Every device you connect to the internet — whether it’s your phone, laptop, or tablet — is assigned an IP address. This IP address acts like your device’s identity online. But what if you want to hide it, change it, or appear as if you’re in another location? That’s where proxy IPs come in.
In this guide, we’ll explain:
- How proxy IPs work on your devices
- How they change your IP address
- Why people use them
What Is a Proxy IP?
A proxy IP is an intermediary between your device and the internet. When you connect to a website through a proxy, the site doesn’t see your real IP address. Instead, it sees the proxy’s IP address.
It’s like sending a letter to someone but using a post office box as the return address — your real location stays hidden.
How Does a Proxy Change Your IP on Your Device?
Here’s how it works, step-by-step:
1️⃣ Your device sends a request — For example, you want to visit example.com.
2️⃣ The request goes to the proxy server first — Instead of contacting the website directly, your device connects to the proxy.
3️⃣ The proxy forwards the request — The proxy sends the request to the website using its own IP address, not yours.
4️⃣ The website responds to the proxy — The site replies to the proxy, thinking the proxy is the original visitor.
5️⃣ The proxy sends the data back to you — Finally, the proxy passes the response to your device.
👉 The key point: The website never sees your real IP; it only sees the proxy’s IP
How Do You Set Up a Proxy on Your Device?
Most devices allow you to set a proxy either:
- System-wide: All apps and browsers use the proxy (e.g., through network settings)
- App-specific: Some apps or browsers let you configure proxies within the app (e.g., Chrome extensions, scraping tools)
You usually need:
- The proxy server’s IP address or hostname
- Port number
- (Optional) Username and password if using authenticated proxies
Why Use a Proxy to Change Your IP?
There are many reasons people use proxy IPs:
🌎 Bypass geo-restrictions — Access content only available in certain countries
🛡 Improve privacy — Hide your real IP and location
🔍 Web scraping — Collect data without getting blocked
🎮 Reduce lag / connect to game servers in other regions
🛍 Verify ads and prices globally
🧪 Real-world Test: Changing Your IP with QuarkIP
To see how a proxy IP changes your device’s visible IP, we ran a simple test using QuarkIP’s datacenter and residential proxies.
| Proxy Type | Original IP | New IP (via proxy) | Geo-location |
|---|---|---|---|
| No proxy | 103.25.xxx.xxx | 103.25.xxx.xxx | Singapore |
| Datacenter proxy | 103.25.xxx.xxx | 198.51.xxx.xxx | United States (California) |
| Residential proxy | 103.25.xxx.xxx | 45.76.xxx.xxx | Germany (Frankfurt) |
👉 Result:
With just a quick proxy setup, the target websites detected the new IP and location provided by QuarkIP, not our real device IP. This proves how proxies can effectively mask your actual IP and present a different digital identity.
💡 Pro Tip: Many websites also check other signals (like browser fingerprinting). For best results, combine proxy use with tools that manage fingerprints or user agents.
Types of Proxies That Change Your IP
Different proxies work in slightly different ways:
- Datacenter proxies: Fast and cheap, but easier for websites to detect
- Residential proxies: Real household IPs, harder to block
- Mobile proxies: Use real mobile networks, highest success on strict sites
Can a Proxy Fully Hide Your Identity?
👉 A proxy changes your IP, but it doesn’t encrypt your data or provide full anonymity. For stronger privacy, people often combine proxies with VPNs or encryption tools.
QuarkIP Makes It Simple
With QuarkIP, changing your IP is easy:
✅ Residential, datacenter, and mobile proxies
✅ Simple integration into your device or app
✅ Flexible pricing — starting at under $1.74 per IP
Final Thoughts
A proxy IP is a powerful tool for changing your device’s IP and staying private online. By understanding how proxies work, you can choose the right type for your needs — whether it’s scraping, gaming, or browsing securely.
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