What Is My IP Address? 🌐
Instantly check your public IPv4 & IPv6 address, location, ISP, timezone, and connection type. Free, no login.
What Is My IP Address? — Free Public IP Address Lookup
Your public IP address is the unique numerical label assigned to your internet connection by your ISP (Internet Service Provider). It is what websites, servers, streaming platforms, and online services see when you connect to them. This free IP address checker instantly detects and displays your public IPv4 address, IPv6 address (if your connection supports it), your approximate city and country, your ISP name, timezone, and ASN information — using a multi-source detection system with automatic fallback APIs to ensure you always get an accurate result.
What Does My IP Address Reveal About Me?
Your public IP address reveals your approximate geographic location (typically the city where your ISP's regional server is located), the name of your Internet Service Provider, and your ASN (Autonomous System Number — a unique number assigned to each ISP's network). What your IP address does not reveal is your exact home address, your name, your device, or your browsing history. Only your ISP has that information, and they are legally required to protect it except under court order.
Why Does My IP Address Show the Wrong Location?
IP geolocation is not GPS — it uses commercial databases that map IP address ranges to approximate locations, typically based on where your ISP registered that IP block, not where you are physically sitting. This is why an IP address can show a city that is 50-200 km away from your actual location. Mobile carrier networks, corporate VPNs, satellite internet connections (like Starlink), and data center IPs can also produce locations that differ significantly from the user's real position. This is a known limitation of IP-based geolocation — no free tool can overcome it.
IPv4 vs IPv6 — What Is the Difference?
IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) is the traditional 32-bit format written as four groups of numbers separated by dots — for example, 203.0.113.42. There are approximately 4.3 billion possible IPv4 addresses, and the global pool is now exhausted. IPv6 is the next-generation 128-bit format written in hexadecimal — for example, 2001:db8::1. It supports an astronomically larger address space (340 undecillion addresses) and was introduced specifically to replace IPv4 as the internet's addressing system. Many ISPs now dual-stack their connections, assigning both an IPv4 and an IPv6 address simultaneously. This tool displays both if your connection supports them.
How to Check If Your VPN Is Working — IP Address Test
A quick way to verify whether your VPN is hiding your real IP address is to check your IP address both with and without the VPN connected. Without VPN, note the IP shown here. Connect your VPN, then refresh this page. If the IP address has changed and the location now shows your VPN server's country — your VPN is working. If the same IP still shows after connecting your VPN, there may be a DNS leak, the VPN connection may have failed, or your app may have a split-tunneling setting that excludes browser traffic.
Common Reasons to Know Your IP Address
- Network troubleshooting: ISP support teams often ask for your public IP to diagnose connection issues.
- Server whitelist: Adding your IP to a server, firewall, or database access list to allow your connection.
- VPN verification: Confirming your VPN is active and routing your traffic through the correct country.
- Gaming servers: Some game servers or Discord bots require your IP for setup or admin access.
- Remote desktop: Setting up remote access to your home or office computer requires knowing your public IP.
How This IP Checker Gets an Accurate Result
This tool uses a multi-API fallback system — it first calls the most reliable free geolocation API available, and if that fails (due to ad blockers, rate limits, or network issues), it automatically tries the next API in the chain. This makes it significantly more reliable than tools that depend on a single API source, which can fail silently and show stale or incorrect data. All API calls are made directly from your browser — no data passes through our servers. The result is updated every time you click Refresh.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is my public IP address?
Your public IP is the unique address your ISP assigns to your internet connection — visible to every website and server you connect to. This page detects and displays it instantly along with your location, ISP, and timezone.
What is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?
IPv4 is the traditional format (e.g. 203.0.113.42). IPv6 is the newer format (e.g. 2001:db8::1) with a vastly larger address space. Many ISPs now assign both simultaneously.
Why does my IP address show the wrong city or location?
IP geolocation uses databases that map IP ranges to approximate locations — usually where your ISP's server is, not your physical address. VPNs, mobile networks, and satellite connections can also produce different locations.
How can I check if my VPN is working?
Note your IP without VPN, connect your VPN, then refresh this page. If the IP and location have changed to match your VPN server's country, your VPN is working correctly.
What is an ISP and why is it shown with my IP?
ISP stands for Internet Service Provider — the company providing your internet connection. IP addresses are assigned to ISPs in blocks, so your ISP is publicly associated with your IP range. This does not reveal your personal identity.
Can websites see my IP address when I visit them?
Yes — every website sees your public IP as part of how the internet works. It can reveal your approximate city and ISP but not your exact address or personal identity. Use a VPN to mask your real IP.
About This Tool
This IP Address Checker was built by the FreeImageTools team — network engineers and developers who work with server configurations, VPN setups, and API integrations daily. The original tool used a single API that frequently failed or returned incorrect data. We rebuilt it with a 4-API fallback chain — starting with ip-api.com (running since 2012, sub-50ms response globally), falling back to ipwhois.app, then ipinfo.io, then ipify.org for the IP alone — so the tool always returns a result even if individual APIs are blocked by adblockers or rate-limited. We also added IPv6 detection, ASN display, timezone with local time, VPN/proxy hint, and a one-click copy button. All API calls go directly from your browser to the API — no data passes through our servers. Reviewed and tested most recently in June 2026.