Free tool
What Is My IP Address?
See your public IP address and look up the location, provider and network details of any IP address.
Your public IP address
216.73.217.52
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Your IP details
IP location is an estimate based on public databases. It shows the area of the network, not an exact address, and a VPN or proxy can change the result.
What is an IP address?
An IP address is a unique number that identifies a device or a network on the internet. When you open a website, your device sends a request from your IP address, and the website sends the page back to that address. Without IP addresses, data would not know where to go.
Your internet provider gives your home or office connection a public IP address. The devices inside your network, such as phones and laptops, also get private addresses from your router. Our tool shows the public address, which is the one websites can see.
IPv4 and IPv6
| IPv4 | IPv6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Example | 192.0.2.1 | 2001:db8::1 |
| Length | 32 bits | 128 bits |
| Format | Four numbers separated by dots | Groups of letters and numbers separated by colons |
| Number of addresses | About 4.3 billion | A practically unlimited number |
Public and private IP addresses
Some address ranges are reserved for private networks and are never used on the public internet:
- 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255, often used in company networks.
- 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255, used in some company and cloud networks.
- 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255, the most common range in home routers.
- 127.0.0.1, called loopback, always means "this computer".
If you look up one of these addresses, our tool tells you it is private, because it has no location or provider information.
Why look up an IP address?
- Check your own connection. See which IP and provider websites see when you visit them.
- Confirm a VPN works. Your IP and location should change when the VPN is on.
- Set up services. Many firewalls, servers and remote tools ask for your public IP address.
- Investigate unknown traffic. See which provider and country an address in your logs or emails belongs to.
- Troubleshoot. Compare results when a website treats you differently depending on your network.
Frequently asked questions
What is an IP address?
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a number that identifies a device or network on the internet, in the same way that a street address identifies a house. Websites and online services use it to know where to send the data you request.
What is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?
IPv4 addresses have four numbers separated by dots, such as 192.0.2.1, and there are about 4.3 billion of them. IPv6 addresses are longer and use letters and numbers separated by colons, such as 2001:db8::1, and there are far more of them. IPv6 was created because the world is running out of IPv4 addresses.
What is the difference between a public and a private IP address?
A public IP address is the one your internet provider gives to your connection, and it is visible to websites. A private IP address, such as 192.168.1.10, is used inside your home or office network and cannot be reached directly from the internet. Your router connects the two.
How accurate is the location of an IP address?
IP location is an estimate. It is usually correct at country level and often at city level, but it can be wrong, and it never shows an exact street or house. The location often points to your internet provider network and not to your home.
Why does my IP address show a different city?
Providers route traffic through regional hubs, and location databases are built from estimates, so the city shown may be the one where your provider operates and not where you are. Mobile networks, company networks and VPNs make this difference bigger.
Can someone find my exact home address from my IP address?
No. An IP address alone does not reveal your name or your street address. Only your internet provider knows which customer used an address at a certain time, and it shares this information only under legal requirements.
Does a VPN change my IP address?
Yes. When you use a VPN, websites see the IP address of the VPN server and not the one from your internet provider. Our tool will then show the location of the VPN server.
How can I change my IP address?
Many home connections use a dynamic IP address that can change when your router restarts, although this is not guaranteed. You can also use a VPN, connect to a different network, or ask your internet provider for a new address.