What Is My IP Address? — IP Address Lookup
Your IP address is the unique number that identifies your device on the internet. Every time you visit a website, that site can see your IP address. This tool shows you what your public IP address looks like to the rest of the internet, along with your approximate location, internet provider, and timezone. This is useful when troubleshooting connection problems, setting up remote access to your computer, or just checking whether your VPN is working correctly. Your results load automatically when the page opens.
Your IP information is detected automatically below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an IP address?
An IP address is a unique number assigned to your device when it connects to the internet. It works like a postal address, letting websites and servers know where to send information back to you. Every device connected to the internet has one.
What is the difference between a public and private IP address?
Your public IP address is the address visible to websites on the internet, assigned by your internet service provider. Your private IP is used only within your home or office network, assigned by your router. This tool shows your public IP.
Can websites see my real location from my IP address?
Websites can see a rough location from your IP, typically your city or region. They cannot pinpoint your exact street address from an IP alone. The location shown is where your ISP routes traffic, which may be a nearby city rather than your exact address.
How do I hide my IP address?
You can hide your IP address by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or the Tor browser. A VPN replaces your IP with one from a VPN server, making it appear you are browsing from a different location. Your real IP is then not visible to the sites you visit.
Why does my IP location show the wrong city?
IP geolocation is an estimate based on your internet provider's network. Your ISP may route your connection through a data center in a nearby city, so the location shown may be that city rather than where you physically are. VPNs will also show the VPN server location.
What is IPv6 and why might my address look different?
IPv6 is the newer version of the IP protocol, using 128-bit addresses written in hexadecimal (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334). IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses in the familiar dotted format (e.g., 192.168.1.1). IPv4 supports about 4.3 billion addresses; IPv6 supports 340 undecillion. Many ISPs now assign both types simultaneously, called dual-stack.
Can my IP address change over time?
Most home internet connections use a dynamic IP, meaning your ISP assigns a new address periodically — sometimes every few days, sometimes after every router restart. Static IPs stay the same and are typically used for servers, remote work, or VoIP systems. If your IP changes frequently, reload this tool to see your current one.
What does my ISP know about my internet use?
Your ISP can see every website you connect to (the IP and domain), the timing of requests, and data volume. With HTTPS they cannot read the content of pages, but the destination is still visible. In countries without strong privacy laws, ISPs may be required to log and share this data. A VPN encrypts traffic between you and the VPN server, hiding your activity from your ISP.
How IP Lookup Works
This tool queries the ipapi.co geolocation API, which maps your IP address to a location using a database compiled from ISP registration records and network routing data. The API returns city, region, country, ISP, timezone, and currency. The location is an estimate — it shows where your ISP routes your traffic, not necessarily where you sit.
IPv4 vs IPv6
IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses (about 4.3 billion total) written in four dot-separated numbers. The internet ran out of unallocated IPv4 addresses in 2011. IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses (340 undecillion total) written in hexadecimal. Most modern ISPs assign both simultaneously (dual-stack), so you may have both an IPv4 and an IPv6 address active at once.
Dynamic vs Static IP
A dynamic IP is reassigned by your ISP periodically — usually every few days or on router restart. A static IP never changes and is typically used for hosting servers, VoIP systems, or remote desktop access. Home broadband plans are almost always dynamic; static IPs are available as a paid add-on from most ISPs.
When to Use This
Use to verify your VPN is masking your real IP, to check what location a website sees when you visit, to confirm your ISP assignment after a router change, to troubleshoot geo-restriction issues on streaming services, or to find your external IP for configuring port forwarding or remote access.
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