What Is My IP Address?

What is an IP address?

An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique label assigned to your connection on the internet. When you visit a website, your device sends requests from this IP address so the site knows where to send data back.

Most home users have a public IP address on the internet and private IP addresses inside their home network (for example, 192.168.0.10). This page always shows your public IP.

IPv4 vs IPv6

There are two main versions of IP addresses in use today:

• IPv4 — older, shorter format like 203.0.113.42.
• IPv6 — newer, longer format like 2001:db8::1.

Your internet connection might support one or both. The version shown above is what your browser is currently using to reach this site.

Why does my IP address change?

Many internet providers use dynamic IP addresses. This means your IP can change when:

• you restart your router,
• the provider renews your connection lease,
• you switch Wi-Fi networks or mobile data,
• you connect through a VPN or proxy.

If you use a VPN, the IP shown above will usually be the VPN server’s IP, not your home connection.