What Is My IP Address, and Why Does It Matter?

Every device connected to the internet needs an address so data can find its way to it. That is your IP address. But "what's my IP?" is a more layered question than it looks, because most devices have more than one, and the one that matters depends on what you are trying to do. This guide explains public and private addresses, IPv4 and IPv6, what your IP reveals about you, and the practical reasons to check it.

Public vs private IP addresses

Your home or office network has two kinds of address:

• Private IP addresses are handed out by your router to each device on your local network: your phone, laptop, TV and printer. They look like 192.168.1.23 or 10.0.0.5, are only meaningful inside your network, and are invisible to the outside internet. Millions of homes use the very same private addresses without conflict.
• Your public IP address is the one your internet provider assigns to your router. Every device in your home shares it when talking to the internet; the router keeps track of which reply belongs to which device. This is the address websites, streaming services and online games see.

When people ask "what is my IP?", they almost always mean the public one.

How to check your IP address

1. Open the IP Checker. Detection starts immediately, because your browser's request itself carries your public address.
2. Read your public IPv4 and, if your connection has one, IPv6 address, along with the approximate location and the internet provider or network operating it.
3. If you are testing a VPN, switch it on or off and check again to compare.

To find a device's private address instead, look in its network settings, or run ipconfig on Windows or ipconfig getifaddr en0 on a Mac. Your router's admin page also lists every connected device and its private address.

IPv4 and IPv6

An IPv4 address is four numbers from 0 to 255, such as 203.0.113.45. There are only about 4.3 billion possible IPv4 addresses, far fewer than the devices now online, and the global supply ran out in 2011. That is why so many devices share addresses through routers.

An IPv6 address is much longer, written in hexadecimal groups such as 2001:db8:85a3::8a2e:370:7334, and the supply is effectively unlimited. Most modern connections run both at once (called dual-stack), which is why you may see two addresses. Both are normal and healthy.

Why your IP address changes

Most home connections get a dynamic address: the provider can reassign it when your router restarts, every few days, or whenever it chooses. Mobile networks change it even more often. A static IP, which never changes, is usually a paid business option, needed when you host a server or a remote service has to recognise your connection.

Many providers, especially mobile networks, also use carrier-grade NAT: hundreds of customers share one public address. Addresses beginning with 100.64 to 100.127 on your router's internet port are a sign of this, and they explain why hosting a game server or using some remote-access tools doesn't work on that connection.

What your public IP reveals, and what it doesn't

• It does reveal your internet provider and an approximate location, usually the city or region where your provider routes traffic, which can be some distance from where you actually are.
• It doesn't reveal your name, your exact address or your browsing history. Only your internet provider can link the address to your account, and it generally discloses that only to authorities with legal grounds.
• It can contribute to tracking. Combined with cookies and browser fingerprinting, an IP address helps advertisers recognise you across sites, and some sites use it to block or rate-limit visitors.

Every website you visit sees your IP; it is how the reply reaches you. If that visibility bothers you, a VPN replaces your address with one of its own.

Common reasons to check your IP

• Checking a VPN works: if your address and location don't change when you connect, the VPN isn't routing your traffic. Check the IPv6 result too; some VPNs only cover IPv4 and leak your real IPv6 address.
• Remote access and allowlists: office systems, databases and cloud servers often accept connections only from approved addresses. You need your current public IP to add it.
• Troubleshooting: confirming your connection reaches the internet, or that you are on the network you think you are (home Wi-Fi rather than mobile data, for example).
• Unexpected blocks: if a site says you are in the wrong country, or shows unusual-traffic warnings, your IP's location or reputation is usually why. Shared addresses on mobile networks and VPNs are commonly affected.
• Setting up devices: port forwarding, security cameras and home servers all need to know addresses.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the location shown differ from where I am?

IP location databases map addresses to where your provider registers or routes them, not your GPS position. Being placed in a nearby city is normal. Being placed in another country usually means a VPN, a corporate network or a mobile provider's routing.

Can someone hack me with my IP address?

Knowing your IP doesn't give anyone access to your devices. Your router doesn't accept unrequested incoming connections by default. Keep your router's firmware updated and don't open ports you don't need, and your IP is just an address.

How do I change my public IP?

Restarting your router often gets a new address on a dynamic connection. A VPN changes the address websites see. Switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data also gives you a different one.

Does incognito mode hide my IP?

No. Private browsing only stops your browser keeping local history and cookies. Websites still see your IP address.