What Is My IP Address?
Your IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique numerical identifier assigned by your Internet Service Provider that allows devices to communicate on the internet. Every time you visit a website, stream a video, or send an email, your IP address is transmitted with the request — allowing servers to know where to send the response.
ipdetecto.com detects your current public IP address automatically and enriches it with geolocation data, ISP information, ASN, and VPN/proxy detection — all processed locally using MaxMind GeoLite2 databases. Your IP is never forwarded to third-party services.
IPv4 vs IPv6
There are two versions of IP addresses in use today. IPv4 addresses look like 203.0.113.1 — 32-bit numbers with approximately 4.3 billion possible combinations. IPv6 addresses look like 2001:db8::1 — 128-bit addresses with a virtually unlimited address space. Many modern internet connections are dual-stack, supporting both protocols simultaneously. Our tool detects and displays both.
What Information Does My IP Reveal?
Your country and approximate city (based on ISP registration data, not GPS).
The company providing your internet connection (Comcast, AT&T, BT, Jio, etc.).
The network operator's ASN — identifies the network in global BGP routing tables.
Whether your IP is residential, data center, VPN, proxy, or iCloud relay.
The IANA timezone associated with your IP's registered location.
Your name, home address, phone number, or browsing history.
Privacy-First IP Intelligence
Unlike many IP lookup services that forward your queries to multiple third-party enrichment APIs, ipdetecto.com processes all IP lookups locally using MaxMind GeoLite2 databases stored on our servers. We do not log individual lookup queries, do not build user profiles, and do not sell data to advertisers. Our backend is built on Go (Fiber) with sub-20ms response times and an in-memory cache — ensuring both speed and privacy.
Frequently Asked Questions — What is My IP?
What is my IP address?
Your IP address is the unique numerical label assigned by your Internet Service Provider to identify your device on the internet. Every device that connects to the internet has a public IP address. Visit our home page and your current public IP is detected automatically — no login required.
What is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?
IPv4 addresses use 32-bit numbers in the format 192.168.1.1 (about 4.3 billion possible addresses). IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses like 2001:db8::1 (340 undecillion addresses). IPv4 addresses are exhausted, so ISPs are transitioning to IPv6. Many modern connections are dual-stack — they have both an IPv4 and IPv6 address simultaneously.
Can websites see my real IP address if I use a VPN?
When using a VPN, websites see the VPN server's IP address instead of your real IP. However, some websites use WebRTC, IPv6, and other techniques that can bypass VPN tunnels and reveal your real IP. Use our DNS and WebRTC leak test tool to verify your VPN is not leaking your true IP address.
What information can someone find from my IP address?
From your IP address, someone can determine: your approximate geographic location (country and city — not your exact address), your Internet Service Provider (ISP), your Autonomous System Number (ASN), and whether your IP belongs to a VPN, proxy, or data center. They cannot find your name, home address, or other personal information without legal process with your ISP.
Why is my IP address location wrong?
IP geolocation is based on network registration data, not GPS. Common reasons for incorrect locations include: your ISP assigns you an IP block registered to a different city, you're using a VPN (showing the server's location), your ISP uses CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT), or you're on a mobile network that pools IPs across a large region.
How do I hide my IP address?
The most effective methods to hide your IP are: 1) VPN (Virtual Private Network) — encrypts all traffic and replaces your IP with the VPN server's IP. 2) Tor Browser — routes traffic through multiple encrypted nodes for maximum anonymity. 3) Proxy server — masks your IP for specific applications. Visit our 'How to Hide Your IP' guide for a detailed comparison.
IP Tools & Resources
Look up any IP address for full geolocation and network details.
Find the geographic location of any IP with an interactive map.
Check if your connection is using a VPN, proxy, or relay.
Query DNS records (A, MX, TXT, NS) for any domain.
Test your internet download speed, upload speed, and ping.
Check for WebRTC and DNS leaks that expose your real IP.
Learn how IPv4, IPv6, and IP addressing work.
Proven methods to protect your IP with VPN, Tor, and proxies.