Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about our detection tools, privacy, and technical details.

Why is my location showing a different city?

IP-based location detection shows where your internet service provider (ISP) routes your connection. This is often a nearby city or regional data center, not your exact physical location. Using a VPN will also change your detected location to the VPN server's location.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my location showing a different city?

IP-based location detection shows where your internet service provider (ISP) routes your connection. This is often a nearby city or regional data center, not your exact physical location. Using a VPN will also change your detected location to the VPN server's location.

How accurate is IP geolocation?

IP geolocation is typically accurate to the city or regional level. It cannot pinpoint your exact street address. Accuracy depends on your ISP's network infrastructure and whether you're using a VPN or proxy.

Why does my IP address change?

Most home internet connections use dynamic IP addresses that can change when you restart your router or periodically by your ISP. If you need a consistent IP, you may need to request a static IP from your provider.

What's the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?

IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses (like 192.168.1.1) with about 4.3 billion possible addresses. IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses providing virtually unlimited addresses. Many networks now support both.

Can websites track me using my IP address?

Your IP reveals your approximate location and ISP, but not your exact address or identity. Websites can use it along with other data for analytics. Using a VPN can help mask your real IP.

Why does my browser version look different than expected?

Some browsers report simplified or 'frozen' version numbers for privacy reasons. This prevents websites from fingerprinting your exact browser version. The displayed version is what websites see when you visit them.

What is a user agent string?

A user agent is text your browser sends to websites identifying itself. It includes browser name, version, operating system, and device information. Websites use this to serve compatible content.

How is my device type detected?

We analyze your user agent string and screen properties to determine if you're using a desktop, mobile, or tablet. Touch capability is detected using browser APIs.

Why can't you detect my exact device model?

For privacy reasons, browsers don't share specific device model information. We can detect the general type (desktop, mobile, tablet) and operating system, but not specific manufacturers or models.

What is pixel ratio (DPR)?

Device Pixel Ratio indicates how many physical pixels display one CSS pixel. A DPR of 2 (like Retina displays) means double the pixel density, resulting in sharper images and text.

Is my data being stored or tracked?

No. All detection happens locally in your browser. We don't store your IP address, location, device information, or any other detected data on our servers. The information is only displayed to you.

Do you use cookies?

We use minimal cookies for essential functionality like remembering your theme preference (dark/light mode). We may use analytics cookies to understand how our site is used. You can control cookies in your browser settings.

Is it safe to use these tools?

Yes. Our tools only read information that your browser already shares with websites. We don't install anything, collect personal data, or require any permissions beyond what's needed for basic detection.

Can I use a VPN with your tools?

Absolutely. If you're using a VPN, our tools will detect the VPN's IP address and server location instead of your real information. This is useful for verifying that your VPN is working correctly.

Do you sell data to third parties?

No. We don't collect or store your data, so there's nothing to sell. We don't share any personal information with anyone.

The site isn't loading or showing errors

Try refreshing the page, clearing your browser cache, or disabling browser extensions that might block scripts. Our tools require JavaScript to function. If issues persist, try a different browser.

Why is some information showing as 'Unknown'?

Some browsers or privacy extensions block certain information from being detected. This is a privacy feature, not an error. The 'Unknown' values indicate data that couldn't be accessed.

The timezone or language seems wrong

These are read from your device's system settings. If they appear incorrect, check your operating system's timezone and language settings. Browser settings can also override system defaults.

Why does screen size change when I resize the browser?

The viewport size (browser window area) updates in real-time as you resize. Screen resolution (your monitor's total pixels) stays constant regardless of browser window size.

Can I use these tools on mobile devices?

Yes! All our tools work on mobile browsers including Safari, Chrome, and Firefox on iOS and Android. Some information may differ from desktop due to mobile browser limitations.

Is SnapWhatIsMy free to use?

Yes, all our tools are completely free. There's no registration, subscription, or hidden fees.

Can I use these tools for commercial purposes?

The tools are free for personal and light commercial use. For high-volume commercial usage or API access, please contact us to discuss options.

How often is the information updated?

Information is detected fresh each time you visit a page. There's no caching — you're always seeing your current data. For real-time updates (like screen size), the data updates automatically.

Do you have an API?

Currently, we don't offer a public API. All detection happens client-side in the browser. If you need programmatic access to similar data, there are various third-party APIs available.

How can I share my results?

Each tool page has a Share button that lets you copy your results as text. You can then paste this into messages, documents, or support tickets.