What Is My IP
Look up your public-facing IPv4 address, which a browser has no built-in way to see on its own.
Tool guide
What this tool does
What Is My IP looks up your public-facing IPv4 address via api.ipify.org, a free CORS-enabled lookup service, since browsers can only see their local network address directly, never the public-facing one assigned by your ISP or VPN.
Your device knows its own local network address (like 192.168.1.42), but has no built-in way to know what public IP address it presents to the wider internet, that address is assigned further upstream, by your router’s connection to your ISP, or by a VPN’s exit server if you’re using one.
This tool asks api.ipify.org, a free, CORS-enabled lookup service, what IP address the request appears to come from, which is exactly the address any website you visit would see.
How to use What Is My IP
- Open the tool, your public IP is looked up automatically.
- Press "Look up again" to refresh the result.
- Copy the IP address if needed.
- Compare it against your VPN provider’s stated exit IP if you’re checking for a leak.
Tips for better results
- If you’re behind a VPN, this shows the VPN’s exit IP, not your device’s real underlying connection, which is exactly what a VPN is supposed to do.
- Your public IP can change over time (especially on home internet with a "dynamic" IP), so a result here today may differ from yesterday’s.
- This only looks up IPv4; most home and mobile connections are still assigned an IPv4 address even where IPv6 is also available.
- Multiple devices sharing one home network (phone, laptop, smart TV) all show the same public IP here, since they share one router’s connection to the internet.
Common use cases
- Checking your own IP address before configuring a firewall rule or server allowlist.
- Verifying a VPN is actually masking your real IP by checking before and after connecting.
- Confirming your public IP for remote access, port forwarding, or dynamic DNS setup.
- Quickly sharing your current IP with someone troubleshooting a connectivity issue with you.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Confusing your public IP with your local network address (like 192.168.x.x); they serve completely different purposes and only the public one is visible from outside your network.
- Assuming your public IP is permanent; most home connections use a "dynamic" IP that can change periodically, for a fixed address you need a static IP plan from your ISP.
- Checking this while a VPN is connected and being confused the result doesn’t match your home ISP’s address, that’s the VPN working correctly, showing its own exit IP instead.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t my browser just know its own public IP?
A browser only has direct access to its local network interface’s address; the public IP is assigned further upstream (by your router’s ISP connection or a VPN), so determining it requires asking an external service what address your request appears to come from.
Does this show my IPv6 address too?
No, this specifically looks up your IPv4 address via api.ipify.org; many connections have both an IPv4 and IPv6 address simultaneously.
Is my IP address sent anywhere beyond this lookup?
The lookup itself necessarily involves your request reaching api.ipify.org (that’s how any IP lookup works); nothing else about your browsing is sent anywhere, and the result isn’t stored by this tool.
Why does my IP keep changing?
Most home and mobile internet connections use "dynamic" IP addressing, where your ISP can reassign a different address periodically (e.g. after a router restart); a "static" IP, which never changes, is usually a separate paid add-on.
Feedback & suggestions
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