What Is My IP Address? Free IP Checker & Lookup Tool
Find what is my IP address instantly with our free IP checker and IP address lookup tool. Automatically displays your public IP address, ISP, city, country, and geolocation for both IPv4 and IPv6 formats. Perfect for checking VPN connections, troubleshooting network issues, and verifying your internet location. Our my IP address tool is 100% free with no signup required.
Your IP Address Information
Instantly discover your public IP address and location details
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Your IP Address Information
When you load this page, our IP address checker automatically detects and displays comprehensive information about your internet connection. This includes not just your public IP address, but also valuable details about your location and network provider.
Your Public IP Address
This is the unique identifier visible to all websites and online services you connect to. It's assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Your ISP (Internet Service Provider)
The company providing your internet connection. This information helps identify your network provider and can be useful for troubleshooting connectivity issues.
Your Location (City, Country)
Your approximate geographic location based on your IP address. This is typically accurate to the city level but cannot reveal your exact street address.
Your Connection Type
Whether you're using IPv4 or IPv6 protocol. IPv4 is the traditional format (xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx) while IPv6 is the newer, longer format designed to handle the growing number of internet devices.
What Is an IP Address?
An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. Think of it as your device's mailing address on the internet.
IP Address Definition
An IP address serves two main purposes: identifying the host or network interface and providing the location of the host in the network. It enables devices to find and communicate with each other across local networks and the global internet.
How IP Addresses Work
When you visit a website, your device uses its IP address to send a request to the website's server. The server then sends the requested information back to your IP address, allowing you to view the website. All of this happens in milliseconds, making the internet feel instant.
IP Address Format
IP addresses are written and displayed in human-readable notations. IPv4 addresses are typically shown as four decimal numbers separated by periods (e.g., 192.0.2.1), while IPv6 addresses use eight groups of four hexadecimal digits separated by colons.
IPv4 vs IPv6: What's the Difference?
There are two versions of IP addresses in use today: IPv4 and IPv6. Our IP checker automatically detects which version you're using.
IPv4 Address Format (32-bit)
IPv4 uses a 32-bit address format, providing approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses. An IPv4 address looks like: 192.168.1.1
This is the most common format you'll encounter when checking "what is my IP address."
IPv6 Address Format (128-bit)
IPv6 uses a 128-bit address format, providing an almost unlimited number of addresses (340 undecillion). An IPv6 address looks like: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334
Why IPv6 Was Created
IPv6 was developed to solve the IPv4 address exhaustion problem. With billions of devices connecting to the internet (smartphones, IoT devices, computers), we ran out of available IPv4 addresses. IPv6 ensures every device can have its own unique address.
IPv4 Address Exhaustion
The last available IPv4 addresses were allocated in 2011. Today, ISPs use techniques like NAT (Network Address Translation) to share IPv4 addresses among multiple devices, while gradually transitioning to IPv6.
Public IP vs Private IP Address
Understanding the difference between public and private IP addresses is essential for network troubleshooting and security. Our IP address checker shows your public IP, which is different from the private IP used within your local network.
What Is a Public IP Address?
A public IP address is assigned by your ISP and is visible to the entire internet. This is the address displayed by our IP checker tool. Every device or network connecting to the internet needs a public IP address to send and receive data.
What Is a Private IP Address?
A private IP address is used within your local network (home or office) and is not visible to the internet. Devices on the same network use private IPs to communicate with each other. These addresses are reused across different networks worldwide.
Private IP Ranges (192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, 172.16-31.x.x)
Three IP address ranges are reserved for private networks:
- 10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255
- 172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255
- 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255
NAT (Network Address Translation)
NAT is a technology that allows multiple devices on a private network to share a single public IP address. Your router uses NAT to translate between your devices' private IP addresses and your public IP address when communicating with the internet.
How to Find Your IP Address on Different Devices
While our IP address checker instantly shows your public IP, you may sometimes need to find your local (private) IP address. Here's how to do it on various devices.
🪟 Find IP on Windows
- Open Command Prompt (cmd)
- Type:
ipconfig - Look for "IPv4 Address"
🍎 Find IP on Mac
- Open System Preferences
- Click Network
- Select active connection
- IP address is displayed
📱 Find IP on iPhone/iPad
- Open Settings app
- Tap Wi-Fi
- Tap the (i) icon next to your network
- IP address is shown
🤖 Find IP on Android
- Open Settings
- Tap Network & Internet
- Tap Wi-Fi
- Tap your network, then Advanced
🐧 Find IP on Linux
- Open Terminal
- Type:
ip addr show - Or:
ifconfig
📡 Find IP on Router
- Check router's bottom/back label
- Usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1
- Login to router admin page
- Find WAN IP in status section
Why You Might Need to Check Your IP Address
There are many practical reasons to use an IP address checker. Here are the most common use cases.
Troubleshooting Network Issues
When experiencing connectivity problems, knowing your IP address helps tech support diagnose and resolve issues faster. You can verify if your router is properly assigning addresses or if there's an IP conflict.
Verifying VPN Connection
Check if your VPN is working correctly by comparing your IP address before and after connecting. If the IP location changes, your VPN is successfully masking your real location.
Remote Desktop Setup
Setting up remote access to your computer or server requires knowing your public IP address. This allows you to connect to your machine from anywhere in the world.
Checking Geo-Location
Verify which location websites think you're browsing from. This is especially useful when accessing geo-restricted content or ensuring your location-based services are working correctly.
Security and Privacy Monitoring
Regularly checking your IP address helps you monitor for unauthorized access or unusual activity on your network. It's also useful for whitelisting your IP on secure services.
Gaming & Streaming
Some online games and streaming services require port forwarding or IP whitelisting. Knowing your IP address is essential for configuring these features correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions About IP Addresses
Can someone track me with my IP address?
Your IP address can reveal your approximate location (city/region) and ISP, but cannot pinpoint your exact physical address or personal identity. However, websites and services can use your IP to track your online activity, which is why many people use VPNs for additional privacy. Law enforcement and ISPs can trace an IP to a specific subscriber if needed.
Does my IP address change?
Most home internet connections use dynamic IP addresses that change periodically when you restart your router or when your ISP reassigns addresses. Some connections have static IP addresses that remain the same. You can check if your IP has changed by using our IP checker tool regularly.
How do I hide my IP address?
The most common way to hide your IP address is by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service, which routes your internet traffic through secure servers and masks your real IP. Other methods include using proxy servers or the Tor browser for enhanced privacy. After connecting to a VPN, use our IP address checker to verify your IP has changed.
What is a static IP vs dynamic IP?
A static IP address remains constant and does not change, while a dynamic IP address changes periodically. Most home users have dynamic IPs assigned by their ISP, while businesses and servers typically use static IPs for consistent access. Static IPs are better for hosting servers, while dynamic IPs offer better privacy since they change regularly.
Can two devices have the same IP address?
On the public internet, no two devices can have the same IP address at the same time. However, within a private network (like your home WiFi), devices can have the same private IP addresses (like 192.168.1.x) because they use NAT (Network Address Translation) to share one public IP address. IP conflicts on local networks can cause connectivity issues.
What is my IP location accuracy?
IP-based geolocation is typically accurate to the city or regional level, with accuracy ranging from 55% to 95% depending on the database and your ISP. It cannot determine your exact street address or GPS coordinates. The location shown by our IP checker represents where your ISP's network hub is located, not necessarily your exact physical location.
Is it safe to share my IP address?
Your IP address is already visible to every website you visit, so it's not a secret. However, you should avoid publicly posting your IP address as it could be used for targeted attacks (DDoS), unauthorized access attempts, or unwanted tracking. Using a VPN adds an extra layer of protection when browsing.
What is IPv4 exhaustion?
IPv4 exhaustion refers to the depletion of available IPv4 addresses. With only 4.3 billion possible addresses, and billions of devices needing internet access, we ran out of new IPv4 addresses in 2011. This led to the development of IPv6 and increased use of NAT technology to share IP addresses among multiple devices.
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