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.
Approximate only: city or region are indicative, country-level at best, and often just your ISP's point of presence - never your street or building. Mobile networks (4G/5G), CGNAT, a VPN or a proxy skew it further.
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.
Autonomous system number (ASN)
The identifier of your operator's network, e.g. AS3215. Shown next to your provider, it pinpoints which network your IP belongs to.
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. Geolocation is only approximate: it points to your ISP's point of presence rather than your exact address, and is country-level at best. City or region are indicative and get skewed by mobile networks (4G/5G), CGNAT, a VPN or a proxy - never your street or building.
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 |
| IP blacklist | Check whether this IP appears on anti-spam blacklists |
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)