Why Know Your Public IP Address?
Your public IP address is your connection's identifier on the Internet. It's visible to every website and service you access.
Common use cases:
- Technical support → Share your IP for a troubleshooting ticket
- Allowlist / Whitelist → Authorize your IP on a firewall or service
- VPN verification → Confirm your VPN is working (displayed IP changes)
- IPv6 diagnostics → Check that your router actually enables IPv6
- ISP change → Confirm IP change after switching providers
What Does This Tool Show Exactly?
IPv4 Address
Legacy format, still widely used. Example: 203.0.113.42
The tool displays your public IPv4 if available. With some mobile carriers or CGNAT setups, this address may be shared among multiple subscribers.
IPv6 Address
Modern, longer format. Example: 2001:db8:85a3::8a2e:370:7334
If your ISP and router support IPv6, the tool displays it. IPv6 is typically dedicated to your connection (no CGNAT).
Approximate Geolocation
The IP is associated with a location (city, region, country) in public databases. This location corresponds to your ISP's point of presence, not your exact address.
Typical accuracy: 10-50 km. Never your street or building.
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
The name of your carrier (Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, etc.) or hosting provider if you're on a server. Useful for quickly identifying your network exit point.
Public IP vs Private IP: Understanding the Difference
| Type | Example | Visible on Internet? | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public IP | 203.0.113.42 | Yes | Identifies your connection on the web |
| Private IP | 192.168.1.15 | No | Identifies devices on your local network |
How it works:
- Your devices (PC, phone) have a private IP (192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x)
- Your router performs translation (NAT) to a single public IP
- Websites only see the public IP
This tool shows only the public IP - the one seen from the Internet.
Dedicated vs Shared IP (CGNAT)
Dedicated IP
- Reserved for your connection alone
- You can receive incoming connections (server, personal VPN)
- Often offered in business plans or on request
Shared IP (CGNAT)
- Multiple subscribers share the same public IPv4
- Cannot receive incoming connections directly
- Common with mobile carriers and some consumer ISPs
How to tell? If your IPv4 starts with 100.64. to 100.127., it's carrier-side CGNAT. Otherwise, contact your ISP or check your account dashboard.
Practical Use Cases
Case 1: Technical Support Ticket
Situation: You're contacting your ISP or an online service support team.
Action:
- Open this page
- Note the IPv4 and/or IPv6 displayed
- Share it with support along with connection time
Result: The technician can identify your session in the logs.
Case 2: Configure an Allowlist (Whitelist)
Situation: A service (API, database, server) only accepts certain IPs.
Action:
- Get your public IP here
- Add it to the service's allowlist
- Note: if your IP is dynamic, it will change
Result: Access authorized from your connection.
Case 3: Verify Your VPN Is Working
Situation: You just activated a VPN and want to confirm it's masking your real IP.
Action:
- Note your IP before activating the VPN
- Activate the VPN
- Reload this page
Expected result: The displayed IP changes and matches the VPN server's country.
Case 4: Check IPv6 Support
Situation: You want to know if your router and ISP support IPv6.
Action:
- Open this page
- Check if an IPv6 address appears alongside the IPv4
Result: If IPv6 appears, your connection is ready for the modern network.
Case 5: Diagnostics After Network Change
Situation: You just switched ISPs, routers, or moved from Wi-Fi to mobile data.
Action:
- Reload this page on the new network
- Compare the IP with the previous network
Result: Confirm you're using the new connection.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
Q: How does this tool work?
A: The page automatically detects the IP address from which you're connecting. No installation required. Your browser sends a request to our server which reads the source IP and displays it.
Q: What's the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?
A: IPv4 is the legacy format (e.g., 203.0.113.42). IPv6 is the modern, longer format (e.g., 2001:db8::1). Both coexist. If you see an IPv6, your connection supports the modern network.
Q: Why does my IP change?
A: Most ISPs assign dynamic IPs that change on reconnection or periodically. Only business subscriptions or specific plans offer a fixed (static) IP.
Q: Is my IP dedicated or shared?
A: With consumer ISPs, your IPv4 is often shared via CGNAT (multiple customers behind the same public IP). Your IPv6, if available, is usually dedicated. Business plans offer dedicated IPv4 addresses.
Q: Is the geolocation accurate?
A: No. It typically shows the city or region of your ISP's point of presence, not your exact address. Typical accuracy: 10-50 km. A VPN will show the VPN server's location.
Q: What does a website see when I connect?
A: The site sees your public IP, your browser (User-Agent), and can estimate your location. It doesn't see your local private IP or your exact physical address.
Q: How do I hide my IP?
A: Use a VPN or proxy. Your traffic then goes through an intermediary server that masks your real IP. Websites see the VPN's IP, not yours.
Complementary tools
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Reverse DNS (PTR) | Find the domain name associated with an IP |
| Whois IP | Identify the owner of an IP range |
Useful resources
- RFC 791 - Internet Protocol (IPv4) - Official IPv4 specification
- RFC 8200 - Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) - Official IPv6 specification
- RFC 6598 - CGNAT - Shared address space (100.64.0.0/10)