IP Address Guide
Your device uses two different IP addresses. Learn which one is visible to the world and which stays hidden.
A public IP address is assigned by your ISP and visible to every website you visit. A private IP address is used only within your local network (e.g. 192.168.x.x) and is invisible to the outside world. Your router translates between the two using NAT.
Your public IP is the address the internet sees — it is assigned by your ISP and shared by all devices on your network. Your private IP is used only within your home or office network and is invisible to websites.
Your public IP is like your building's street address — the mail carrier sees it. Your private IP is like your apartment number — only people inside the building know it. The building's mailroom (your router) handles the distribution.
Your public address broken into its parts, plus how IPv4 and IPv6 differ in size, notation and privacy properties.
Your public IP address is assigned by your internet service provider and is unique on the internet. Every website, service, and server you connect to sees this address.
See your current public IP address instantly with our IP address checker .
Your private IP address is assigned by your router and is only used within your local network. These addresses are not routable on the public internet.
NAT (Network Address Translation) is the technology that bridges your private and public IP addresses. Your router acts as a translator between the two.
Your device (private IP 192.168.1.5) sends a web request
Your router replaces your private IP with the public IP
Your router receives the response and forwards it to your private IP
NAT is why the website never sees your private IP — and why multiple devices can share one public IP address.
Your public IP reveals your approximate location and ISP. To hide it, use a VPN, proxy, or Tor. Your private IP is already hidden from the internet by your router's NAT.
One exception: WebRTC leaks . The WebRTC protocol (used for video calls) can sometimes expose your private IP to websites through your browser. Privacy-focused browsers and extensions block this.
For more privacy guidance, read how to protect your privacy online and how accurate is IP location .
The easiest way is to use an online tool like SnapWhatIsMy's IP checker. You can also search 'what is my IP' in Google. Your public IP is assigned by your ISP and is the address websites see when you connect.
On Windows, open Command Prompt and type 'ipconfig'. On Mac, go to System Settings > Network. On iPhone, go to Settings > Wi-Fi > tap your network. On Android, go to Settings > Network > Wi-Fi > tap your network. Your private IP typically starts with 192.168, 10.0, or 172.16-31.
No. Websites can only see your public IP address. Your private IP is hidden behind your router's NAT (Network Address Translation). However, in some cases, WebRTC can leak your private IP through your browser — this is called a WebRTC leak.
Yes. All devices connected to the same router (your phone, laptop, smart TV, etc.) share the same public IP address. The router uses NAT to route incoming data to the correct device using private IP addresses.
Yes, but most residential connections use dynamic IPs that change periodically. You can request a static IP from your ISP, usually for an additional monthly fee. Static IPs are common for businesses running servers or VPNs.