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How to Find My IP

Quick ways to see your public and private IP addresses.

3 min read

If you just want the number now, here’s the quick answer.

TL;DR: Use our Find My IP tool. It shows your public IPv4/IPv6 instantly, plus basic info about the network you’re on.

Public vs. private IP (what’s the difference?)

  • Public IP = the address the rest of the internet sees. It sits at your network’s “front door” (your ISP, cellular carrier, office gateway, VPN exit, etc.).
  • Private IP = the address your device uses on your home/office Wi‑Fi (like 192.168.1.23). It’s only visible inside your local network.

whether showing that street number could potentially be risky, check Does exposing my IP address put me at risk? for a calm, practical answer.

Easiest ways to check

In your browser

  • Open IP Lookup — fastest, no command line required.
  • Or search “what is my IP” in Google/Duckduckgo; they’ll show your public IP at the top.

On the command line (public IP)

  • macOS/Linux
  • Windows (PowerShell)

On the command line (private/LAN IP)

  • macOS/Linux
  • Windows (Command Prompt)

On your router

Log into your router’s admin page; the WAN/Internet section shows the network’s public IP.

Why your “IP” might look different than you expect

  • VPN or proxy: Websites see the VPN/proxy’s exit IP, not your home IP. That’s the whole point.
  • Carrier‑grade NAT (CGNAT): Mobile hotspots and many cable/4G/5G plans share one public IPv4 among many customers. Your device may not have a public IPv4 at all (IPv6 often still is public).
  • Shared Wi‑Fi: Coffee shop, hotel, campus — everyone appears to come from the same public IP.
  • Dual‑stack networks: You can have both IPv4 and IPv6. A site may prefer IPv6, while another shows IPv4, so tools can disagree.
  • Dynamic IPs: ISPs rotate addresses. Today’s IP may not be tomorrow’s.

Bottom line: there isn’t just “one true IP.” You have a private IP on your LAN, and your traffic exits the internet through a public IP that can change depending on where/how you connect.

Privacy notes (read this if you care)

  • Proper VPNs don’t hand sites your home IP. A site can only see your exit IP unless something leaks.
  • Leaks do happen:
    • Browser/Proxy headers: Forward proxies and some corporate gateways add X-Forwarded-For / X-Real-IP headers that can expose an upstream address.
    • WebRTC: Peer‑to‑peer features can reveal local/real IPs via STUN. Modern browsers reduce this, but check your VPN’s “WebRTC leak protection.”
    • DNS leaks: If your DNS queries don’t go through the VPN, sites can infer your location/ISP.
    • IPv6 leaks: Disabling IPv6 on a VPN that doesn’t support it can leak IPv6 traffic outside the tunnel.

For the bigger‑picture risks around IP exposure (profiling, scanning, correlation), read Does exposing my IP address put me at risk?.

FAQ

Will enabling IPv6 change my IP?
Yes—you’ll likely gain an additional IPv6 address. Sites that support IPv6 may prefer it.

Why does my console say “Strict NAT”?
That’s IPv4 NAT doing what NAT does. It’s about reachability, not your “IP being wrong.”

Can I be tracked by my IP alone?
IPs change, and many people share one public IP. Treat it as a coarse signal, not an ID.

3 min read•