What Is My IP
Discover your public IP address instantly with our What Is My IP tool. See your IPv4 or IPv6 address along with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and approximate geographic location when available. Perfect for troubleshooting network issues, checking VPN connections, setting up remote access, or verifying your online identity. The tool displays your IP information clearly and provides a one-click copy button for easy sharing with tech support or network administrators. Your approximate location (city and country) is shown based on IP geolocation databases—useful for confirming your apparent location online. All information is displayed client-side with no logging or storage of your IP address. Ideal for IT professionals, remote workers, or anyone curious about their internet connection details.
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What Is an IP Address?
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique numerical label assigned to every device connected to a network. It serves two purposes: identifying the host (your device) and providing its location in the network hierarchy so that data packets can be routed to it. Every web request, email, and video stream relies on IP addresses to deliver data to the right destination.
This tool detects your public IP address — the address your ISP assigns to your internet connection, visible to every server you connect to. It also shows your approximate geolocation, ISP name, and connection type, all derived from public IP geolocation databases.
How to Use This Tool
- Your public IP address is detected automatically when the page loads.
- Click “Refresh” to re-detect your IP if you recently changed networks or connected to a VPN.
- Note your IPv4 and/or IPv6 address — some ISPs now assign IPv6 as primary.
- Use the displayed ISP and location to verify VPN connectivity (location should change when VPN is active).
- Copy your IP address for use in network configuration, whitelist requests, or remote access setup.
Worked Example: What Your IP Reveals
Example public IP: 203.0.113.45 (a documentation example address):
IP Address: 203.0.113.45
ISP: Example Telecom
City: New York (approximate — within ~25 miles)
Country: United States
Type: Residential broadband
Does NOT reveal: your street address, name, email, browsing history, or any personal data
IP Address Types Reference
| Type | Range / Format | Routable? | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public IPv4 | 1.0.0.0–223.255.255.255 (non-private) | Yes | Internet identification |
| Private IPv4 (RFC 1918) | 10.x, 172.16–31.x, 192.168.x | No | Home/office LANs behind NAT |
| Loopback | 127.0.0.1 | No | Local machine self-reference |
| Link-Local | 169.254.x.x | No | Auto-assigned when DHCP fails |
| Public IPv6 | 2000::/3 and higher | Yes | Modern internet addressing |
| Private IPv6 (ULA) | fc00::/7 | No | Private IPv6 networks |
| IPv6 Loopback | ::1 | No | Local IPv6 self-reference |
Key Concepts: Public vs. Private IPs, IPv4 vs. IPv6, and Dynamic vs. Static
Public vs. private IP. Your router has a single public IP assigned by your ISP, shared by all devices in your home via NAT (Network Address Translation). Each device on your home network gets a private IP (192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x). When you visit a website, the server sees your router's public IP, not your device's private IP. This is why multiple devices share one public IP.
IPv4 vs. IPv6. IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses (4 billion possible), which are nearly exhausted. IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses (340 undecillion), providing enough unique addresses for every grain of sand on Earth — many times over. Most modern connections support both (dual-stack). IPv6 addresses look like: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334, commonly abbreviated as 2001:db8:85a3::8a2e:370:7334.
Dynamic vs. static IP. Most ISPs assign dynamic IPs that change periodically (every few days to months). Static IPs are permanently assigned and cost extra — they are required for hosting servers, VPNs, or remote access configurations that need a predictable address. Businesses typically use static IPs; home users have dynamic IPs that rarely cause issues for normal browsing.
Tips: Privacy, VPNs, and IP Geolocation
Your IP address is not personally identifiable to the public. IP geolocation databases can identify your ISP and approximate city (accuracy varies: often within 25–50 miles for residential IPs). They cannot reveal your name, street address, or household. However, your ISP can map your IP to your account, and law enforcement can subpoena this data with a warrant.
VPNs replace your public IP with the VPN server's IP. Websites see the VPN server location instead of your real location. Use this tool to verify your VPN is working — your displayed IP should change to the VPN server's IP when connected. DNS leak tests are also recommended to ensure your DNS queries are also routed through the VPN.
Tor provides stronger anonymity than VPNs by routing traffic through multiple relay nodes, making it much harder to trace. However, Tor is significantly slower than a VPN. For most privacy needs, a reputable no-logs VPN is sufficient. For journalism, activism, or high-risk privacy needs, Tor Browser is the stronger choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does my IP address reveal about me?
Your public IP reveals your ISP (internet service provider), approximate geographic location (typically city-level, within 25–50 miles for residential connections), and connection type (residential, business, mobile). It does not reveal your name, street address, email, browsing history, or any personal data directly. Your ISP can link your IP to your account, but this information is not publicly accessible.
Why is my IP showing the wrong city?
IP geolocation is approximate and sometimes incorrect. ISPs assign IP blocks regionally, and the geolocation database may have outdated entries. Corporate and mobile IPs often show the ISP's data center location rather than your physical location. For example, a Verizon mobile user in Chicago might show as New York if Verizon's gateway is there.
What is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?
IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses (written as four numbers: 192.168.1.1) and supports ~4.3 billion unique addresses — largely exhausted. IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses (written as eight hex groups: 2001:db8::1) and supports 340 undecillion addresses. The internet is gradually transitioning to IPv6. Many devices now have both an IPv4 and an IPv6 address simultaneously (dual-stack).
What is a dynamic vs. static IP address?
A dynamic IP changes periodically — your ISP reassigns it from a pool. This is standard for residential accounts. A static IP is permanently assigned and stays the same. Static IPs are required for hosting web/mail servers, running a VPN endpoint, or remote desktop access where others need to find you at a predictable address. ISPs charge extra for static IPs.
Does using a VPN change my IP address?
Yes. A VPN routes your traffic through a server in another location, and websites see that server's IP instead of yours. This tool will display the VPN server's IP when you are connected. Use this to verify your VPN is active and to confirm which country your traffic appears to originate from.
Can websites block me based on my IP?
Yes. IP blocking is a common technique: websites may block known VPN/proxy IPs, geographic regions (geo-blocking), or IPs that have triggered abuse detection. Some streaming services block VPN IP ranges to enforce licensing agreements. CAPTCHAs are more frequently triggered for IP addresses associated with data center providers or shared VPN exit nodes.
What is NAT and why do I have a private IP on my device?
NAT (Network Address Translation) allows many devices to share one public IP. Your router has one public IP assigned by your ISP. All devices on your home network get private IPs (192.168.x.x). When any device sends a request, the router translates it to appear to come from the public IP, then routes responses back to the correct device. This is why your phone shows 192.168.1.x locally but shows a different IP here.
How accurate is the geolocation data shown?
City-level accuracy is typically 70–90% for residential IPs but varies by region and ISP. Country-level accuracy is over 99%. The data comes from IP geolocation databases compiled from ISP registration data, BGP routing tables, and user-submitted corrections. Mobile IPs are less accurate — they often show the carrier's hub city. Tor exit nodes and VPN IPs typically show as data center locations, not real user locations.