Alys Tomlinson/Getty Images You can change your local IP address from the network settings controls menu on a PC, Mac, or phone. Your public IP address can be changed by resetting your router or connecting to a VPN. You might need to change your IP address for technical or security reasons. Your computer, like every device that connects to the internet, has an IP (Internet Protocol) address. It's a series of numbers interspersed with decimal points (for example, "198.169.0.101"), and acts like a home address that identifies where other devices can find your computer. Related It's rare that you need to know your computer's