Our server reads your IP address only to show it to you; it isn't stored.

What is my IP? The box above answers it: it shows your public IP address, the one websites and apps see when you connect. Your internet provider assigns it (or your VPN, if one is on), not your phone or computer.

It also says whether the address is IPv4 or IPv6 and lists details your browser shares, such as your time zone and screen size. Our server reads your IP address only to show it to you; it isn’t stored.

What is my IP address, and how do I check it?

Open this page. Your public IP address appears in the box straight away, in large type.
Check the label above it: IPv4 (four numbers with dots, like 203.0.113.5) or IPv6 (longer, with colons, like 2001:db8::1).
Select Copy to copy the address, for example to send to someone helping you set up a game server or remote access.
Turned a VPN on or off, or moved from Wi-Fi to mobile data? Select Refresh to see the new address.

Below the address is a table of details your browser reports about itself: browser and version, operating system, screen and window size, time zone, language, and whether cookies are on. These are read on your device and not sent anywhere. Browser and system names are approximate, because browsers don’t always report them exactly.

What an IP address is

An IP (Internet Protocol) address is the number that tells data where to go on a network, a bit like a street address for mail. Every device that connects to the internet needs one, and every website you visit sees the address your request came from so it can send the page back.

Most homes have one public IP address shared by every device on the Wi-Fi. Your router gets that address from your internet provider, then gives each phone, laptop and TV its own private address inside the house. When you ask “what is my IP”, you usually mean the public one: that’s what this tool shows.

Public vs private IP addresses

Private addresses only work inside your own network. The internet standard RFC 1918 sets aside three ranges for them, so you’ll see the same kinds of numbers in millions of homes:

Private range	Where you often see it
10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255	Some home routers, mobile hotspots, and most office networks
172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255	Office networks and some routers
192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255	Most home routers, often 192.168.0.x or 192.168.1.x

If the address in your phone or PC settings starts with one of these, it’s your local (private) IP. The public IP in the box above is different: it’s the address your router uses on the internet. You need the local IP to set up a printer or port forwarding, and the public IP when someone outside your home needs to reach you.

IPv4 vs IPv6

IPv4 is the original format: four numbers from 0 to 255 separated by dots. There are only about 4.3 billion possible IPv4 addresses, which is why homes share one public address and use private ones inside.
IPv6 is the newer format: eight groups of hexadecimal digits separated by colons, with runs of zeros shortened to ::. There are enough addresses for every device to have its own.
Many networks run both. Your browser picks one for each site, so this page may show IPv6 while another site sees your IPv4 address. Both are normal.

What your IP address reveals, and what it doesn’t

An IP address is less revealing than many people fear, but it isn’t nothing.

It does show which internet provider (or VPN company) you’re using, and usually a rough location: often the city or region where your provider routes traffic, sometimes a nearby town. IP location lookups can be off by many miles.
It doesn’t show your name, your street address or your exact location. Only your internet provider can link the address to your account.
It can change. Many providers change home IP addresses from time to time, and your phone gets a different one on mobile data than on Wi-Fi.
It isn’t the only way to track you. Cookies, signed-in accounts and browser details (like those in the table above) can identify a browser even when the IP changes.

On iPhone, Apple’s guide says you can turn on Limit IP Address Tracking in a network’s Wi-Fi settings to hide your IP address from known trackers. For more privacy guides, see our security hub.

How to find your local IP address

The tool above shows your public address. Your device’s own (local) address is in its settings:

Windows 11

According to Microsoft, go to Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi (or Ethernet for a cable), select the network you’re connected to, and look for IPv4 address. More PC guides are on our Windows hub.

Android and Samsung Galaxy

On a Pixel, Google’s help pages open a network’s settings from Settings → Network & internet → Internet, then the Settings (gear) icon next to your network. On a Galaxy, Samsung’s guide uses Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi, then the gear icon next to the connected network. The IP address is listed on that network’s details screen; on some phones you tap View more or Advanced first. More phone guides are on our Android hub.

iPhone

Apple’s iPhone guide says to open Settings, tap Wi-Fi, then tap the Info button next to the connected network to see and change its settings. The address is listed there under IPv4 Address. See our iPhone hub for more.

Mac

Apple says to choose Apple menu → System Settings, click General, then Sharing, and click the Info button next to a sharing service that’s turned on. The window shows the Mac’s network address. More on our Mac hub.

Do VPNs hide your IP address?

Partly. A VPN sends your traffic through the VPN company’s server first, so websites see the server’s IP address instead of yours. Turn one on and select Refresh above: the address should change. That hides your home address from the sites you visit, and hides which sites you visit from your Wi-Fi or internet provider.

Be clear about what it doesn’t do:

It doesn’t make you anonymous. If you sign in to Google, Facebook or Amazon, they know it’s you whatever your IP.
It moves trust rather than removing it. The VPN company can see the same things your provider could, so pick one with a clear privacy policy, and be cautious with free VPN apps.
It isn’t required for most public Wi-Fi. The FTC notes that most websites now use encryption (look for https and the lock icon), which protects what you send even on public networks.

Strong, unique passwords and two-step verification protect you more than hiding your IP. Our password generator can help with the first.

If the tool doesn’t work

“We couldn’t read your IP address”: reload the page. Some privacy extensions and ad blockers stop pages from asking their own site for data; allow this site, or try a private window with extensions off.
It shows a different IP than you expected: a VPN, proxy, or browser privacy feature may be on, or you’re on mobile data instead of Wi-Fi. Turn them off one at a time and select Refresh.
It shows IPv6 but a game or app asks for IPv4: your network has both, and this page was reached over IPv6. Your router’s status page lists the IPv4 address your provider gave it.
Connection type says “Not shared by this browser”: MDN lists this feature as missing from some widely used browsers. Where it works, it’s an estimate of speed class (such as 4G) worked out from recent speed and delay, not the actual type of your Wi-Fi or mobile network.

Privacy

To show you your public IP, this page asks Being Tricky’s server, which reads the address your request came from and sends it straight back. It isn’t stored. No other sites are contacted. Everything in the browser details table is read on your device and stays there.

Related free tool: our password leak checker.

FAQ

Is my IP address the same on every device at home?

Your public IP usually is: all devices on your Wi-Fi share the router’s address. Each device has its own private address inside your network.

Can someone find my house from my IP address?

Not from the IP alone. It usually points to your provider and a rough area, often a city. Only your internet provider can match it to your account.

Why does my IP address change?

Many providers assign home addresses that change from time to time. Your phone also gets a different address on mobile data, and a VPN replaces the one sites see.

Why do I have both an IPv4 and an IPv6 address?

Many networks run both while the internet moves to IPv6. Your browser chooses one for each site, so different sites may see different addresses.

What is my IP when I use a VPN?

Sites see the VPN server’s address, not yours. Turn the VPN on, select Refresh, and the tool shows the address sites now see.

What Is My IP Address? See Your Public IP Now