My IP Address

What is an IP address?

An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique numerical label assigned to every device that connects to a network. Your public IP address is the address your Internet Service Provider assigns to your connection — it is what remote websites and servers see when you visit them. Your private IP address (typically in the 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x range) identifies your device within your local network and is assigned by your router.

IPv4 vs IPv6

Most connections today still use IPv4, which uses four groups of numbers (e.g. 203.0.113.42) and supports about 4.3 billion unique addresses. Because that pool is almost exhausted, the newer IPv6 standard uses eight groups of hexadecimal values (e.g. 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334) and supports a virtually unlimited number of addresses. Many ISPs now assign both an IPv4 and IPv6 address to each connection.

Why does my location look wrong?

IP geolocation is approximate. The location shown reflects where your ISP has registered your IP address block — often a regional office or data centre — rather than your exact physical address. If you are using a VPN, the location shown will be that of the VPN server, not your actual location. Mobile connections frequently show the location of the carrier's nearest exchange.

Why would I need to know my IP address?

• Setting up remote desktop or VPN access to your home network
• Configuring firewall rules or port forwarding on your router
• Troubleshooting connectivity issues with your ISP
• Verifying that a VPN is working and masking your real IP
• Whitelisting your IP address for access to a business system

Does my IP address change?

Most home internet connections use a dynamic IP address that your ISP can reassign periodically — typically when your router restarts or after a lease period expires. Businesses often pay for a static IP address that never changes, which is useful for hosting servers or maintaining consistent remote access. Mobile data connections frequently change IP addresses as you move between cell towers.