Your IP address details

My IP Address is:

IPv4

Checking…

Checking…

IPv6

Checking…

Checking…

These are your public IP addresses as seen by howtogetmyipaddress.com from your current network.

Approximate location (based on IP)

Location is estimated from your IP address and may not be 100% accurate.

ISP

Loading…

City

Loading…

Region

Loading…

Country

Loading…

Learn more about IP addresses

IP address lookup tools are useful, but understanding what an IP address is, how IPv4 and IPv6 work, and why your public IP changes can help you stay safer and more confident online.

What is an IP address?

An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique number assigned to your device when it connects to the internet. It works like a digital street address, allowing websites, apps and online services to send data to the right place. When you use an IP checker or “what is my IP address” tool, you are seeing the public IP address that your network presents to the internet.

IP addresses can reveal general information such as the country, region, city and internet service provider (ISP) of the connection. They do not normally show your exact home address, but they are still important for online tracking, security rules and content restrictions.

What is my IP address and how does it work?

When you open a website, your device sends a request from your IP address to the web server's IP address. Routers and networks in between use these addresses to decide where the traffic should go. A “what is my IP” or “check my IP address” query simply returns the public IP that the website sees in your request.

Many home users share one public IP address through a router using network address translation (NAT). Inside your home network your phone, laptop and TV all have private IP addresses, while online they appear to come from a single public IP address.

Difference between IPv4 and IPv6

IPv4 and IPv6 are two versions of the Internet Protocol. An IPv4 address looks like 192.0.2.1 and uses four sets of numbers separated by dots. Because the number of available IPv4 addresses is limited, a newer standard called IPv6 was created.

An IPv6 address looks like 2001:0db8::1 and uses hexadecimal numbers separated by colons. IPv6 provides a much larger address space and better support for modern networking, but both IPv4 and IPv6 are still in use. An IP lookup tool can often show IPv4, IPv6 or both, depending on how your device connects.

Public vs private IP address explained

A public IP address is reachable over the internet and is used for communication between your network and external services. A private IP address is used only inside a local network, such as your home Wi-Fi or office LAN. Common private IP ranges start with 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, or172.16.x.x.

When you search for “find my IP address” or run an IP address lookup, the result is usually your public IP. To see a private IP, you would check your device's network settings instead of using a web-based IP checker.

How to find your IP address on different devices

The fastest way to find your public IP is to use an online “what's my IP address” tool in a browser. It works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and smart TVs as long as the device can open a web page.

To see your private IP on a computer, you can open the network settings or use commands like ipconfig (Windows) or ifconfig/ip a (Linux, macOS). On phones and tablets, private IP addresses are shown under the Wi-Fi connection details. Both public and private IP information is useful for troubleshooting network issues.

How accurate is IP address location?

IP address location is an estimate based on public databases and ISP routing information. An IP location lookup is usually accurate at the country level and often at the region or city level, but it is rarely precise enough to show your exact street address or apartment.

Accuracy can vary depending on the provider, how often the data is updated and whether you use a VPN, proxy or mobile network. For this reason, IP geolocation should be treated as approximate and not as a replacement for GPS or verified address data.

IP address FAQs

Why does my IP address keep changing?

Many ISPs use dynamic IP addressing, which means your public IPv4 or IPv6 address can change periodically or whenever your router reconnects. This helps providers manage limited address space. If a stable IP is required, some providers offer static IP address plans.

Can someone track me exactly from my IP address?

An IP address can usually reveal the ISP and an approximate area or city, but it does not directly expose your full name, exact street address or personal identity. However, websites, advertisers and online services can combine IP data with other tracking methods like cookies and account logins.

Does a VPN change my IP address?

A VPN routes your connection through a remote server and assigns you a different public IP address. When you use an IP checker while connected to a VPN, you will see the VPN server's IP and location instead of your original network's IP address.