Can Your iPhone Have a Unique IP Address?

Your iPhone appears to have multiple public IP addresses, one for each interface. You can toggle between using cellular data or Wi-Fi, and each time you do, you receive a new public IP address. When you turn off cellular data and use Wi-Fi, or vice versa, you are essentially connecting to new network gateways that provide different public IP addresses. However, it's important to understand that these are not the actual addresses of your phone but the addresses of the public gateways your phone uses. IP addresses are not widely relevant to end-users, and most users do not need to worry about changing them regularly.

Public IP Addresses and Cellular Connections

The public IP address seen by websites and servers from a cellular connection is typically shared. This means that the same IP address can be used by hundreds or even thousands of other cellular devices.

Carriers have limited IP addresses, so it's impossible to force a change to a different IP address for each user. You might observe a different IP address when moving between locations, for instance, from New York City to Chicago. However, the IP address assigned to your device when you turn it on is highly dependent on the carrier's network and is usually practically random. You might receive the same IP address twice or a different one. In the case of IPv6 addresses, they might stay relatively consistent, but you cannot use them. The cellular data network prevents connectivity across devices within the network to ensure network integrity and security.

Changing IP Addresses

One effective way to change your IP address is to drive in your car with your phone. As you move, the IP address you are assigned will change. However, unless you have a specific reason to care about your IP address, there is no need to do so.

Most importantly, as long as your iPhone operates correctly and provides internet connectivity, there is no need to obsess over your IP address. End-users generally do not require unique or changing IP addresses for day-to-day use.