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What is My IP?

Instantly detect your public IPv4 and IPv6 address, ISP, and approximate location. Find out what your IP reveals and how to protect your privacy.

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Your public IP address

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How to Use

Use What is My IP? in 4 Steps

Load the page

Your public IP is auto-detected on load — no input required.

View IP details

See your IPv4 and/or IPv6 address, ISP, and approximate location.

Check VPN/proxy

We flag if your connection appears to route through a proxy or VPN.

Copy or share

Copy your IP to clipboard or run IP Lookup for full geolocation detail.

What is an IP Address?

An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique numerical label assigned to every device that connects to a network. It serves two purposes: identifying the host device and providing its location in the network so data can be routed to and from it correctly.

Your public IP address is what websites, servers, and online services see when you connect to them. It is assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and is different from the private IP your router assigns to devices locally.

IPv4 vs IPv6 — Key Differences

There are two active versions of IP addressing in use today. Many modern connections support both simultaneously (dual-stack).

Property	IPv4	IPv6
Address length	32-bit	128-bit
Example	`203.0.113.42`	`2001:db8::1`
Total addresses	~4.3 billion	340 undecillion
Notation	Dotted decimal	Colon-separated hex
NAT required?	Yes (address exhaustion)	No
Built-in security	Optional (IPsec)	Mandatory (IPsec)
Adoption (2025)	~65% of traffic	~45% of traffic

IPv4 exhaustion reached IANA in 2011. Regional registries now operate on reclaimed or transferred blocks. IPv6 solves this permanently and is gradually replacing IPv4 across ISPs and content providers.

Public IP vs Private IP vs Loopback

Not all IP addresses are the same type. Understanding the difference is essential for troubleshooting connectivity issues.

Type	Range (IPv4)	Assigned by	Internet routable
Public	All others	Your ISP	Yes
Private (Class A)	10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255	Router/admin	No
Private (Class B)	172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255	Router/admin	No
Private (Class C)	192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255	Router/admin	No
Loopback	127.0.0.0 – 127.255.255.255	OS (localhost)	No
Link-local	169.254.0.0 – 169.254.255.255	OS (APIPA)	No

The IP address shown on this page is your public IP — the one assigned by your ISP to your router. All devices on the same Wi-Fi share this public IP when accessing the internet.

What Your IP Address Can Reveal

Your public IP leaks more information than most people realise — but less than many fear.

Information	Accuracy	Source
Country	~99%	ARIN, RIPE, APNIC allocation data
Region / state	~80%	ISP allocation patterns
City	~50–70%	ISP POP location (not your home)
ISP / carrier	~99%	WHOIS / BGP data
ASN / network	~99%	BGP routing tables
Street address	0%	Not possible from IP alone
Device type	0%	Not possible from IP alone
Browsing history	0%	Not possible from IP alone

Dynamic vs Static IP Addresses

Most residential internet connections use dynamic IP addresses — your ISP assigns one from a pool and it changes when your router restarts or your lease expires. Dynamic IPs are the default for home broadband.

A static IP address is permanently assigned. Businesses and server operators need static IPs for hosting services, remote access VPNs, and email deliverability (static IPs can be added to SPF records reliably).

How to Check Your IP from the Command Line

These commands return your public-facing IPv4 address directly from a terminal:

# Linux / macOS
curl -4 ifconfig.me
curl -4 api.ipify.org

# Using dig with OpenDNS (no HTTP needed)
dig +short myip.opendns.com @resolver1.opendns.com

# IPv6 address specifically
curl -6 ifconfig.me

# Windows PowerShell
(Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://api.ipify.org").Content

# Windows with nslookup
nslookup myip.opendns.com resolver1.opendns.com

How to Hide or Change Your IP Address

Method	Privacy level	Speed impact	Best for
VPN	High	Minimal (good server)	Everyday privacy, geo-bypass
Tor	Very high	Significant (multi-hop)	Anonymity-critical use
Proxy	Low–medium	Variable	Single-site access bypass
Mobile data	Low	None	Quick IP/ISP change

IP Address and Email Deliverability

If you send email from a server, your server's public IP is used to identify you to receiving mail servers. It is checked against DNS-based blocklists (DNSBLs), and your SPF record must list it as an authorised sender. A single blacklist listing on your sending IP can drop inbox placement significantly.

Use the IP Blacklist Check to verify your sending IP is clean, and the SPF Checker to confirm it is listed in your domain's SPF record.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is my IP address right now?

Your current public IP address is shown at the top of this page and is detected automatically when you load it. This is the IPv4 or IPv6 address your Internet Service Provider (ISP) has assigned to your router or device for this session.

What is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?

IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses in the format 192.168.1.1 and supports about 4.3 billion unique addresses. IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses (e.g., 2001:db8::1) and supports 340 undecillion addresses. IPv6 was created to solve IPv4 exhaustion. Most modern devices and networks support both.

What is the difference between a public and private IP address?

A public IP address is assigned by your ISP and is visible to websites and services on the internet. A private IP address (e.g., 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, 172.16.x.x) is assigned by your router for devices inside your local network and is not routable on the public internet.

Does my IP address reveal my exact location?

No. IP geolocation can identify your approximate city and region and your ISP, but it cannot pinpoint your exact street address. Accuracy is typically within 25–100 km for most ISPs. VPNs and mobile networks can make geolocation even less accurate.

Can my IP address change?

Yes. Most home ISPs assign dynamic IP addresses that change periodically or when your router restarts. Businesses often pay for a static IP. Mobile data connections typically rotate IPs frequently. To get a consistent IP, use a VPN with a dedicated IP or ask your ISP for a static allocation.

How can I hide or change my IP address?

The most common methods are: (1) use a VPN — routes traffic through a server in another location; (2) use a proxy server — similar to VPN but often without encryption; (3) use Tor — routes through multiple relays for high anonymity but slow speed; (4) use mobile data — gives a different IP from your home ISP.

What is a VPN and does it hide my IP?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a server in a location of your choosing. Websites and services see the VPN server's IP address instead of yours. A good VPN with a no-logs policy significantly reduces your IP-based traceability.

How do I find my IP address from the command line?

On Linux/macOS run: curl ifconfig.me or dig +short myip.opendns.com @resolver1.opendns.com. On Windows run: curl ifconfig.me in PowerShell, or nslookup myip.opendns.com resolver1.opendns.com. These return your public IPv4 address without visiting a browser.