What is an IP address?
An IP address is the number that identifies a connection on the internet, much like a return address on an envelope. When you load a page, your request carries your public IP address so the server knows where to send the reply. This tool shows the address our server saw, then asks the regional internet registry (ARIN, RIPE NCC, APNIC, LACNIC or AFRINIC) which network it belongs to. That is the same official data network engineers use, not a guess from a location database.
Public vs private IP addresses
Your phone, laptop and smart TV each have a private address that only means something inside your home network. Your router has one public address and translates traffic between the two, a process called NAT. That is why every device in your house shows the same IP on this page. These ranges are reserved for private use and never appear on the public internet:
10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255 (10.0.0.0/8) 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255 (172.16.0.0/12) 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255 (192.168.0.0/16) 100.64.0.0 to 100.127.255.255 (carrier-grade NAT) fc00::/7 and fe80::/10 (IPv6 private and link-local)
If your router's WAN address starts with 100.64 to 100.127, your provider is sharing one public address among many customers (CGNAT). Hosting a game server or a camera from home then won't work without a VPN or tunnel.
IPv4 vs IPv6
IPv4 addresses look like 203.0.113.7. There are only about 4.3 billion of them, and the registries ran out years ago. IPv6 addresses look like 2001:db8:85a3::8a2e:370:7334 and have room for every device on earth many times over. Most broadband and mobile networks now hand out both, and your device uses IPv6 when the site supports it. If this page shows IPv6 but a firewall rule or allowlist expects IPv4, that mismatch is often why a login to a server panel or database suddenly fails.
Why your IP address changes
Home connections usually get a dynamic address. Restarting the router, a lease expiring or maintenance at your provider can all hand you a new one, and mobile data changes address constantly. That matters for web work: if you allowlist your IP for SSH, a hosting control panel, a WordPress login or a database, you can be locked out after a change. Check this page first when access stops working, then update the rule.
VPNs, proxies and what sites can see
With a VPN on, websites see the VPN server's address and owner instead of yours, so this page is a quick way to confirm it is working. Test with it on and off. If the network owner still shows your home provider while connected, traffic is leaking, often over IPv6. An IP address reveals your provider and an approximate region, not your street address.
Dynamic DNS for a changing address
If you run something at home or in a small office, such as a NAS, security cameras or a staging server, dynamic DNS gives it a hostname that follows your IP. A small client on your router or a computer updates the DNS record whenever the address changes. You can confirm the record matches with our DNS lookup, and for the domain side of the picture (who registered it, where it points), use the WHOIS lookup.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone find my location from my IP address?
Only roughly. An IP address shows which provider you use and usually the country and region, sometimes the city. It does not reveal your street address. Only your provider can link the address to your account, and it normally does so only for law enforcement with a legal order.
Why does my IP address keep changing?
Most home and mobile connections get a dynamic address that the provider can reassign when your router restarts, when a lease expires or when you move between cell towers. Mobile networks also share one public address among many customers. A fixed address is usually a paid business option.
What is the difference between a public and private IP address?
A public IP address is unique on the internet and is what websites see. Private addresses such as 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x and 172.16.x.x to 172.31.x.x are used inside a home or office network and are reused by millions of networks. Your router translates between them.
Does a VPN hide my IP address?
Yes. Websites see the VPN server's address instead of yours, so this page shows the VPN's IP and network owner. The VPN provider can still see your real address, and a misconfigured VPN can leak it through IPv6 or WebRTC, so test with the VPN on and off.
What is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?
IPv4 addresses are four numbers such as 203.0.113.7, with about 4.3 billion possible addresses, which have run out. IPv6 addresses are longer hexadecimal strings such as 2001:db8::1 with enough space for every device to have its own. Most connections now support both, and your device prefers IPv6 when it can.