What is my IP Address?
Your public IP address is the unique identifier for your internet connection.
Understanding your public IP address
An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network. Your public IP address is provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and is how servers across the web identify your connection. It acts as a return address for the data you request from websites and online services.
The difference between IPv4 and IPv6
IPv4 uses a 32-bit address format (e.g., 192.168.1.1), which allows for roughly 4.3 billion unique addresses. Because of the explosion of internet-connected devices, IPv6 was developed using a 128-bit address (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3...) to ensure every device in the world can have its own unique identifier.
Why you might need to find your IP address
Knowing your public IP address is useful for several common technical tasks:
- Remote Desktop Access: Many systems require your specific IP to allow a secure remote connection.
- Whitelisting: For security, some business servers only allow access from specific, recognized IP addresses.
- Gaming & Hosting: Troubleshooting multiplayer connections often requires verifying your public-facing IP.
- VPN Verification: You can use this tool to ensure your VPN is active and successfully masking your real location.