Free Online What is my IP Tool
Check your public IP address instantly with this free What Is My IP tool. Use the tool below to view your internet-facing IP address, IPv4 or IPv6 details, approximate location, ISP information and basic browser network details.
This tool shows the public IP address visible to websites. If you use a VPN, proxy, mobile network, or corporate connection, the result may reflect that network instead.
Browser & Device Details
Useful technical details from your current browser session.
Privacy note
This page uses a public IP API to display your current public IP address. Your browser also provides basic technical details such as language, timezone, screen size, and user agent.
What is my IP address?
Your IP address is the public address your device or network uses to communicate on the internet. When you visit a website, stream a video, use an app or connect to an online service, your public IP address helps route information between your connection and the destination server.
This What Is My IP tool helps you quickly check the public IP address currently visible from your browser. It can be useful for troubleshooting network issues, checking VPN connections, confirming your public IPv4 or IPv6 address, reviewing approximate location details and testing how websites see your connection.
What does this What Is My IP tool show?
This online IP checker can help you view network details such as:
- Your public IP address
- IPv4 address, when available
- IPv6 address, when available
- Approximate IP location
- Internet service provider or organization
- Country, region or city estimate
- Browser and device network information
- Whether your visible IP changes when using a VPN
- Basic connection details useful for troubleshooting
The exact information shown may depend on your network, browser, IP type, internet provider and whether you are using a VPN, proxy, mobile network or privacy service.
How to use the What Is My IP tool
Step 1: Open the tool
Load the What Is My IP tool in your browser. Your public IP address will be detected automatically.
Step 2: Review your IP details
Check the visible IP address and any available network details, such as IP version, approximate location or provider information.
Step 3: Copy or use the result
Copy your IP address if you need it for troubleshooting, server configuration, VPN testing, allowlists, support tickets or network checks.
Why would you need to check your IP address?
Checking your public IP address is useful in many situations. You may need it when setting up remote access, configuring a firewall, testing a VPN, checking if your IP changed, verifying your internet connection or sharing your address with technical support.
Developers, system administrators, gamers, remote workers, website owners and everyday users often need to know which public IP address is currently visible online.
Public IP address vs private IP address
Public IP address
Your public IP address is the address visible to websites and internet services. It is assigned by your internet service provider or network provider and is used for communication over the internet.
This is the IP address shown by a What Is My IP tool.
Private IP address
Your private IP address is used inside your local network. It usually looks like 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x or 172.16.x.x to 172.31.x.x.
Private IP addresses are used by routers, computers, phones, printers and other devices inside your home, office or local network.
IPv4 vs IPv6
IPv4
IPv4 is the older and still widely used IP address format. It usually looks like this:
192.0.2.1IPv4 addresses use four groups of numbers separated by dots.
IPv6
IPv6 is a newer IP address format designed to support many more addresses. It usually looks like this:
2001:db8:85a3::8a2e:370:7334IPv6 addresses use hexadecimal groups separated by colons.
Some connections have only IPv4, some have IPv6, and some networks use both.
What is a public IP address?
A public IP address is the address that identifies your connection on the internet. Websites and online services can see this address when your browser connects to them.
Your public IP address may belong directly to your home connection, office network, mobile provider, VPN provider, proxy service or hosting provider.
If you connect through a VPN, this tool may show the VPN server’s IP address instead of your normal internet provider IP address.
What is an IP location?
An IP location is an estimated geographic location associated with an IP address. It may include country, region, city or approximate area.
IP location is not the same as GPS location. It is based on network and IP database information, so it may be approximate or sometimes incorrect.
For example, your IP location may show the city of your internet provider, VPN endpoint, mobile carrier gateway or nearby network routing point instead of your exact physical location.
Can my IP address change?
Yes. Your public IP address can change depending on your internet provider, router settings, mobile network, VPN, proxy or connection type.
Some users have dynamic IP addresses that change automatically from time to time. Others may have static IP addresses that stay the same for longer periods.
If you restart your router, switch networks, enable a VPN or move from Wi-Fi to mobile data, your visible IP address may change.
Why does my IP show the wrong city?
Your IP location may show the wrong city because IP geolocation is only an estimate. It depends on databases, provider routing, VPN servers, mobile carrier infrastructure and regional network assignments.
This means your IP address might appear in a nearby city, your provider’s regional hub or the location of a VPN server.
A What Is My IP tool can show the public IP visible online, but it cannot guarantee exact physical location.
How to check if a VPN is working
You can use this What Is My IP tool to test whether your VPN changes your visible IP address.
First, check your IP address without the VPN. Then connect to your VPN and refresh the tool. If the visible IP address changes, websites are likely seeing the VPN IP instead of your normal public IP.
You can also compare the approximate country or region. If your VPN is connected to another country, the IP location may reflect that VPN server location.
Common reasons to check your IP address
Troubleshooting internet issues
Your IP address can help diagnose connection problems, routing issues or network configuration errors.
Setting up remote access
Remote desktop, SSH, home servers and other remote access setups may require your public IP address.
Configuring firewalls
Some services allow you to whitelist or block specific IP addresses.
Testing VPN connections
Checking your IP before and after connecting to a VPN can confirm whether your visible IP has changed.
Checking IPv4 or IPv6 availability
You can verify whether your connection exposes an IPv4 address, IPv6 address or both.
Support tickets
Technical support teams may ask for your public IP address to investigate access or security issues.
Website and server management
Developers and administrators may need their public IP when configuring hosting panels, APIs, DNS records, security rules or allowlists.
What can websites see from my IP address?
Websites can usually see your public IP address when you connect to them. Depending on the service, they may also estimate your location, detect your internet provider or identify whether the IP belongs to a data center, VPN, mobile carrier or residential network.
However, your IP address does not normally reveal your exact street address by itself. It is still personal network information, so you should avoid sharing it publicly unless necessary.
How to copy your IP address
After the tool displays your public IP address, you can copy it and paste it wherever needed.
Common places where you may use your IP address include:
- Firewall rules
- Hosting control panels
- VPN tests
- Router settings
- Support forms
- Security allowlists
- Remote access tools
- Developer dashboards
- API configuration panels
Always make sure you only share your IP address with trusted services or people when it is necessary.
Is my IP address private?
Your public IP address is visible to websites and online services you connect to. It is not secret in the same way as a password, but it is still network information that can be used for analytics, security checks, access controls and approximate location detection.
Your private local IP address is only used inside your local network and is not normally visible to websites on the internet.
If you want to hide or change your visible public IP, you can use a VPN, proxy or privacy-focused network service, depending on your needs.
What is the difference between IP address and hostname?
An IP address is a numeric address used for network communication.
A hostname is a human-readable name that may point to an IP address.
For example, a domain name can resolve to an IP address through DNS. Your internet provider may also assign a hostname or reverse DNS name to your public IP address.
Some IP lookup tools may show hostname or provider information when it is available.
What is the difference between IP address and DNS?
An IP address identifies a device, server or network endpoint.
DNS is the system that translates domain names into IP addresses.
For example, when you type a website domain into your browser, DNS helps find the IP address of the server that hosts that website.
Knowing your IP address can help with network troubleshooting, while DNS tools are useful for checking domain records and server routing.
Why use an online IP checker?
An online IP checker gives you a fast way to see the public IP address currently visible from your connection. You do not need to open router settings, command line tools or network configuration panels.
This is useful for quick checks, support requests, VPN testing, remote access setup and basic internet troubleshooting.
Because the tool runs in your browser, you can use it from desktop, mobile, tablet or any modern device with internet access.
Common IP address use cases
For home users
Check your public IP, test your VPN, troubleshoot internet access or provide network information to technical support.
For developers
Use your public IP for API allowlists, server access, test environments, webhook debugging and development dashboards.
For system administrators
Verify network routes, firewall access, VPN connections, remote access rules and server security settings.
For gamers
Check your public IP when troubleshooting multiplayer connectivity, NAT issues, port forwarding or server hosting.
For remote workers
Confirm your visible IP when connecting through a company VPN, secure portal, remote desktop or protected web app.
For website owners
Use your public IP when configuring hosting security rules, admin allowlists, DNS tools, CDN settings or firewall policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this What Is My IP tool free?
Yes. This What Is My IP tool is completely free to use.
Do I need to install anything?
No. You can check your public IP address directly in your browser without installing software.
What is my public IP address?
Your public IP address is the internet-facing address visible to websites and online services when you connect to them.
Is my public IP the same as my private IP?
No. Your public IP is visible on the internet, while your private IP is used inside your local network.
Can this tool show my IPv4 address?
Yes. If your connection exposes an IPv4 address, the tool can show your public IPv4 address.
Can this tool show my IPv6 address?
Yes. If your connection uses IPv6 and it is visible from your browser, the tool may show your public IPv6 address.
Why did my IP address change?
Your IP address may change because of your internet provider, router restart, VPN connection, mobile network or dynamic IP assignment.
Why does my IP show a different city?
IP location is approximate and may show your provider location, VPN server, mobile network gateway or nearby routing area instead of your exact city.
Does my IP address reveal my exact location?
No. An IP address may reveal an approximate location, but it does not normally reveal your exact street address by itself.
Can I check if my VPN is working?
Yes. Check your IP before and after connecting to a VPN. If the visible IP changes, your VPN is likely changing the IP seen by websites.
Can I copy my IP address?
Yes. You can copy the displayed IP address and use it for troubleshooting, support tickets, firewall rules or configuration tasks.
Can websites see my IP address?
Yes. Websites and online services can usually see your public IP address when you connect to them.
Is it safe to share my IP address?
You should only share your IP address when necessary and with trusted people or services. It is not a password, but it is still network information.
Can I use this on mobile?
Yes. You can use this What Is My IP tool on desktop, mobile, tablet or any modern browser.
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