What Is My IP Address? Free Check + Complete Guide

Your IP address is basically your internet home address-it tells websites where to send information back to you. But there's way more to it than that simple explanation.

What Your IP Address Actually Reveals

Every time you visit a website, you're essentially saying "Hi, I'm requesting this page-please send it back to [your IP address]." That website can then figure out:

• Your approximate location (usually within 50-100 miles)
• Your internet provider (Comcast, Verizon, etc.)
• Whether you're on mobile data or broadband
• If you're behind a corporate firewall or residential connection

IP geolocation can often narrow down to a metro or regional area, but accuracy still varies by network type (mobile, corporate NAT, residential), which is why results typically fall within a broad 50–100 mile range rather than a precise street address. Independent measurements like Cloudflare's Internet Protocol overview reinforce that IP-based location is heuristic and influenced by routing, anycast, and allocation records rather than GPS precision.

Here's the thing though-your IP doesn't reveal your exact street address or personal info. That's a common misconception I hear a lot. I've found new users consistently overestimate IP precision - city level is usually the realistic ceiling without supplemental data.

In my own troubleshooting work, checking the reported public IP early has saved hours diagnosing misconfigured VPN clients or double-NAT home routers.

IPv4 vs IPv6: The Two Flavors

Most people still have IPv4 addresses that look like 192.168.1.1 (four numbers separated by dots). But we're running out of these! That's why IPv6 exists-those long addresses with colons like 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334.

Google's IPv6 adoption statistics show that global IPv6 usage hit 40% in 2024, with some countries like India leading at over 70% adoption.

Your device might actually have both. You can check yours right now with our IP checker tool-it'll show you both if you have them.

Quick Comparison:

• IPv4: 4.3 billion possible addresses (sounds like a lot, but it's not)
• IPv6: 340 trillion trillion trillion addresses (we'll never run out)
• Reality: Most websites still use IPv4, so both usually work fine

When Your IP Address Changes (And When It Doesn't)

It Usually Changes When You:

• Restart your router/modem
• Switch from WiFi to mobile data
• Travel to a different city
• Your ISP does maintenance

It Stays the Same When You:

• Close and reopen your browser
• Connect different devices to the same network
• Use incognito/private browsing mode

Pro tip: Some people pay extra for a "static" IP that never changes. Most home users don't need this unless you're running a server.

Common Questions I Get Asked

"Can websites track me just from my IP?" Sort of. They can see that someone with your IP visited, but they can't identify you personally without other info like login details or device fingerprinting.

"Should I hide my IP address?"
Depends what you're trying to accomplish. For casual browsing, probably not necessary. For public WiFi or accessing geo-blocked content, yeah it might make sense.

"Is my IP address dangerous to share?" Not really. It's not like your social security number-thousands of websites see it every day when you browse normally. Just don't post it publicly for no reason.

How to Change Your IP If You Want To

The easiest ways:

1. Use a VPN - Routes your traffic through their servers
2. Use Tor browser - Bounces through multiple encrypted relays
3. Mobile hotspot - Your phone's data has a different IP than your home WiFi
4. Public WiFi - Coffee shop WiFi shows their IP, not yours

Types of Internet Connections (What Your IP Reveals)

When I look up an IP address, I can usually tell:

Residential broadband - Cable/fiber at home, shared with neighbors Mobile carrier - Cell tower data, changes as you move around
Corporate - Business internet, often filtered and monitored Data center - Cloud servers, VPNs, hosting companies Educational - Universities, schools, libraries

What Geolocation Actually Shows

IP geolocation is helpful but not GPS-precise. In my experience:

• City level: Usually accurate (especially in the US)
• Neighborhood: Hit or miss
• Street address: Almost never correct for home users

Rural areas are particularly tricky-your IP might show a city that's 2 hours away.

Checking Your Own IP

Want to see what websites see when you visit them? Our IP address tool shows:

• Your current IPv4 and IPv6 addresses
• Approximate location and ISP
• Connection type and security info
• Whether you're using any proxies or VPNs

I built it because most IP lookup sites are covered in sketchy ads or try to sell you something. This one just gives you the facts. I recommend capturing your IP before and after a VPN hop so you build intuition for normal variance versus true changes.

Curious what your IP reveals about your connection? Check it instantly with our free IP lookup tool-no ads, no tracking, just the info you need.