What is your IP address?
Every device that goes online does so through a public IP address. Servers need it to know where to send the page you asked for, and every website you visit can see it. There are two versions: IPv4, four numbers separated by dots (for example 203.0.113.25), and IPv6, which is longer and uses letters and colons. Depending on your provider and network you see one or the other.
Location by IP and location by GPS
When you open any tool on this site, you first see an approximate area. That first answer comes from your IP address. Your exact location, on the other hand, is calculated by your device using GPS and nearby networks, and only with your permission.
| Location by IP | Location by GPS | |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | Country and often the city | A few meters |
| Permission needed | No | Yes |
| Who knows it | Every website you visit | Only websites you allow |
| Changes with a VPN | Yes | No |
To compare, tap “Show my exact location” on my current location: the map switches from the area estimated by IP to the point where you really are.
Why it helps to know your IP address
- Checking a VPN. If it works, you see the server's IP and country here, not yours.
- Technical support. Your provider or a network administrator may ask for it to investigate a problem.
- Remote access. To reach a camera, a server or a computer at home, you need your network's public IP.
- Understanding why a website shows another city. Ads, language and regional content are based on the location of your IP.
If you want the place where you really are, go to my current location or check what city you are in.
Questions about your IP address
What is my IP?
It is the address shown in large type at the top of this page. That is your public IP address: the number that identifies your connection to websites and services on the internet.
What is the difference between a public and a private IP?
Your provider assigns the public IP; it is visible from the internet. Your router hands out private IPs inside your home or office; they usually start with 192.168 or 10. This page shows the public one.
Can someone find where I live from my IP address?
Not precisely. An IP address reveals the country and often the city or area, but not your street or house number. Only your provider can match an IP to a subscriber, and normally only when required by law, such as with a court order.
Why does my IP show a different city?
IP location databases place each IP where the provider registered it, often a network hub in another city. On mobile data it is common to see a large city far from where you are.
Does my IP address change?
On most home and mobile connections the IP is dynamic: it can change when you restart your router, switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data, or at regular intervals. A fixed IP is usually a separate plan.
How do I hide or change my IP address?
A VPN or proxy makes websites see the IP of its server instead of yours. Restarting your router may give you a new IP if your provider assigns dynamic addresses.