What is my IP address

What an IP address is

An IP address is the number your connection appears under on the internet. It works much like the address on an envelope: without it a server would not know where to send the answer. Your provider assigns it, so it differs at home, at work and on mobile data.

There are two formats. IPv4 looks like 89.24.11.7, four numbers separated by dots, and there is a limited supply of them. IPv6 looks like 2001:db8:85a3::8a2e:370:7334 and exists precisely because IPv4 ran out. Your browser uses whichever your provider has set up, often both at once.

Why the tool needs a server

A browser cannot read its own public address. It knows only the address on the local network, usually something like 192.168.0.10, which is just a number behind your router. The public address is visible to the server at the other end of the connection. So the tool asks our server what it saw and shows you the answer. Nothing is stored along the way.

When the address changes

• Most home connections have a dynamic address. The provider changes it when the router restarts or after a few days. A fixed address is usually available for a fee.
• On mobile data you appear under the operator's address, shared with other customers (CGNAT). That is why two different devices can look identical.
• Through a VPN or Tor, sites see the address of the exit server, not yours. The tool shows the one the request reached us from, which makes it easy to check a VPN is on.

What can be read from an address

An address reveals the connection provider and a rough location, usually to the level of a city or region. Neither an exact position nor a name can be read from it; only the provider holds that, and hands it over on a lawful request. Under the GDPR an IP address still counts as personal data, precisely because it can be traced to a person through the provider.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find my IP address?

Just open this page. The address loads at the top and copies with one click. We show the one your request arrived from, which is exactly what every site you visit sees.

Can an IP address be hidden?

Not entirely: you have to have some address, otherwise there is nowhere to deliver the answer. You can replace it with someone else's by using a VPN or the Tor browser. Sites then see that service's address.

Why is this different from the address in my router?

The router shows the address on the local network (usually 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x), which only applies inside your home. Everything in the household leaves under one public address, and that is the one you see here.

Do you store my address?

No. We read the address from your request, sent it back and threw it away. The other details on the page (browser, resolution, time zone) were read in your browser and never reached us. The details are in the privacy policy.