What is an IP address (and how to find yours)
Your IP address is the number that identifies your device on the internet so that replies — web pages, messages, video — can find their way back to you.
What it is
An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a numeric label assigned to your connection. There are two kinds: IPv4, written like 203.0.113.10, and the newer IPv6, written like 2a01:4f8::1.
Your device usually has a private IP on your local network (e.g. 192.168.1.5) and shares one public IP — assigned by your provider — with the whole internet. The public one is what websites actually see.
Why it matters
Every site, app and game you connect to sees your public IP — it has to, to send data back. From it, services can derive your approximate location (country/city), your internet provider (via the ASN), and use it for geolocation, rate-limiting, fraud checks and blocking.
It does not reveal your name or home address by itself. But combined with other signals it contributes to how recognisable you are online.
How to check
Open the tool above. It shows your public IP, IP version, country and city, your provider and ASN, reverse DNS, and whether your connection looks like a VPN, proxy or datacenter — i.e. how trustworthy you look to a website.
How to fix
There is nothing to “fix” about having an IP — every connection needs one. But if you want to change what sites see:
- Use a VPN or proxy to present a different IP and location.
- Restart your router or ask your ISP if you need a new IP.
- Check for DNS and WebRTC leaks — these can expose your real IP even behind a VPN.