Every time you open a website, stream a video or send a message, networks need a way to deliver information to the right destination. An IP address is a key part of that process.
You may have seen numbers such as 192.168.1.10 in your Wi-Fi settings, or wondered whether a website can use your IP address to identify where you live. This guide explains what IP addresses do, the difference between public and private addresses, and what they can—and cannot—reveal about you.
What Is an IP Address?
IP stands for Internet Protocol. An IP address is a numerical address associated with a network interface. Devices and routers use IP addressing to move packets of data between networks.
Think of the internet as a delivery network. When your device requests a webpage, networking equipment uses addressing information to route the request towards its destination and return the response. Unlike a permanent home address, an IP address may change, be shared by multiple devices or belong to a network rather than one identifiable person.
An IP address is not the same as a website name. The Domain Name System (DNS) helps your device look up the network information associated with a name such as example.com.
IPv4 vs IPv6: What’s the Difference?
Two versions of Internet Protocol are in widespread use: IPv4 and IPv6. Their addresses look different and have very different capacities.
| Feature | IPv4 | IPv6 |
|---|---|---|
| Address length | 32 bits | 128 bits |
| Example | 192.0.2.25 |
2001:db8::25 |
| Format | Four decimal numbers separated by dots | Hexadecimal groups separated by colons |
| Address capacity | About 4.3 billion possible values | A vastly larger address space |
| Where used | Still widely used | Increasingly supported alongside IPv4 |
The examples above use address ranges reserved for documentation, rather than real customer connections. Some devices use IPv4 and IPv6 at the same time, an arrangement commonly called dual stack. ICANN provides a helpful overview of IPv4 and IPv6.
What Is a Public IP Address?
A public IP address is an address used for communication on the public internet. When you connect to a website, the site will normally see the public address from which the connection appears to originate.
On many home broadband connections, several devices share a single public IPv4 address. Your router uses a process called Network Address Translation (NAT) to help manage outgoing connections and deliver responses to the correct device.
Some internet providers also use carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT), in which multiple customer connections share public IPv4 addressing. This means a public IP address does not necessarily identify one household, let alone one person.
What Is a Private IP Address?
Your home router usually assigns local addresses to devices such as phones, laptops, games consoles and smart televisions. Many of these are private IPv4 addresses, designed for use within local networks.
Typical examples are:
192.168.1.10— a common home-network address.10.0.0.20— another valid private-network address.172.16.0.5— from a third reserved private range.
According to the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), private IPv4 addresses belong to these ranges:
10.0.0.0to10.255.255.255172.16.0.0to172.31.255.255192.168.0.0to192.168.255.255
These private ranges are not routed across the public internet as ordinary public addresses. IPv6 has its own addressing categories, including link-local and unique-local addresses.
Public vs Private IP Addresses: A Simple Home Example
Imagine a household with three devices connected to the same Wi-Fi router:
| Device | Example local IPv4 address | Public-facing connection |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop | 192.168.1.11 |
May share one public IPv4 address through the router |
| Phone | 192.168.1.12 |
|
| Smart TV | 192.168.1.13 |
The local addresses help the router communicate with individual devices. NAT can let those devices share a public IPv4 address when using online services. If you want to know more about the wireless part of this process, see our guide to how Wi-Fi works.
What Is a Dynamic or Static IP Address?
A dynamic IP address is assigned in a way that allows it to change. Many residential broadband and mobile connections use dynamic addressing. Reconnecting a device or restarting a router may result in a different address, but there is no guarantee it will.
A static IP address is intended to stay the same. Businesses sometimes use static public addresses for systems requiring consistent remote access or network configuration.
Neither arrangement is automatically more secure. Security depends on factors such as firewall rules, router configuration, software updates and which services are exposed to the internet.
How Can You Find Your IP Address?
First decide whether you want your public IP address or your local address, because they are different.
To find your public IP address
- Open a browser while connected to the network you want to check.
- Search for what is my IP address, or use a reputable IP-checking service.
- Note that the result may be different when you use a VPN or switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data.
To find your local IP address on Windows
- Open Settings and go to Network & internet.
- Select your active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection.
- Look for IPv4 address or the network properties section.
You can also open Command Prompt and run ipconfig, then look for the IPv4 address of your active adapter.
To find your local IP address on a phone
On many Android devices, open Wi-Fi settings and select the connected network to view its IP details. On an iPhone, open Settings > Wi-Fi and tap the information button beside the connected network. Menu names vary by device and software version.
Privacy tip: You do not need to share your public IP address publicly to troubleshoot most everyday Wi-Fi problems.
Can Someone Find Your Location From Your IP Address?
An IP lookup can sometimes estimate a country, region or city and identify a network operator. However, those estimates may be inaccurate. Mobile networks, VPNs, shared addresses and the way providers organise their networks can make an IP address appear associated with a location far from the user.
A public IP lookup generally cannot reveal your exact street address on its own. Internet service providers may hold separate records that connect address assignments to customer accounts at particular times, but those records are not the same as a publicly available location lookup.
Likewise, an IP address does not contain a person’s name. A website might nevertheless link an IP address to an account, cookies, browsing activity or other identifying information.
Is an IP Address Personal Data?
It can be. Under UK data protection law, whether an IP address is personal data depends on whether it relates to an identifiable individual, including when combined with other information reasonably available to the organisation processing it.
The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) specifically includes IP addresses among the online identifiers that may qualify as personal data. This is why IP addresses matter in website privacy practices even though they do not normally disclose an exact home address by themselves.
Can Websites See Your IP Address?
Usually, yes. Websites and online services normally receive network information about incoming connections, including a public-facing IP address. They may use it for delivering content, preventing abuse, detecting suspicious sign-ins and estimating location.
If you use a VPN, websites generally see the VPN server’s IP address instead of the one normally used by your direct connection. That does not make you anonymous: online accounts, cookies and other identifiers can still connect activity to you. Read our explanation of what a VPN actually does.
Does Incognito Mode Hide Your IP Address?
No. Incognito or private browsing mainly limits what your browser saves locally, such as parts of browsing history and cookies retained after the session. It does not normally conceal your public-facing IP address from websites or your internet provider.
What’s the Difference Between an IP Address and a MAC Address?
An IP address is used for Internet Protocol addressing and routing between networks. A MAC address is associated with a network interface at the link layer and is used by technologies such as Ethernet and Wi-Fi on a local link.
They serve different purposes. A website on the wider internet does not ordinarily receive your home device’s Wi-Fi MAC address as part of a normal web request.
Should You Be Worried If Someone Knows Your IP Address?
Knowing an IP address does not give someone automatic access to your files, passwords or precise location. However, it can provide network information that could be misused alongside other vulnerabilities.
For sensible protection:
- Keep your router firmware and devices updated.
- Use secure Wi-Fi settings and a strong router administrator password.
- Leave unnecessary inbound access and port forwarding disabled.
- Use a firewall and avoid exposing services you do not need.
- Be cautious about messages claiming someone can identify your exact address simply because they know your IP.
The Bottom Line
An IP address is part of the addressing system that allows devices to exchange data across networks. IPv4 and IPv6 provide different address formats; public and private addresses serve different roles; and a single public IPv4 address may be shared by several devices or customers.
Your IP address may reveal information about a network and an approximate location, but it does not automatically identify your name or exact home address. Understanding these limits is useful for both everyday troubleshooting and online privacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does IP stand for?
IP stands for Internet Protocol, the set of rules used for addressing and routing packets across IP networks.
Do phones have IP addresses?
Yes. A phone can use IP addresses on Wi-Fi and mobile data networks, and those addresses can change when the connection changes.
Does restarting your router change your public IP?
Sometimes, but not always. It depends on your internet provider and how the address is assigned.
Can two devices have the same public IP address?
Yes. Several devices in one home can share a public IPv4 address through NAT, and some internet providers share public IPv4 addresses across customers using carrier-grade NAT.
Can someone track your exact location from your IP?
A public IP lookup may estimate a general area, but it does not ordinarily provide an exact home address.
Is DNS the same as an IP address?
No. An IP address helps route network traffic, while DNS helps associate domain names with information such as IP addresses.
This article is for general educational purposes. Network configurations differ by device, broadband provider and organisation.