How to use the What Is My IP
- Open the page. Your public IP address appears at the top within a second or two.
- Check the IPv4 and IPv6 boxes to see which protocols your connection uses.
- Review the approximate location, internet provider and time zone linked to your address.
- To check a different address, type it into Look up another IP address and press Look up.
Features
- Public IPv4 and IPv6 addresses with one-click copy
- Approximate city, region and country with a map link
- Internet provider, organization, ASN and time zone
- Lookup for any other IPv4 or IPv6 address
- Browser, operating system, language and screen details
- Clear explanation of what your IP does and does not reveal
What an IP address is
An Internet Protocol (IP) address is the number that identifies a connection on the internet, much like a return address on an envelope. Every website you visit needs it to know where to send the page you asked for. The address shown here is your public IP: the one assigned to your home router, mobile network or office by your internet provider. Devices on your home Wi-Fi share that one public address and use private addresses (often starting with 192.168. or 10.) inside your network, which websites never see.
IPv4 and IPv6
| IPv4 | IPv6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Example | 203.0.113.42 | 2001:db8:85a3::8a2e:370:7334 |
| Length | 32 bits | 128 bits |
| Possible addresses | About 4.3 billion | About 3.4 × 1038 |
| Written as | Four numbers 0–255 separated by dots | Eight groups of hexadecimal digits separated by colons |
The world ran short of IPv4 addresses years ago, so many providers now also hand out IPv6 addresses. If both boxes above show an address, your connection is “dual stack” and websites may see either one. If IPv6 says not detected, your provider or router currently uses IPv4 only, which is still very common and works fine.
What your IP address reveals
- Your internet provider and often the type of connection (home broadband, mobile, business or data center).
- An approximate location, usually the city or region where your provider routes traffic. It can be tens of kilometers off and sometimes points to a different city entirely.
- Not your name, street address or phone number. Only your provider can link an IP to an account, and they normally release that only to law enforcement with legal authority.
Your IP can still be used to link visits together, apply regional restrictions or block abusive traffic, which is why it matters for privacy.
How VPNs and proxies change it
A VPN sends your traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a server run by the VPN company, so websites see the VPN server’s IP and location instead of yours. Turn a VPN on and press Refresh: the address and location here should change to the VPN server. If your real location still appears, or IPv6 shows your own provider while IPv4 shows the VPN, the VPN may be leaking traffic outside the tunnel. Proxies and the Tor network hide your IP in similar ways. Remember that the VPN provider itself can see your real IP, so choose one you trust.
Why your IP changes
Most home and mobile connections have a dynamic IP that the provider can reassign, for example when your router restarts. Businesses that host servers usually pay for a static IP that never changes. If you need to share your address for remote access or a firewall rule, copy it with the button above, and check again later if something stops working.
Frequently asked questions
Is the location shown my exact address?
No. IP location databases estimate the city or region your provider uses, and the result can be off by many kilometers. Your street address is never part of your IP address.
Why does it show a different city from where I am?
Providers often route traffic through a regional hub, and mobile networks may assign addresses from another city. VPNs and some privacy features in browsers also change the location shown.
Why is my IPv6 address not detected?
Your internet provider or router is probably using IPv4 only. That is normal and does not affect browsing. Some VPNs also disable IPv6 to prevent leaks.
Does ToolsWorld log my IP address?
No. The lookups are made by your browser directly to ipify and ipwho.is, which see your IP as part of answering the request. ToolsWorld’s site does not record it.
How can I hide my IP address?
Use a reputable VPN, the Tor Browser or a privacy relay offered by your browser or operating system. Websites then see the relay’s IP instead of yours.