Does your IP address change with different Wi-Fi?

Answered by John Hunt

Your IP address can change when you connect to different Wi-Fi networks. Let me explain how this works.

When you connect to the internet through a Wi-Fi network, your device is assigned an IP address. This IP address serves as a unique identifier for your device on that particular network. It allows the network to send and receive data to and from your device.

Now, when you move to a different Wi-Fi network, your device needs to obtain a new IP address. This is because each network has its own set of IP addresses that it can assign to connected devices. So, when you connect to a new Wi-Fi network, your device will be given a new IP address from that network’s IP address pool.

To put it simply, your IP address changes because you are now connecting to a different network with its own set of IP addresses. This change in IP address happens automatically when you connect to a new Wi-Fi network.

It’s worth noting that the IP address you receive from a Wi-Fi network is typically a public IP address. A public IP address is a unique address that is used to identify your device on the internet. It allows you to communicate with other devices and access websites and online services.

So, whenever you connect to a different Wi-Fi network, you are essentially using the public IP address of that network. This means that your device will be identified by a different IP address depending on the Wi-Fi network you are connected to.

Here are a few examples to illustrate this:

1. Let’s say you are using your laptop at home and connected to your home Wi-Fi network. Your laptop will have an IP address assigned by your home network, such as 192.168.1.10. This IP address is specific to your home network and allows you to access the internet through your home Wi-Fi.

2. Now, imagine you leave your home and go to a coffee shop. When you connect to the coffee shop’s Wi-Fi network, your laptop will receive a new IP address from that network, such as 172.16.0.5. This IP address is different from the one you had at home and is specific to the coffee shop’s network.

3. Next, let’s say you visit a friend’s house and connect to their Wi-Fi network. Again, your laptop will be assigned a new IP address, specific to your friend’s network. Let’s say it’s 10.0.0.15. This IP address is different from the previous two examples and unique to your friend’s network.

As you can see, each time you switch Wi-Fi networks, your device is given a new IP address that corresponds to that particular network. This allows the network to identify and communicate with your device while you are connected.

Your IP address can change when you connect to different Wi-Fi networks. Each network assigns its own unique IP address to your device, allowing for communication and internet access. So, the next time you connect to a different Wi-Fi network, remember that your IP address will be different, reflecting the network you are using.