IP Address Frequently Asked Questions

Your IP address is assigned to your device by your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Your ISP will assign your device an IP address because they are responsible for giving you access to the internet. Your internet activity goes through an ISP, who uses your IP address to route it back to you. However, your IP address sometimes changes.

Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) is the fourth version of the standard primarily used to identify devices on a network.

It is one of the core protocols of the standards-based interconnection methods on the Internet and other packet-switched networks. The protocol has been around since 1983 and currently controls about 94% of the world's internet traffic. However, in addition to its many advantages, IPv4 also has many limitations. IPv4 IP addresses are usually in the format 182.0.2.118. Read More About: the Difference between IPv4 and IPv6

Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is a newer version of IP designed to overcome the limitations of IPv4, especially in addressing and security.

Its communication protocols provide an identification and location system for computers on the network and route traffic through the Internet. The IPv6 protocol was developed to provide additional support for rapidly evolving device architectures and emerging innovations in the technology industry. Read More About: the Difference between IPv4 and IPv6

The main difference between IPv4 and IPv6 is the address size of the IP address. IPv4 is a 32-bit address, while IPv6 is a 128-bit hexadecimal address.

Compared with IPv4, IPv6 provides a larger address space and includes a simple header. IPv6 increases IP addresses from 32 bits to 128 bits to support larger address requirements. It is estimated that there are 4x10^18 IPv6 addresses per square meter of the earth's surface, and IP addresses will not run out anytime soon. IPv6 address encoding uses a CIDR-like hierarchy, which simplifies routing. Read More About: the Difference between IPv4 and IPv6

With our free tool "Read My IP" you can easily read or check your IP address. Simply type whatsmyipaddressnow.com into your computer or smartphone browser and you will receive your IP address immediately. You can also look it up on Google by typing "my IP". Your IP address will then be displayed. However, if your network supports both IPv4 and IPv6, Google will always display your IPv6.

Yes, you can hide your real IP address while accessing the internet through a VPN.
Suggested Read: What is VPN

Yes, you can change your IP address. Below are three methods you can use to change your IP.

1. Change your network or reset your router: Changing your network provider will change your IP. Switching between network providers can help you change your IP address seamlessly. For example, if you turn off WiFi and use mobile data, your IP address will change immediately. Likewise, resetting your router will force your ISP to assign your device a new IP address.

2. Use a VPN: A Virtual Private Network (VPN) provides a reliable way to change or mask your IP address, making it extremely difficult for third parties, including your ISP, to monitor your online activity. A VPN offers many benefits, including protecting your online identity and accessing geo-restricted content from streaming platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.

3. Contact your ISP: You can also contact your ISP to change the IP address for you. With Tor Browser, you are assigned a different IP address each time you open Tor Browser. Any website you visit through Tor Browser will see the assigned IP instead of your real IP address.

No, your IP address does not reveal your exact location. However, your IP address may reveal registration location and other information about your Internet Service Provider (ISP), but not your exact location.

You can check your IP address on different websites, and all of these websites may show different locations. However, details such as your continent, region, city, etc. can be identified from your IP address.

1. How to Find your Public IP Address using Command Prompt (CMD)

Follow the steps below to find your public IP address using command prompt;
- Open the window Start menu and type "cmd"
- then type the following command "nslookup myip.opendns.com resolver1.opendns.com" into your Command Prompt and press Enter
- your public IP address will come up

2. How to Find your IP Address using Command Prompt (CMD)

Follow the steps below to find your IP address using command prompt;
- Open the window Start menu and type "cmd"
- then type the following command "ipconfig" into your cmd and press Enter
- your public IP address will come up

1. How to find your local IP Address on Windows 11

Follow the steps below to find your local IP address on windows 11;
- Open the Start menu and select Settings.
- Choose Network & internet from the menu on the left, then click on Properties.
- You will then find see your IPv4 and IPv6 address.

2. How to Find your local IP Address on Windows 10

Follow the steps below to find your local IP address on windows 10;
- Right-click on the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of your computer screen and select Settings.
- then click Network & Internet.
- Select Wi-Fi or Ethernet in the left menu,
- Click Network (or Network and Sharing Center),
- Your IP address will appear in the next window

Loopback IP address is used to access its own address. IPv4 sets 127.0.0.1 as the loopback address with a subnet mask of 255.0.0.0. The loopback interface is also recognized as a virtual IP independent of the hardware interface.

The loopback address is used for testing network software without physically installing a network interface card (NIC) or physically connecting the device to a TCP/IP network. For example http://127.0.0.1 or http://localhost is used to access the web server running itself.