How do i change my private ip address which is xx.xx.xx.4 on my ubuntu virtual private server

Question

How do i change my private ip address which is xx.xx.xx.4 on my ubuntu virtual private server

Brenda Gonzales 0

I want to change my private ip address which is xx.xx.xx.4 on my ubuntu virtual private server , i'm trying to install virtualmin, so i need to change private ip address to my VPS IP

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Manish Deshpande 5,420 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-09T07:58:15.3233333+00:00
Hello @Brenda Gonzales

I want to clearly explain how private IP addresses work for Azure Virtual Machines, and why the change must be done in a specific way.

In Azure, a virtual machine’s private IP address is managed by Azure at the network interface (NIC) level, not by the operating system itself. While it may look possible to change the IP address directly inside your Ubuntu VM, doing so is not supported and can lead to network connectivity issues. This happens because Azure continues to route traffic based on the IP address configured on the VM’s NIC.

To safely change or retain a private IP address, Microsoft recommends configuring a static private IP address on the network interface attached to the VM. Once this change is made at the Azure networking layer, the operating system will automatically receive and use the updated IP address during startup.

This approach ensures:

Azure networking remains aware of the IP assignment

The IP address does not change after VM reboots or deallocation

Applications such as Virtualmin continue to work reliably without network interruptions

Any attempt to modify the IP address only within Ubuntu bypasses Azure’s networking control and may result in loss of access to the VM.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/virtual-networks-static-private-ip?tabs=azureportal

https://www.urtech.ca/2025/02/solved-how-to-add-cpu-ram-to-an-azure-vm/

If the issue persists after following the above guidance, or if you need help validating the subnet or IP availability, we’re happy to assist further.

Thanks,
Manish.

2 answers

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Manish Deshpande 5,420 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-09T07:58:15.3233333+00:00

Hello @Brenda Gonzales

I want to clearly explain how private IP addresses work for Azure Virtual Machines, and why the change must be done in a specific way.

In Azure, a virtual machine’s private IP address is managed by Azure at the network interface (NIC) level, not by the operating system itself. While it may look possible to change the IP address directly inside your Ubuntu VM, doing so is not supported and can lead to network connectivity issues. This happens because Azure continues to route traffic based on the IP address configured on the VM’s NIC.

To safely change or retain a private IP address, Microsoft recommends configuring a static private IP address on the network interface attached to the VM. Once this change is made at the Azure networking layer, the operating system will automatically receive and use the updated IP address during startup.

This approach ensures:

Azure networking remains aware of the IP assignment

The IP address does not change after VM reboots or deallocation

Applications such as Virtualmin continue to work reliably without network interruptions

Any attempt to modify the IP address only within Ubuntu bypasses Azure’s networking control and may result in loss of access to the VM.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/virtual-networks-static-private-ip?tabs=azureportal

https://www.urtech.ca/2025/02/solved-how-to-add-cpu-ram-to-an-azure-vm/

If the issue persists after following the above guidance, or if you need help validating the subnet or IP availability, we’re happy to assist further.

Thanks,
Manish.

Answer 1

Hello @ Brenda Gonzales,

Here are the steps you can follow in the portal to change the IP address.

First, stop the VM, then navigate to the networking settings as shown in the screenshot below.

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After opening the Network interface, go to IP configuration and select ADD. Next, create a static private IP and click ADD again, as demonstrated in the screenshot below.
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Once you add the new private IP, it will appear in the IP configuration tab. You can then select the new private IP and set it as primary.
User's image

If the previous step didn't set the new IP as primary, try clicking the old IP name and editing it directly. Select allocation as static, enter the new private IP address, and save. This will update it to the new private IP.

User's image

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Answer 2

Hi Brenda,

If you need to change it to a different private IP within the same subnet it is in now, for example, change it to 10.2.0.5, you can follow instructions below:

1. Navigate to your VM in Azure portal, on left, click Networking -- Network settings

2. On right, click on the Network interface/ IP configuration

3. On IP Settings screen, bottom half, click on the IP configuration (typically named ipconfig1)

4. On the flyout panel on right, change Allocation to Static, enter the new private IP in the box, click Save

If you need to change it to different subnet/address space, that will involve some additional steps. Please let me know the address you would like to change to as well as the current address spaces and subnet you have in the Virtual Network.

If something is unclear please add a comment below and I will assist.

Please click Accept Answer and upvote if the above was helpful.

Thanks.

-TP

Ganesh Patapati 11,915 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-13T19:17:28.4966667+00:00

Hello Brenda Gonzales

I see TP and Ravi Varma Mudduluru has addressed your queries.

Can you please update us if the action plan provided was helpful?

Should there be any follow-up questions or concerns, please let us know and we shall try to address them.

Please click Accept Answer and upvote if the above was helpful.

Thanks.

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How do i change my private ip address which is xx.xx.xx.4 on my ubuntu virtual private server

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