How to Find My IP Address (Public vs. Private)

Every device connected to the internet has an address. It’s how Netflix knows where to send the movie stream and how your email finds your inbox. This address is called an Internet Protocol (IP) Address.

But did you know you actually have two IP addresses?

1. Public IP: The address the outside world sees, assigned by your ISP.
2. Private IP: The address your router assigns to your device within your home network.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to find both and explain why it matters.

Method 1: The Easiest Way (Public IP)

To see your Public IP address instantly (the one websites use to track you), simply use our free tool:

👉 Check My IP Address

This page will show you your IPv4 address like 45.12.19.123 and provides a handy Subnet Calculator for network admins.

Method 2: Find Private IP on Windows

Using Command Prompt (All Versions)

1. Press Windows Key + R.
2. Type cmd and press Enter.
3. In the black box, type ipconfig and press Enter.
4. Look for IPv4 Address. It usually starts with 192.168... or 10.

Example Output:

Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi:
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.105
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

Using Settings (Windows 10/11)

1. Click Start > Settings (gear icon).
2. Select Network & Internet.
3. Click on your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
4. Scroll down to Properties.
5. Look for IPv4 address.

Method 3: Find Private IP on Mac

Using System Settings

1. Click the Apple Menu > System Settings.
2. Click Network.
3. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
4. Your IP address is listed under the status, for example: “Wi-Fi is connected to [Network] and has the IP address 192.168.1.5”.

Using Terminal

1. Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal).
2. Type ifconfig | grep "inet " | grep -v 127.0.0.1
3. Look for the IP address that starts with 192.168 or 10.

Method 4: Find IP on iPhone/iPad

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Wi-Fi.
3. Tap the (i) icon next to your connected network.
4. Your IP address is listed under IP Address.

Method 5: Find IP on Android

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Network & Internet or Connections.
3. Tap Wi-Fi.
4. Tap your connected network name.
5. Scroll down to IP address.

(Note: Exact steps vary by Android manufacturer)

Method 6: Find IP on Linux

Open Terminal and type:

ip addr show

Or for a simpler output:

hostname -I

Look for an address starting with 192.168 or 10.

Public vs. Private: What’s the Difference?

Feature	Public IP	Private IP
Who assigns it?	Your ISP (Comcast, AT&T, etc.)	Your Router (DHCP)
Visibility	The entire internet	Only devices in your home
Changes?	Often (Dynamic IP)	Often (DHCP lease renewal)
Security Risk	High (can reveal location)	Low (hidden behind NAT)
Example	203.0.113.45	192.168.1.100
Uniqueness	Unique on the internet	Reused in millions of homes

Understanding Private IP Address Ranges

Three IP ranges are reserved for private networks (RFC 1918):

Range	CIDR Notation	Total Addresses	Common Use
10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255	10.0.0.0/8	16,777,216	Large enterprises
172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255	172.16.0.0/12	1,048,576	Medium businesses
192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255	192.168.0.0/16	65,536	Home networks

Your home router almost certainly uses 192.168.0.x or 192.168.1.x for devices.

IPv4 vs. IPv6

IPv4 (Traditional)

• Format: 192.168.1.1, which is four numbers from 0 to 255
• Total Addresses: 4.3 billion
• Problem: We ran out in 2011

IPv6 (Modern)

• Format: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334
• Total Addresses: 340 undecillion, which has 36 zeros
• Adoption: Slowly growing, now at 30% of internet traffic in 2026

Most devices have both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses today. Websites support both protocols, but IPv4 is still dominant.

What Can Someone Do With My IP?

A public IP address reveals your general location, such as city or zip code, and your ISP. It does NOT reveal your exact street address or name.

Real Risks:

1. DDoS Attacks: Hackers can flood your IP with traffic to crash your internet connection.
2. Port Scanning: Attackers scan for open ports like 22 for SSH or 3389 for RDP to find vulnerabilities.
3. Geolocation: Advertisers track you across websites using your IP.
4. Copyright Trolls: Downloading torrents exposes your IP to copyright monitors.

Not Real Risks:

• Hackers can’t “hack your computer” just from your IP
• Your IP doesn’t reveal your physical address
• Someone can’t steal your identity with just an IP

How to Hide Your IP Address

1. Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A VPN routes your traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a server in another location.

Benefits:

• Hides your real IP
• Encrypts your traffic
• Bypasses geographic restrictions

Popular VPNs in 2026: NordVPN, ExpressVPN, ProtonVPN, Mullvad

Cost: $3-12/month

2. Use Tor Browser

Tor routes your traffic through multiple volunteer servers, making it nearly impossible to trace.

Benefits:

• Free
• Maximum anonymity

Drawbacks:

• Very slow
• Some websites block Tor

3. Use a Proxy Server

Proxies are like VPNs but usually unencrypted and less reliable.

Good for: Bypassing simple geographic blocks

Bad for: Privacy and security

4. Use Public Wi-Fi (with caution)

Connecting to Starbucks Wi-Fi shows their IP, not yours.

Warning: Public Wi-Fi is often unencrypted. Never access banking or sensitive accounts without a VPN.

Static vs. Dynamic IP Addresses

Dynamic IP (Most Common)

Your ISP assigns you a different IP each time your router reconnects.

Pros:

• More privacy (your IP changes periodically)
• No extra cost

Cons:

• Can’t host servers easily
• Remote access requires Dynamic DNS

Static IP (For Businesses/Power Users)

You pay extra for a permanent IP that never changes.

Pros:

• Reliable for hosting servers
• Easier remote access
• Better for security cameras

Cons:

• Costs $5-15/month extra
• Easier to track/target

How to Check If Your IP is Static

1. Note your current public IP
2. Restart your router
3. Check your IP again 10 minutes later
4. If it changed, you have dynamic IP

When You Need to Know Your IP

1. Remote Desktop Access

Accessing your home computer from work requires your public IP (or a Dynamic DNS service).

2. Port Forwarding for Gaming

Hosting multiplayer game servers requires forwarding ports to your private IP.

3. Security Camera Access

Viewing security cameras remotely requires either your public IP or a cloud service.

4. Network Troubleshooting

When calling tech support, they’ll often ask for your IP to diagnose connection issues.

5. Website Whitelisting

Some services (like business VPNs) require you to whitelist your office IP.

IP Address Conflicts (Why They Happen)

If you see “IP address conflict” on Windows, it means two devices on your network were assigned the same private IP.

Causes:

• Manually setting IPs instead of using DHCP
• Router DHCP range misconfiguration
• A device reconnecting before its old lease expired

Fix:

1. Restart your router
2. Restart the affected device
3. If problem persists, change the device to DHCP (automatic) instead of static IP

DHCP Explained (How Your Router Assigns IPs)

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is how your router automatically gives each device a private IP.

How it works:

1. Your phone connects to Wi-Fi
2. Router says: “I’ll give you 192.168.1.105 for the next 24 hours”
3. Phone responds: “Thanks!”
4. After 24 hours, the lease renews or changes

Most routers have a DHCP range like 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.199, meaning it can assign 100 devices.

What This Means For You

For Privacy

Your public IP is visible to every website you visit. Use a VPN if you want anonymity.

For Security

Never expose your home network to the internet without proper security (strong router password, disable WPS, update firmware).

For Networking

Understanding public vs. private IPs is essential for port forwarding, remote access, and troubleshooting.

Use the Online Tool

For instant IP lookup with geolocation data, use our IP Address Lookup Tool. It shows your IPv4, IPv6, ISP, and approximate location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can two devices have the same public IP?

Yes. All devices behind your home router share the same public IP. Your router uses NAT or Network Address Translation to route traffic to the correct device using private IPs.

Does restarting my router change my IP?

Usually, yes if you have dynamic IP. Your ISP assigns a new IP from its pool. However, if you restart quickly, you might get the same IP again.

Can I change my IP address manually?

For private IP: Yes, in your device’s network settings, but it can cause conflicts. For public IP: Restart your router, or contact your ISP for a static IP.

What is 127.0.0.1?

That’s the “localhost” or “loopback” address. It always refers to the current device and is used for testing network software without actually going online.

Why does my IP show a different city than where I live?

ISPs manage IP blocks regionally. Your IP might be registered to a datacenter 50 miles away, even though you’re using it locally.