Changing the IP address on a local network is a procedure that may be required when redesigning a home network, eliminating addressing conflicts, or improving perimeter security. Local address Your router's default LAN IP is often the same across thousands of devices of the same model, which can create confusion when merging networks or connecting VPN clients. Changing this setting allows you to logically separate your gateway from the standard networks used by providers or neighbors.
The process of modifying network identifiers affects not only the router itself, but also the gadgets connected to it. Static IP for a printer, server or smart camera ensures stable operation, while dynamic address distribution through DHCP requires flexible pool configuration. In this article, we'll discuss how to intelligently change the settings without losing access to equipment management.
It's important to understand that we're talking about your network's internal address, not the public IP address your provider provides. Changing the internal IP of the router (for example, from 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.50.1) will not hide your identity on the Internet, but it will change the login address for the router settings. This is an important distinction that is often missed by beginners trying to hide from internet surveillance by changing LAN settings.
The difference between WAN and LAN addresses
Before making any configuration changes, it is important to have a clear understanding of your home network architecture. WAN interface A Wide Area Network (WAN) is the "front door" to the internet, assigned by your ISP. Manually changing it is usually unnecessary and often impossible without the provider's approval, as it is assigned dynamically or is tied to your contract.
On the other side, LAN interface (Local Area Network) is an internal network that you manage. The router acts as a gateway here. Standard addresses like 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 They are convenient, but in complex networks with multiple routers or when setting up VPN tunnels, they may conflict with the addresses of remote networks.
⚠️ Warning: If you change your router's IP address, all connected devices will lose internet access until they update their settings or until their DHCP lease expires. Computers will continue to access the old gateway address.
Changing your router's LAN address fundamentally alters the logical structure of your network. All devices using static addresses will need to be reconfigured manually. Dynamic clients (smartphones and tablets) will receive the new data automatically after reconnecting, but this process is not instantaneous.
Preparing to change router settings
To make changes, you'll need to access the admin web interface. Connect to the router via Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable. Open a browser and enter the current gateway address in the address bar. This is most often 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.31.1The exact address is always indicated on the sticker on the bottom of the device.
Enter your login and password. If you have never changed these details, use the standard combination (often admin/admin), indicated on the label. If the password was previously changed and lost, you will have to perform a factory reset (Hard Reset) by holding down the button Reset for 10-15 seconds.
It's recommended to write down your current internet connection settings (connection type, PPPoE/L2TP login and password, if used) in advance, although changing your local IP address usually doesn't affect your WAN settings. However, it's never a bad idea to be on the safe side when working with network equipment.
☑️ Ready to customize
Instructions for changing your router's IP address
Interfaces vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but the logic is the same. You need to find the section responsible for local network settings. It's usually called LAN, Network → LAN or Local NetworkIn modern systems like Keenetic or MikroTik The menu structure could be deeper.
Find the field labeled as IP Address or IP addressBy default, there is an address with a subnet mask. 255.255.255.0You can change the last or second to last digit. For example, replace 192.168.1.1 on 192.168.5.1It is not recommended to use addresses below 2 or above 254 in the last octet.
After entering the new value, press the button Save or ApplyThe router will warn you that the connection will be lost. This is normal behavior: the device is rebooting the network interface with the new settings.
⚠️ Note: After applying the settings, you will lose connection to the router. To continue using it, you will need to manually enter the new IP address in your browser or reconnect to the network if DHCP is working correctly.
In some models, for example, TP-Link or AsusYou may need to restart your device for the changes to take effect. If the page stops loading, simply enter the new address in your browser's address bar.
What to do if the router stops responding?
If you can't access your settings after changing your IP address, try clearing the DNS cache on your computer (ipconfig /flushdns command) or reconnecting. As a last resort, resetting your connection with the Reset button may help.
Configuring the DHCP server range
Changing the gateway IP address automatically requires adjustments to the operation DHCP serversThis service is responsible for automatically distributing addresses to connected devices. If the gateway has moved to 192.168.5.1, then the address pool must be in the same subnet, for example, from 192.168.5.2 to 192.168.5.254.
Go to the DHCP settings (often located in the same section as the LAN IP). Check the fields Start IP Address And End IP Address. Make sure they match the new addressing. It's also important to check the field Default Gateway or Primary DNS — your router's new IP address should be listed there.
If you use static addresses for your smart home or servers, ensure they are outside the DHCP range to avoid conflicts. For example, if DHCP assigns addresses from 100 to 200, it's best to assign static addresses in the 2-99 range.
Changing your IP address on your computer or smartphone
Sometimes you need to change the IP address not on the router, but on a specific device so that it always has the same address on the network. In Windows, this is done through the Network Control Panel. Go to Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center.
Click on your connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet), select PropertiesFind it in the list Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and press PropertiesSwitch the point to Use the following IP addressEnter the desired address, subnet mask, and gateway address (the new router IP).
On smartphones running Android or iOS The procedure is similar. In the Wi-Fi settings, click on the network information icon (gear or letter "i"). Find the IP settings and switch from DHCP to Static (Static). Please enter the data manually.
It's important to ensure that the information is entered correctly. An error in one digit of the subnet mask or gateway will result in no internet access, even if the local network sees the device.
Table of standard addresses and masks
For ease of setup, we've provided a table with the most common configurations. This information will help you navigate if you're confused by the numbers or want to return to the classic setup.
| Manufacturer / Type | Standard IP | Subnet mask | Recommended alternative IP |
|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link / D-Link | 192.168.0.1 | 255.255.255.0 | 192.168.10.1 |
| Asus / Netgear | 192.168.1.1 | 255.255.255.0 | 192.168.50.1 |
| Xiaomi / Huawei | 192.168.31.1 | 255.255.255.0 | 192.168.32.1 |
| MikroTik | 192.168.88.1 | 255.255.255.0 | 10.0.0.1 |
| Apple AirPort | 10.0.1.1 | 255.255.255.0 | 10.0.2.1 |
Possible problems and their solutions
The most common issue after changing settings is an inability to connect to the router. The computer may "remember" the old gateway address. In this case, resetting the network stack will help. Open the command prompt and enter the command to update the configuration.
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
If this does not help, try to enter DNS servers manually (for example, 8.8.8.8 from Google), since sometimes access problems are caused not by the IP itself, but by the inability to resolve domain names after changing the gateway.
It's also worth considering that some providers bind internet access based on MAC addresses. If you clone a MAC address or change hardware, you may need to call tech support to rebind the connection, although this rarely applies to changes to your local IP address.
⚠️ Note: Router interfaces are constantly being updated. The menu location may differ from what's described. If you can't find the item you need, refer to the official documentation for your model or look for screenshots of the interface for your specific firmware version.
In rare cases, your antivirus or Windows Firewall may block the connection to the new gateway, treating the network as "public" instead of "private." Check the network type in Windows settings and, if necessary, change the profile to "Private Network."
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will my internet IP change if I change my router's address?
No. A local IP (LAN) and a public IP (WAN) are different. Changing your router's address inside your home doesn't affect how websites see you online. To change your public IP, you need to reboot the router (if it's dynamic) or use a VPN.
Is it possible to set the address 192.168.0.256?
No, this is not possible. In IPv4 addressing, each octet (the number between the dots) can have a value from 0 to 255. The number 256 and higher is not allowed.
What happens if two devices on the network get the same IP?
An IP address conflict will occur. Both devices may lose network access or become unstable. The router will usually issue a conflict warning. Ensure that the static addresses are not in the DHCP range.
Do I need to change DNS when changing my router's IP?
Not required, but recommended. It's best to configure trusted DNS (such as Google or Cloudflare) in your router's DHCP settings so that clients receive them automatically when connecting to an updated network.