What Is My IP Address?
Your IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique numerical label assigned to your device by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Think of it as your device's home address on the internet — without it, websites wouldn't know where to send the data you request.
Every time you visit a website, send an email, or stream a video, your IP address travels with that request. The destination server logs it, uses it to route responses back to you, and often stores it alongside timestamps and browsing activity.
Check your IP address right now →
IPv4 vs IPv6: What's the Difference?
There are two versions of IP addresses in use today:
- IPv4 — The original format: four groups of numbers separated by dots, like
192.168.1.1. There are only about 4.3 billion possible IPv4 addresses, and the world has essentially run out of them. - IPv6 — The newer format: eight groups of hexadecimal numbers like
2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334. IPv6 supports 340 undecillion addresses — enough for every grain of sand on Earth to have its own IP.
Most devices now support both. Our IP checker detects which version your connection uses.
What Information Does Your IP Address Reveal?
When a website sees your IP address, it can typically determine:
- Your approximate location — Usually accurate to city level. Not your street address, but close enough to target ads by region.
- Your ISP — Your internet service provider and their registered address.
- Whether you're on a VPN or proxy — Most commercial VPN servers are registered in known datacenter ranges and can be detected.
- Your connection type — Home broadband, mobile data, or business fibre.
- Your timezone — Inferred from your location data.
What Is a VPN and Does It Hide Your IP?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) routes your internet traffic through a server in another location. Instead of websites seeing your real home IP, they see the VPN server's IP address. This effectively hides your true location and identity.
However, not all VPNs are created equal. Some leak your real IP through WebRTC — a browser feature used for video calls. Even with a VPN active, websites may be able to detect your real IP. Use our WebRTC Leak Test to check if your VPN has this vulnerability.
How to Check Your IP Address
The fastest way is to use our free What Is My IP tool. It shows:
- Your public IPv4 and IPv6 addresses
- Your city, region, and country
- Your ISP and organisation
- Your timezone and coordinates
- Whether a VPN or proxy is detected
- All HTTP headers your browser sends
How to Hide Your IP Address
There are three main methods:
- VPN — The most popular and practical solution. Encrypts your traffic and hides your IP. Choose a provider with a no-logs policy and WebRTC protection.
- Tor Browser — Routes your traffic through three volunteer-run servers (nodes), making it very difficult to trace. Slower than a VPN but much more anonymous.
- Proxy server — Similar to a VPN but without encryption. Useful for bypassing geo-restrictions but not for serious privacy needs.
For an additional layer of privacy when sharing links, use our Dereferer tool to strip the HTTP Referer header from any URL you share.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone find my exact address from my IP?
No. IP geolocation data typically resolves to city level or to the neighbourhood where your ISP's exchange is located — not your home address. Only your ISP has the records linking your IP to your account, and they only share this with law enforcement under a valid court order.
Does my IP address change?
Most home broadband connections use a dynamic IP that changes periodically — sometimes every time you restart your router. Business connections often use a static IP that never changes. Mobile data connections cycle through IPs frequently.
What is my local IP vs my public IP?
Your local IP (like 192.168.x.x) is assigned by your router and only exists within your home network — websites cannot see it. Your public IP is assigned by your ISP and is visible to the entire internet. Our tool shows your public IP.
Related Tools
- WebRTC Leak Test — Check if your VPN leaks your real IP
- Browser Fingerprint Checker — See all data your browser exposes
- Dereferer — Share links without exposing your source page
- HTTP Headers Checker — See every header your browser sends