A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a server you choose. All traffic goes through that tunnel, and the server forwards it to the internet.
What changes about your IP
From the point of view of the sites you visit, the connection now comes from the VPN server. Your visible public IP is no longer your provider's, but the server's. That is easy to confirm: enable the VPN and run the IP Checker.
What a VPN protects
- Hiding your real IP from visited sites.
- Encrypting traffic between you and the VPN server, useful on public Wi-Fi.
- Changing your apparent location, which alters geolocation results.
What it does not protect
A VPN does not remove browser trackers, does not stop leaks from a misconfigured WebRTC and does not make you anonymous. If you are signed in to a service, it still knows who you are. The VPN provider also sees your outbound traffic — trust simply moves elsewhere.