How to Hide My IP Address: 3 Methods Compared
To hide your IP address you route your traffic through another server so websites see its address instead of yours. The three common methods are a VPN, a proxy, and Tor. A VPN is the easiest all-round option; below we compare them, set one up, and confirm it worked.
Why hide your IP
Your IP address reveals your rough location and identifies your connection to every site you visit, letting advertisers, trackers, and network owners profile you. Hiding it protects your privacy, helps you avoid targeted tracking, reduces exposure to attacks, and lets you reach content that's restricted by region. It's a core step toward controlling your digital footprint.
VPN vs proxy vs Tor
A VPN encrypts all device traffic and routes it through one server, balancing speed, privacy, and ease of use. A proxy reroutes a single app or browser and usually adds no encryption, so it's lighter but weaker. Tor bounces traffic through several volunteer relays for strong anonymity, but it's noticeably slower and overkill for everyday use.
Hide your IP with a VPN, step by step
Install a trustworthy VPN app on your device and open it. Pick a server, ideally in the country you want to appear from, then tap connect and wait for it to confirm you're protected. From that moment every site sees the server's IP address, not yours, and your traffic between the device and server is encrypted.
Verify your IP is hidden
Before connecting, search "what is my IP" and note the address and location shown. Connect the VPN, then reload the same page. If the IP and country now match the server you chose instead of your real one, your address is hidden. Repeat the check whenever you switch servers to be sure it stuck.
Avoid leaks that expose you
Even with a VPN on, DNS requests or WebRTC in a browser can leak your real IP. Use a VPN that routes DNS through its own servers and includes a kill switch that blocks traffic if the tunnel drops. Run a leak test after connecting, and disable WebRTC in your browser if a test flags it.
Veepen hides your IP on Android and Android TV with a single tap, replacing it with a fast VLESS Reality server address that's tough to detect or block; fresh servers are shared regularly in @veepen_vpn.