What Is My IP
Find your own IP address, or look up the location, ISP and network details of any IP address.
Wondering what is my IP address? This free tool instantly shows your public IP, approximate location, ISP and time zone, and also works as an IP address lookup for any IP you enter. Use it to check my IP, find an IP address or run a quick IP lookup — a fast way to answer what is my IP and learn what is an IP address.
What Is an IP Address? What Is My IP and How Do I Find It?
The question what is an IP address points to one of the fundamental concepts of the internet. IP (Internet Protocol) is the standard protocol that lets devices on the internet communicate with each other. An IP address is the unique numeric identifier assigned to each device under this protocol; it works just like a physical postal address.
To reach the answer to what is my IP, simply click the "My IP" tab on this page. The tool instantly shows the public IP address your internet service provider assigned to you, your approximate location, your ISP details and your time zone. Finding your IP address takes just a few seconds.
IP Lookup and Find IP Address — IPv4 vs IPv6
The IP lookup tool lets you check my IP and find an IP address for both your own connection and any address you enter. As an IP address lookup, it reveals the location, ISP and network details behind an address. There are two different IP standards:
| Feature | IPv4 | IPv6 |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 4 number groups (e.g. 85.12.34.56) | 8 hexadecimal groups (e.g. 2001:db8::1) |
| Number of addresses | ~4.3 billion | 340 undecillion (inexhaustible) |
| Prevalence | Still the most widely used | Increasingly common |
| NAT requirement | Usually required | Not needed |
Public IP vs Local IP — What Does IP Lookup Show?
A public IP address is the address your internet service provider assigns to your modem or router, open to the outside world. The websites you visit see this address. A local (private) IP address is the address used within your home or office network; your router assigns this address to your devices. Formats such as 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x or 172.16.x.x are usually used.
This IP lookup tool shows your public IP address. To find your local IP address, you can look at your operating system's network settings or command line (Windows: ipconfig, Mac/Linux: ifconfig).
How Accurate Is IP Address Location Detection?
IP-based location detection (GeoIP) relies on the network infrastructure data of internet service providers. It is usually accurate at the country and city level; however, it does not provide precision at the neighborhood or street level. City detection is generally correct, while the margin of error can rise at the district level.
- VPN users: the country and city where the VPN server is located appear.
- Mobile internet: the operator's data center location is shown; it may differ from your physical location.
- Corporate networks: the company's head office location may be displayed.
- Location privacy: the IP location reflects the ISP's network infrastructure, not your real physical address.
IP Address Security and Privacy
Your IP address is technical information needed for many operations on the internet; but it is also data to be careful with from a privacy standpoint. Websites record your IP address in server logs. These records can be used to identify someone in legal processes with ISP cooperation.
- VPN (Virtual Private Network): encrypts your traffic and hides your real IP address; websites see the VPN server's IP.
- Proxy server: provides IP hiding for specific applications; not as comprehensive as a VPN.
- Tor network: offers high anonymity with multi-layer encryption; however, connection speed is low.
- Dynamic IP: if your ISP assigns a different IP on each connection (dynamic IP), tracking is harder. A static IP is always the same.
What Is the Difference Between a Static and a Dynamic IP Address?
Internet service providers can assign IP addresses to users in two different ways:
- Dynamic IP: a different IP address is assigned by the ISP on each connection (or at certain intervals). The vast majority of home and mobile internet users use dynamic IP. Tracking is harder; you can check your IP address with the find IP tool the moment you connect.
- Static IP: the same IP address is used on every connection. It is usually offered with corporate plans, server hosting services and some special subscriptions. A static IP is preferred if you run a web server, camera system or VPN server.
Common Questions About IP Addresses
- Why does my IP address keep changing? If you use a dynamic IP, the ISP may assign a new IP when the modem is restarted or the lease expires.
- Why do devices on the same network show the same IP address? All devices on your home network reach the internet through the same public IP; each device has a different local (private) IP.
- Is IP-based location detection legal? An IP address is technical information and is routinely recorded by web servers. However, linking this information to a real identity requires ISP cooperation and a legal process.
- Can someone harm my device with my IP address? Knowing only the IP address is usually not enough; vulnerability attacks require many more conditions. A strong firewall and an up-to-date operating system provide basic protection.
- Is looking up an IP address free? Yes. This tool is completely free and requires no sign-up. The lookup is performed directly from your browser.
- Do I have an IPv6 address? If your internet service provider supports IPv6 and it is enabled on your device, you get an IPv6 address. The tool can look up both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses.
IP Classes and Private IP Ranges
The IPv4 address space has historically been divided into classes. In addition, certain ranges are reserved for private use and cannot be routed directly on the internet:
- 10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255: private address block used in large corporate networks (Class A private).
- 172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255: used in medium-sized networks (Class B private).
- 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255: the most commonly used range in home and small-office networks (Class C private).
- 127.0.0.1: the loopback address; used for a device to connect to itself ("localhost").
- 0.0.0.0: the unspecified address; indicates that no specific IP has been assigned.
This tool only looks up public IP addresses. If you enter one of the private IP ranges, no geographic location result is returned.
How to Use This IP Lookup Tool
- "My IP" tab: when the page opens, your own IP address, location and ISP details load automatically.
- "Look Up IP" tab: enter any IPv4 (e.g. 8.8.8.8) or IPv6 address and press the "Look Up" button.
- Review the results: country, city, ISP, ASN, time zone and coordinate details are displayed.
- Map and sharing: if coordinate data is available, the approximate location is shown on a map; you can copy or share the results.
In the FAQ section you can find more information on what an IP is, what your IP is, and how to find an IP address.
Frequently Asked Questions About the What Is My IP
IP (Internet Protocol) is the fundamental protocol that lets devices on the internet communicate with each other. An IP address is the unique numeric identifier assigned to each device under this protocol. In IPv4 format it consists of four number groups (e.g. 192.168.1.1), while in IPv6 format it consists of longer alphanumeric sequences.
To find your IP address, click the "My IP" tab at the top of this page; the tool instantly shows your public IP address, your location and your internet service provider (ISP). Alternatively, you can find it by typing "what is my ip" into Google.
To find your IP address, use the "My IP" tab in the tool. To look up another IP address, switch to the "Look Up IP" tab, enter the IP address you want to check and press the "Look Up" button. The tool returns the country, city, ISP, time zone and coordinate details.
Your internet service provider (ISP) knows that the IP address belongs to you. Websites and services may record your IP address in server logs; however, matching this information with your real identity requires a legal process and cooperation from the ISP.
Yes. When you use a VPN, your internet traffic passes through the VPN server and websites see the VPN server's IP address. When you check with this tool, the VPN server's IP and location details are shown.
A public IP address is the outward-facing address your internet service provider assigns to your modem/router. A local (private) IP is the address used within a home or office network; it usually starts with 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x. This tool shows your public IP address.
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