Public vs private IP address
Your router assigns private addresses (like 192.168.x.x) to devices on your home network. Only your public IP address is visible on the open internet.
When you visit a website, it sees your public IP — the one assigned by your ISP or VPN provider.
IPv4 vs IPv6
IPv4 addresses look like 203.0.113.42 — four numbers separated by dots. IPv6 addresses are longer hexadecimal strings designed to replace the dwindling IPv4 supply.
Most home connections still show an IPv4 address publicly. Some networks expose IPv6 as well; this tool reports whichever version your connection presents.
How to find your IP address
The fastest way is this page — it shows your public IP automatically. For your local (private) IP: on Windows, open Command Prompt and run ipconfig; on Mac or Linux, run ifconfig or ip addr in Terminal; on iPhone or Android, check Wi-Fi network details in Settings.
Your public IP is what matters for websites, VPN checks, and remote access. Your private IP only identifies your device on your home network.
Why it matters for privacy
Websites, apps, and advertisers can use your IP address to estimate location, link sessions, and build a profile of your activity.
A VPN replaces your visible IP with one from the VPN network, which is why checking your IP address is a quick sanity check that protection is active.