What is my IP Address

IP Address & Geolocation Tracker

What is IP Address

  • An IP address is a unique numerical label assigned to every device on a network.
  • It enables devices to locate, identify, and communicate with each other.

Types Of IP Address

Here are the two main types of IP addresses:

  • IPv4 (Internet Protocol Version 4): The original and most widely used format, consisting of four sets of numbers separated by dots.
    • Example: 192.168.1.1
  • IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6): A newer, longer format using hexadecimal digits separated by colons, created to handle the massive expansion of connected devices.
    • Example: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334

What is Private IP Address

  • A private IP address is used for communication only within a local network (LAN), such as a home or office.
  • It is not accessible or routable directly over the public internet, providing a layer of security.
  • Example Range: IP addresses starting with 192.168.x.x, such as 192.168.1.10.

What is Public IP Address

  • A public IP address is a unique, globally routable address assigned to a network interface by an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
  • It is used for communicating with devices outside of the local network, enabling a device to be accessed directly over the public internet.
  • Example: 203.0.113.45 (This is one of the many addresses visible to the internet).

What is Different Classes Of IP Address

The system of different IP address classes (Class A, B, C, D, and E) was primarily used with the older IPv4 standard to define how an IP address was divided into network and host sections. Although this classification system has largely been superseded by Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR), here is a breakdown:

  • Class A: Designed for large networks (few networks, many hosts).
    • Range: to .
    • Example: 10.50.10.1 (Note: network is reserved as a private range).
  • Class B: Designed for medium-to-large sized networks.
    • Range: to .
    • Example: 172.16.20.1 (Note: to is reserved as a private range).
  • Class C: Designed for small local area networks (many networks, few hosts).
    • Range: to .
    • Example: 192.168.1.1 (Note: network is reserved as a private range).
  • Class D (Multicast): Reserved for special multicasting purposes (sending data to a group of hosts simultaneously).
    • Range: to .
    • Example: 224.0.0.5
  • Class E (Experimental): Reserved for research and development and is not used on the public internet.
    • Range: Range: 240.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255.

Classes Of IP Address – Table

Certainly! Here is the information on the different classes of IP addresses in a clear, tabular format:

ClassPurpose / Network SizeIPv4 Address RangeExample Address
Class AVery large networks (few networks, many hosts).1.0.0.0 to 126.255.255.25510.20.30.4
Class BMedium-to-large sized networks.128.0.0.0 to 191.255.255.255172.16.0.5
Class CSmall local area networks (many networks, few hosts).192.0.0.0 to 223.255.255.255192.168.1.1
Class DReserved for Multicast (one-to-many communication).224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255224.0.0.9
Class EReserved for experimental and research purposes.240.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255N/A

Note: While this class-based system defines IP address ranges, modern networking primarily uses CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing) for more flexible and efficient allocation.

How often does my ip address change

  • For most users with a dynamic IP (standard for home service), the address can change when your router is rebooted or when the ISP’s assigned lease expires (ranging from a few hours to several weeks).
  • If you have a static IP (usually paid for by businesses), the address is fixed and generally will not change unless you switch Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

What is My IP on My Phone

I cannot tell you your specific IP address as I don’t have access to your network information. However, here is what your phone is using:

  • Local (Private) IP: This is usually 192.168.x.x when connected to Wi-Fi, and it changes depending on the router you are connected to.
  • Public IP: This is the address assigned by your mobile provider (or your home ISP via Wi-Fi) and is the one visible to the external internet.

Does IP Address Change with Wi-Fi?

Yes, the IP address associated with your device almost always changes when you switch between different Wi-Fi networks.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

  • Local (Private) IP Address: This address is assigned to your phone by the specific router you connect to. When you switch from your home Wi-Fi to a coffee shop’s Wi-Fi, the router at the coffee shop assigns you a new, different local IP address (e.g., changes from 192.168.1.10 to 192.168.0.5).
  • Public IP Address: This address is assigned by the Internet Service Provider (ISP) running the Wi-Fi network. Since your home ISP is different from the coffee shop’s ISP, your public IP address will also be different.

What is my IP Address example?

I can’t provide your actual IP address for security reasons, but here are two common examples that illustrate the format:

  • Public IP Address Example (IPv4): 172.217.16.142 (This is the address visible to the internet, used to find your location.)
  • Private IP Address Example (IPv4): 192.168.1.5 (This is your local address, used for devices within your home network.)

Does IP Address Change with Location?

Yes, your IP address almost always changes when your location changes, because your address is tied to the network you are using, not your device’s physical location.

  • Public IP Address: This address, visible to the internet, changes because different physical locations (like home vs. office) connect to the internet through different Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and each ISP assigns its own unique public IP range.
  • Mobile Data: When using 4G or 5G, your IP address is assigned by your mobile carrier. It may remain the same over a large geographical area but can change suddenly as you move between different towers or network regions.
  • Private IP Address: This address (e.g., 192.168.x.x) changes whenever you switch to a different Wi-Fi network (router).

How to use IP Address?

You primarily use IP addresses for two main networking functions:

  • For Routing Traffic: IP addresses act as the destination and source labels for data packets, allowing routers and the internet infrastructure to know where to send and receive information.
  • For Identification and Communication: They uniquely identify every device on a network, enabling direct communication between a web server (public IP) and your computer (public/private IP).

Should I hide my IP Address?

Whether you should hide your IP address depends on your goals:

  • Security and Privacy: Yes, hiding your IP address (usually with a VPN or Proxy) is highly recommended to protect your location, browsing history, and identity from websites, advertisers, and potential surveillance.
  • Accessing Blocked Content: Yes, changing your apparent IP location allows you to bypass geographic restrictions or censorship imposed by governments or streaming services.
  • Normal Browsing: No, if you are just browsing typical websites and do not require location anonymity, hiding your IP address is not strictly necessary.

Is it legal to hide my IP Address?

  • Generally Legal: In most countries, using tools like a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or proxy to mask your IP address for privacy purposes is entirely legal.
  • Misuse is Illegal: The act of hiding your IP address is only illegal if you use it to facilitate criminal activity, such as hacking, committing fraud, or distributing copyrighted material illegally.
  • Tools are Legal: The tools themselves (VPNs) are legal for use, but their usage must comply with local laws.

What happens with an IP Address?

When a data packet interacts with an IP address, here are the main things that happen:

  • Data Routing: The IP address serves as the destination label, telling routers across the network exactly where to forward the data packet until it reaches the correct final device.
  • Identification: The IP address confirms the identity and location of both the sender and the receiver within the network, similar to how mail uses both a “to” and “from” address.
  • Packet Delivery: Once the packet arrives at the destination network identified by the IP address, the address is used to deliver the data directly to the correct computer or device.

Can an IP Address tell you what device it is?

No, an IP address alone cannot reliably tell you the specific type of device (e.g., iPhone vs. Android, PC vs. smart TV) that is using it.

  • Network Identification: The IP address only identifies the network location (Public IP) or the unique slot within a local network (Private IP).
  • Device Fingerprinting: To determine the device type, additional factors like the device’s MAC address or information shared in the User Agent string during a web request are required.
  • Best Guess: Network monitoring tools can sometimes make an educated guess about the operating system based on subtle differences in how the device sends out network traffic.

Does your phone have an IP Address when not connected to Wi-Fi?

Yes, absolutely!

  • Mobile Data IP: When your phone is not on Wi-Fi, it connects to the internet using mobile data (4G or 5G). Your mobile carrier (like T-Mobile or Verizon) assigns your phone a public IP address that it uses to communicate with websites and services on the internet.
  • No Private IP: Without Wi-Fi, your phone is not part of a local home or office network, so it does not have a private IP address (like 192.168.x.x).

How do I get my IP number?

Since I can’t directly access your device’s network details, here are the two easiest ways to find your public and private IP numbers:

  • Public IP Address (Visible to the Internet):
    • Search on Google for “What is my IP address”. Google will instantly display your public IP address at the top of the search results.
  • Private IP Address (Used in your Home Network):
    • On most smartphones (iOS/Android), go to Settings Wi-Fi, tap on the network you’re connected to, and the IP address will be listed under the network details.
    • On Windows, open the Command Prompt and type ipconfig.
    • On Mac/Linux, open Terminal and type ifconfig or ip a.

What is my IP address in the UK?

To find your current public IP address in the UK, you can:

  • Search Google: Open a browser and type “What is my IP address” into the search bar. Google will immediately display your current IP address.

You can also use above tool ,by just accessing these url https://dlightdaily.com/tools/what-is-my-ipaddress/

What is the IP Address in Wi-Fi?

The IP address you use on Wi-Fi actually refers to two different addresses that work together:

  • Private IP Address:
    • This is the address your router assigns to your device (phone, laptop, etc.) to identify it within your home or office network.1
    • It typically looks like 192.168.1.150 or 10.0.0.8.2
    • Purpose: Allows devices to talk to each other (e.g., your phone sending a command to your printer).3
  • Public IP Address:
    • This is the single address your router uses when communicating with the outside internet. It is assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
    • All devices on your Wi-Fi network share this single public IP address when they send or request data online.
    • Purpose: Allows websites and services on the internet to send data back to your specific router and, ultimately, to your device.4

How to read IP Address?

Reading an IP address depends on whether you are looking at an IPv4 or IPv6 address.


Reading IPv4 Addresses

An IPv4 address consists of four numbers, known as octets, separated by dots. Each octet can range from to .

Structure Example: 192.168.1.10
OctetValueDescription
First OctetDetermines the Network Class (A, B, or C) and helps define the network size.
Second OctetWorks with the first octet to identify the Network ID (the specific network, like your home Wi-Fi).
Third OctetFurther defines the subnet or network ID.
Fourth OctetIdentifies the specific Host ID (the device, like your laptop) within that network.

In Short: The first part identifies the network, and the last part identifies the device.


Reading IPv6 Addresses

An IPv6 address is much longer and is divided into eight groups of four hexadecimal digits (known as hextets), separated by colons.

Structure Example: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334
SectionDigitsDescription
First Four Groups2001:0db8:85a3:0000Defines the Network Prefix or Routing Prefix. This identifies the specific network block assigned by the ISP.
Next Two Groups0000:8a2eOften used for Subnet ID, identifying a particular subnet within the larger network.
Last Two Groups0370:7334The Interface ID (or Host ID). This uniquely identifies the specific device on the network.

Important Note on IPv6: IPv6 addresses often contain long strings of zeros that can be compressed. For example, 0000:0000 can be condensed to a double colon ::, making the address shorter and easier to read.

How do I find My IP Address?

The way you find your IP address depends on whether you want your Public IP (what the internet sees) or your Private IP (what your local network sees).

Here are the simplest methods:

  • To find your Public IP Address (Internet-Facing):
    • Action: Go to Google (or any search engine) and search for “What is my IP address”.
    • Result: Your public IP address (e.g., 172.217.16.142) will be immediately displayed at the top of the search results.
  • To find your Private IP Address (Local Network):
    • On a Smartphone (Wi-Fi): Go to Settings Wi-Fi, tap the information or detail icon (like an ‘i’ or gear) next to your connected network, and look for the field labeled IP Address (e.g., 192.168.1.15).
    • On Windows: Open the Command Prompt or PowerShell and type the command: ipconfig.
    • On Mac/Linux: Open the Terminal and type the command: ifconfig or ip a.

How do you reset your IP Address?

Read Here : https://dlightdaily.com/ip-address/how-do-you-reset-your-ip-address/

Can Someone hack my bank account using my IP Address?

How can you tell if someone is looking at your IP Address?

What information can hackers get from an IP Address?

How secure is my IP Address?

Is my IP Address black listed?

How do I know is my network secure?

What happens when your IP Address is leaked?

Dlightdaily

Author is a passionate Blogger and Writer at Dlightdaily . Dlightdaily produces self researched quality and well explained content regarding HowToGuide, Technology and Management Tips&Tricks.

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