The number shown above is your public IP address - the unique identifier your device presents to every website you visit. It is assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and changes when you switch networks, restart your router, or connect through a VPN.
What does your IP address reveal?
Even without any extra tracking, a public IP address gives away more than most people realize:
- Approximate location - country, region, and often the city you are connecting from.
- Your ISP - the company providing your internet connection.
- Connection type - whether you are on home broadband, mobile data, a corporate network, or a data center.
- An identifier for tracking - advertisers and analytics services use your IP to link visits across sites.
IPv4 vs IPv6
There are two versions of IP addresses in use today. IPv4 addresses look like 203.1.2.3 and are limited to about 4.3 billion total addresses. IPv6 addresses look like 2001:0db8:dead::8a2e:beef:7334 and were introduced to handle the modern explosion of connected devices. This page automatically detects and shows whichever version your connection is using.
How to hide your IP address
The simplest and most reliable way to hide your IP address is to use a VPN. When you connect to a VPN server:
- Your device builds an encrypted tunnel to the VPN server.
- Websites see the VPN server's IP address instead of yours.
- Your ISP can no longer see which sites you visit - only that you are connected to a VPN.
UpVPN is a serverless VPN built on WireGuard that gives you a fresh IP address in seconds, with no logs and pay-as-you-go pricing. Reload this page while connected and you will see a different IP.
Frequently asked questions
What is my IP address?
Your IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique number assigned to your device by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) whenever you connect to the internet. It is shown at the top of this page and is the address websites, apps, and online services see when you visit them.
Is my IP address public or private?
The IP shown on this page is your public IP - the address the outside internet sees. Devices inside your home or office network also have a private IP (such as 192.168.x.x), which is only used on your local network and is not visible to websites.
What can someone do with my IP address?
Your public IP reveals your approximate location (country, region, often city) and your ISP. Websites, advertisers, and trackers use it to build a profile of you, throttle or block content by region, and log your activity. It can also be used to attempt targeted attacks.
How do I hide my IP address?
The most effective way to hide your IP address is to use a VPN. When you connect to a VPN server, your real IP is replaced with the VPN server's IP, and all traffic between your device and the VPN is encrypted. Reload this page while connected to a VPN and you will see a different IP.
Why does my IP address change?
Most home internet connections use dynamic IPs, meaning your ISP assigns you a new address every so often (after a router restart, lease renewal, or on a fixed schedule). Mobile networks rotate IPs even more frequently. A few ISPs offer static IPs, usually for a fee.
What is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?
IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses written as four numbers (for example 203.1.2.3) and supports around 4.3 billion unique addresses. IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses written in hexadecimal (for example 2001:beef::1) and provides a vastly larger address space to support the growing number of internet-connected devices.