Key Takeaway:
You can’t go online without an IP address, so “hiding” it means putting something else in front of it, so sites see that address and not yours. For most people that’s a paid VPN, because it covers every app and encrypts your traffic. Tor gives stronger anonymity but is slow, iCloud Private Relay is a light option for Safari, and a proxy changes your address without adding privacy. Whichever you use, someone still sees your real IP, and you should check that it worked with our VPN leak test.
Your IP address reveals your provider and your rough location to every site you visit. Hiding it stops that, but the methods differ in who they hide it from and who they hand it to instead.
The Four Ways, Compared
| Method | What it covers | Who sees your real IP | Adds encryption? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VPN | All apps on the device | The VPN provider | Yes, as far as the VPN server | Most people, everyday use |
| Tor Browser | Only that browser | The first relay, which doesn’t see where you’re going | Yes, inside the Tor network | Strong anonymity, when slow is acceptable |
| iCloud Private Relay | Web browsing in Safari | Apple’s first relay | Yes, as far as the relays | iPhone and Mac users who already pay for iCloud+ |
| Proxy | One app or browser you set up | The proxy operator | Not by itself | Location checks and automation, not privacy |
1. Use a VPN
A VPN sends everything your device does through an encrypted tunnel to a server elsewhere, so websites and apps see the server’s address. Your provider can see that you’re connected to a VPN, but not which sites you visit through it.
- Choose a paid provider. What to look for in a privacy VPN gives you the criteria to check. PureVPN and IPVanish are two options we have affiliate links for.
- Install the app and connect to a server.
- Turn on the kill switch, so a dropped connection doesn’t send traffic out under your real address.
- Run the two-minute check further down.
Be careful with free VPN apps. Running a VPN costs money, and some free ones are paid for in other ways. The 911 S5 botnet, which the US Justice Department announced it had dismantled in 2024, spread through “free” VPN apps, reaching 19 million Windows devices and selling access to their connections. See are free VPNs safe?
2. Use Tor Browser
Tor Browser sends your traffic through three volunteer-run relays. The first knows your address but not your destination, and the last knows the destination but not your address. No single relay sees both, which a VPN can’t offer, because the VPN provider sees both.
The costs are real: it’s slow, many sites block it or show endless CAPTCHAs, and it only protects what you do inside Tor Browser. Other apps on your computer keep using your normal connection. Logging in to your own accounts inside it also tells those sites who you are.
You’ll often see advice to combine a VPN with Tor. For most people it adds little and can make things worse; our Tor guide explains why.
3. Turn On iCloud Private Relay
If you have an iPhone or Mac and pay for iCloud+, you may already have this. Apple’s Private Relay sends Safari browsing through two relays: Apple’s first relay sees your IP address, and a second one run by a partner gives you a temporary address and connects you to the site. The design means no single company sees both who you are and where you’re going.
Turn it on in your iCloud settings. It isn’t available in every country, some sites may ask for extra steps at sign-in, and it isn’t a replacement for a VPN: it’s built around Safari, not every app on your device.
4. Use a Proxy, for the Right Job
A proxy forwards one app’s traffic through another address. Sites see the proxy’s address, but it doesn’t add encryption, and anything outside that app still shows your real one. That makes it the wrong choice if your goal is privacy, and a sensible one for checking how your site looks from another country or for automated work that needs many addresses.
Avoid free public proxies. You have no idea who runs them, and the operator can log what passes through and, on unencrypted pages, change it. If you have a business use, our Proxy-Seller review covers what it’s good for and what its terms prohibit, and Proxy-Seller offers ExamineIP readers 15% off with the code EXAMINEIP. Still undecided? Read VPN or proxy: which protects you better?
What Doesn’t Hide Your IP
- Incognito or private mode. It changes what your browser keeps, not your address. You can prove this yourself in 30 seconds.
- Clearing cookies. This removes one kind of tracking and has nothing to do with your address.
- Restarting your router or switching to mobile data. You may get a different address, but it’s still yours and still points to your provider.
- Browser “hide my IP” extensions. Many only cover traffic inside the browser, and you’re trusting an unknown operator with it.
🔍 Check It Worked in Two Minutes
- Get your baseline. With everything off, note your address on our What Is My IP page, and your provider’s name.
- Turn your method on and reload the page in the same browser. The address and the provider should both change. If you’re using Tor, open the page in Tor Browser.
- Run the VPN leak test. It checks your visible IP, WebRTC and IPv6, the usual routes for a real address to slip out. It doesn’t test DNS; what a DNS leak is explains how to check that by hand.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Leaving WebRTC or IPv6 exposed. A browser can reveal your real address through WebRTC even with a VPN on, and an IPv6 connection can bypass a VPN that only handles IPv4. See how WebRTC leaks happen.
- Staying logged in. With a new address and your Google account open, Google still knows it’s you.
- Ignoring fingerprinting. Sites can recognise your browser from its settings and hardware, whatever your address. See what your browser gives away.
- Assuming “on” means on. Apps disconnect after updates, sleep and network changes. Check from time to time.
- Expecting it to stop malware or phishing. A hidden address doesn’t make a bad link safe.
Hiding your IP is one layer. If you want to go further, how to become anonymous online covers DNS, your browser and your accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hide my IP address for free?
Yes. Tor Browser is free and run by a non-profit. Some reputable VPN companies also have limited free plans, usually as a route to their paid ones. Be wary of unknown free VPN and proxy apps, for the reasons above.
Can my internet provider still see my IP if I hide it?
Yes. Your provider assigned the address and always knows it’s you. Hiding your IP changes what websites see. With a VPN, your provider can see the connection to the VPN but not the sites you visit through it. What your ISP can see has more.
Does hiding my IP make me anonymous?
No. It removes one identifier. Accounts, cookies and browser fingerprints can still identify you, and a VPN doesn’t hide everything.
Can police still find me if I hide my IP?
It’s harder, but possible. They can ask the service in the middle for records, and mistakes such as logging in to a personal account can link activity to you. See can police track you with your IP address?
Is it legal to hide my IP address?
In most countries, yes. A few countries restrict VPNs, and some places are testing new rules; Utah’s VPN law is one example. Hiding your address doesn’t make anything illegal legal, and a site’s own terms may still ban it. If it matters where you live, check the local rules.
How do I hide my IP on my phone?
A VPN app works the same way on Android and iPhone. iPhone users with iCloud+ can use Private Relay for Safari, and Tor Browser is available on Android. On Android, you can also set Always-on VPN so traffic can’t go out without it.