What is My IP Address? – Free IP Address Checker
Instantly see your public IP address (IPv4 or IPv6). Detects your real IP even when the site is behind Cloudflare or another reverse proxy.
Your Public IP Address
216.73.216.28
Connection Details
In-depth guide
What is my IP address? How this page finds it, what it can and cannot tell you, and how to use it
Where the address on this page comes from, which request headers it trusts and in what order, what the IPv4/IPv6 label and private-address note mean, what the page does and does not contact, and practical uses such as checking a VPN or setting up an allowlist.
Key figures at a glance
- Who reads your IP address
- This site's own server, from the request your browser makes
- The page does not call a third-party IP lookup service. The address is placed in the page on the server, and Refresh asks this same site for it again.
- Order of headers it reads
- CF-Connecting-IP, True-Client-IP, X-Forwarded-For, X-Real-IP, then the direct connection
- The first value that is a well-formed IPv4 or IPv6 address is shown.
- Source: Cloudflare
- What it does not show
- Your location, your ISP, or your private address
- It shows the public address your request arrived from, the IP version, a connection label and your browser's user-agent string.
- IPv4 and IPv6 address size
- 32 bits versus 128 bits
- IPv6 increases the IP address size from 32 bits to 128 bits.
- Source: RFC 8200
- Private IPv4 ranges
- 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12 and 192.168.0.0/16
- Reserved for private networks. If the page sees one of these, it adds a note that you are probably on a local server.
- Source: RFC 1918
Checking your IP for a VPN or an allowlist: step by step
Your public address is what other websites and servers see, so it is the one to check and the one to allow.
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Step 1: Open the page without the VPN
FirstNote the address and whether it is IPv4 or IPv6. This is the address of your connection.
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Step 2: Connect the VPN and check again
After connectingPress Refresh. If the address does not change, reload the page. A working VPN shows a different address.
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Step 3: Look at the IP version
While the VPN is onIf the VPN covers only one IP version, this page may show your normal address when your browser uses the other. Check both if you can.
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Step 4: Copy the address
When you need it for somethingPress Copy IP and paste it into a support ticket, firewall rule or allowlist.
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Step 5: Remember that it may change
Before relying on itMany home and mobile connections get a different address from time to time, and many users share one address.
What this page does
When you open the page, this site's server looks at the web request your browser just made and works out the address it came from. It prints that address, the IP version (IPv4 or IPv6), a connection label, and your browser's user-agent text. This is done on the server because the server is the side that sees the connection's address.
It does not use any other service to look up your address, and it does not show your location or ISP. Pressing Refresh calls this site again (/api/my-ip) and updates the address and version without reloading the page. Copy IP puts the displayed address on your clipboard.
Which address is shown
A website that sits behind a proxy or content delivery network (CDN) normally sees the proxy's address rather than yours. Cloudflare and similar services pass the visitor's address on in request headers, so the page reads them in this order and shows the first valid one:
CF-Connecting-IP, which Cloudflare sets to the address connecting to itTrue-Client-IP, which carries the same original address (Cloudflare provides it on its Enterprise plan)X-Forwarded-For, which can hold a chain of addresses; the left-most valid entry is usedX-Real-IP, which some web servers set- the address of the connection itself
Values that are not well-formed IPv4 or IPv6 addresses are skipped.
| Request | Address shown |
|---|---|
| No proxy headers, connection from 203.0.113.42 | 203.0.113.42 (IPv4, "Direct connection") |
| CF-Connecting-IP 203.0.113.9 and X-Forwarded-For 198.51.100.7, 203.0.113.9 | 203.0.113.9 |
| CF-Connecting-IP is not an address; X-Forwarded-For is "unknown, 198.51.100.7, 203.0.113.9" | 198.51.100.7 |
| CF-Connecting-IP 2406:3003:2000::1 | 2406:3003:2000::1 (IPv6) |
These results come from this tool's automated tests. The checks only look at whether a value is formatted as an address, not whether it is true. Anyone who sends a request straight to a server can add such a header themselves, which is why the result is for your own information and should not be used to prove who someone is.
The "Direct connection" label appears when none of CF-Connecting-IP, True-Client-IP or X-Forwarded-For was sent.
IPv4 and IPv6
IPv4 addresses are written as four numbers separated by dots, such as 203.0.113.42. IPv6 addresses are longer and written in hexadecimal groups separated by colons, such as 2406:3003:2000::1. An IPv6 address is 128 bits long and an IPv4 address 32 bits. The page shows whichever one your browser used to reach it. If your connection supports both, you may see either one on different visits.
Public and private addresses
The address on this page is your public address: the one the internet sees. It is usually shared by all the devices in your home or office, because your router translates between them and the internet. The private addresses on your own network, such as 192.168.1.5, are not visible to this page. RFC 1918 reserves 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12 and 192.168.0.0/16 for private networks.
If the page sees a private or reserved address (for example when it is run on a local test server), it shows a yellow note instead of treating it as a normal public address:
| Address | IP version | Private note? |
|---|---|---|
| 203.0.113.42 | IPv4 | no |
| 192.168.1.5, 10.0.0.1, 172.16.5.4 | IPv4 | yes |
| 127.0.0.1 (this computer), 169.254.1.1 | IPv4 | yes |
| 2406:3003:2000::1 | IPv6 | no |
| ::1, fc00::1, fe80::1 | IPv6 | yes |
What your address can and cannot reveal
An IP address can suggest a rough region and the provider that owns it, but not your street address or your name, and this page does not look either up. Only your provider can link an address to a particular account. Many mobile and home connections share addresses between many customers, and some change from time to time, so the address you see today may not be the same tomorrow.
What happens to the address
The tool's code reads the address and sends it straight back to you. It does not save it or send it to another service. As with every website, the web server that delivers the page sees your connection's address, and if the site has analytics or advertising scripts switched on, your browser contacts those services separately. Those are separate from this tool.
Common mistakes
- Expecting to see your 192.168.x.x address. This page shows only your public address.
- Using the result as proof of identity or location. Headers can be set by anyone who reaches the server directly.
- Allowlisting an address that changes. Check with your provider whether yours is fixed.
- Assuming a VPN leak test is complete. It shows only the address used for this page's request.
- Forgetting IPv6. Your IPv6 address can differ from your IPv4 address.
Related tools
- Time zone detector — your device's time zone, read locally in your browser.
- Password generator — create strong passwords for the accounts you secure.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the difference between a public and private IP address?
Your public IP is the address the internet sees and is assigned by your ISP. Your private IP (such as 192.168.1.5) is used only inside your home or office network. This tool shows your public IP.
How do you get my real IP if the site is behind Cloudflare?
Cloudflare passes your original IP to the server in the CF-Connecting-IP header. We read that header (and fall back to True-Client-IP, X-Forwarded-For, and X-Real-IP), validate it, and display it, so you see your address rather than Cloudflare's.
Why is my IP version IPv6 instead of IPv4?
If your ISP and connection support IPv6, your browser may prefer it. IPv6 is the newer addressing standard that solves the shortage of IPv4 addresses. Seeing an IPv6 address simply means your connection used it for this request.
Does this tool store or track my IP address?
No. Your IP is detected only to show it back to you. The tool does not log or share your IP address.
Why does my IP change from time to time?
Most consumer ISPs assign dynamic IP addresses that can change when your router reconnects. Connecting to a VPN or mobile network will also change the IP shown.
Can someone find my location from my IP address?
An IP address can reveal a rough region or city and your ISP, but not your exact home address. Only your ISP can link an IP to a specific account.
Sources
- Cloudflare — HTTP request headers — CF-Connecting-IP and True-Client-IP carry the original visitor address; X-Forwarded-For can contain a chain of addresses.
- RFC 1918 — Address Allocation for Private Internets — The 10/8, 172.16/12 and 192.168/16 private blocks.
- RFC 8200 — Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6) Specification — IPv6 addresses are 128 bits, IPv4 addresses 32 bits.
This guide explains published rules in plain language. It is not financial, legal or official advice — rules change, so confirm with the agency linked above before you commit.