What's my IP address?

Your public IP address is the number the internet sees for your current connection, the address that websites, mail servers and APIs log as "you." It is assigned by your internet provider (or your VPN/proxy exit), and it is different from the private address your device uses on your local network.

This page shows the public IP we receive for your request, whether it's IPv4 or IPv6, and the country our edge network associates with it. Behind a VPN or corporate proxy, you'll see that exit address rather than your own.

Why it's useful

  • Confirm a VPN or proxy is actually changing your visible IP.
  • Grab the address to allow-list it on a firewall, database, or API.
  • Check whether you have working IPv6 connectivity.

IPv4 and IPv6, and why you might have both

An IPv4 address looks like 203.0.113.42; an IPv6 address looks like 2001:db8::1a2b. Most connections today are dual-stack, meaning your device holds one of each and picks per destination, usually preferring IPv6 when a site supports it. That is why this page can show a different address family than another IP checker: each site reports the family your device chose for that specific connection. If you expected IPv6 and only see IPv4, your router or ISP likely has IPv6 disabled.

Dynamic addresses and CGNAT

Home connections rarely keep the same IPv4 address forever. ISPs lease addresses dynamically, and a modem reboot or lease expiry can hand you a new one. Many providers also use carrier-grade NAT, which puts hundreds of customers behind one shared public IPv4 address. Both cases matter when you allow-list your IP on a firewall or database: the rule works today and locks you out next week. If you need a stable address for allow-listing, ask your ISP for a static IP or route through a VPN with a fixed exit.

Related tools

Want to know who owns an address? Use IP Address Information for the network and registry owner, or run a nameserver trace and DNS lookup for a domain.

Quick FAQ

Why is my IP different from what my router shows? Your router shows the private LAN address; this page shows the public address your ISP presents to the internet.

It shows a different city/country than where I am, why? IP-to-location is approximate and reflects your provider's routing, not your exact location. For ownership, use the IP information tool.

Does my public IP change when I switch Wi-Fi networks? Yes. The public IP belongs to the connection, not the device, so office, home, and phone hotspot each present a different address.

Is it a problem that sites can see my IP? Every server you connect to sees it; that is how responses find their way back. It identifies your network and rough region, not you personally. A VPN swaps it for the VPN exit address.

If devices on your network resolve names inconsistently or can't reach sites that work elsewhere, the fix is usually local. Start with the office and router DNS fix guide.