings > Wi-Fi.
  2. Tap the ⓘ icon next to your connected Wi-Fi network.
  3. Scroll down to Configure Proxy and select Manual.
  4. Enter:
    • Server: proxy.changemyip.com
    • Port: 8080
    • Authentication: turn on if required, then enter your ChangeMyIP username and password.
  5. Tap Save.

5. Configure Android to Use the Proxy

  1. Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi.
  2. Long-press your connected Wi-Fi network and select Modify network.
  3. Expand Advanced options.
  4. Under Proxy, select Manual.
  5. Enter:
    • Proxy hostname: proxy.changemyip.com
    • Proxy port: 8080
    • Bypass proxy for: (leave blank unless needed)
  6. If prompted, enter your ChangeMyIP username and password.
  7. Tap Save.

6. Verify That Your IP Has Changed

After configuring any device, verify the change:

  • Browser method: Visit a site like https://api.ipify.org or https://whatismyipaddress.com. The displayed IP should match the proxy location, not your original IP.
  • Command-line method: Use curl with your proxy credentials:
curl -x http://username:[email protected]:8080 https://api.ipify.org

If the output shows a different IP than your original, the proxy is working.

To confirm geolocation, use:

curl -x http://username:[email protected]:8080 https://ipinfo.io/json

7. Switch or Rotate IPs (Optional)

ChangeMyIP supports rotating IPs (for residential) and multiple endpoints. To switch to a new IP:

  • Datacenter proxies: Change the port or request a new endpoint from your dashboard.
  • Residential proxies: Use a rotating endpoint (e.g., a special port) or append a session ID to your username if supported. Check your dashboard for the exact format.
  • Manual rotation: Reconfigure your device with a different country/city endpoint.

Troubleshooting

  • Authentication errors: Double-check your username and password. For residential proxies, your username may need a country or session suffix (e.g., username-country-us). Refer to ChangeMyIP's documentation.
  • Connection refused or timeout: Ensure the host and port are correct. Try a different port (e.g., 3128, 8080, 8888). Some networks block proxy ports; try another network.
  • IP not changing: Clear your browser cache or use incognito mode. Some browsers may cache DNS or use QUIC, which can bypass proxy settings. Disable QUIC in chrome://flags if needed.
  • HTTPS issues: Ensure you are using the correct protocol (HTTP proxy for both HTTP and HTTPS traffic). For sites that fail, try SOCKS5 instead if your app supports it.
  • Mobile data: Proxy settings on iOS and Android apply only to Wi-Fi, not cellular. For cellular, you need a VPN (ChangeMyIP supports WireGuard) or a proxy app.

Summary

You have learned how to change your IP address using ChangeMyIP on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. The core process is: retrieve proxy credentials from your ChangeMyIP dashboard, configure your device's proxy settings, and verify the new IP with a browser or curl. For advanced use cases like IP rotation or per-country targeting, adjust your endpoint or username suffix as directed by ChangeMyIP. With 40+ countries and 300+ cities available, you can appear from almost anywhere. If you need a reliable proxy provider, ChangeMyIP's flat monthly plans and multiple protocols (HTTP, SOCKS5, Shadowsocks, Trojan, WireGuard, DNS) make it a solid choice for privacy, scraping, and geo-testing.