ExpressVPNLightway listed
- Protocol
- Lightway listed
- Server technology
- TrustedServer RAM-only design described
Free tool. No sign-up. Nothing stored.
What is my IP address?
Your public IP address, the location and internet provider it gives away, and whether your VPN is really hiding it.
Your public IP addressIPv4
216.73.217.72
Read just now. We do not store it.Not stored
IPv6 addressCheckingNeeds JavaScript
- Approximate location
- Columbus, Ohio, United StatesUS
- Internet provider
- Anthropic, PBC
Cloud data center network (AS16509) - IP time zone
- America/New_YorkUTC+00:00
- Location accuracy
- City level not your street
IPv6, time zone and accuracy
IPv6: checkingneeds JavaScript. IP time zone: America/New_York. Accuracy: city level.
IP location is an estimate from IP location databases. Why it can show the wrong city.
What else sites see with your IP
Your browser shares these on every visit. Combined with your IP, they make you easy to recognize.
- Browser
- Not recognized
- Operating system
- Not recognized
- Language
- Not shared
- Screen
- Needs JavaScript
Four VPNs that hide your IP
The providers we cover, in alphabetical order. This is not a ranking, and we have not published firsthand tests.
NordVPNKill switch and split tunneling listed
- Traffic controls
- Kill switch and split tunneling listed
- Additional routing
- Double VPN listed
Proton VPNUnlimited bandwidth stated
- Free plan
- Unlimited bandwidth stated
- Apps
- Open-source apps described
SurfsharkUnlimited simultaneous connections advertised
- Connections
- Unlimited simultaneous connections advertised
- Traffic controls
- Bypasser split tunneling listed
Current provider links are non-affiliate links. We do not earn from them. How links work
What your IP address gives away, and what it does not
Your IP address is the return address on everything you send online. Every site you open needs it to send the page back, so every site gets it. On its own it is less revealing than people fear, but it is far from nothing.
Sites can see
- Your approximate city and region
- Your internet provider
- Your country, which sets prices and streaming catalogs
- That repeat visits come from the same connection
Sites cannot see
- Your name or street address
- What you type on secure (HTTPS) sites
- Your exact position, unless you allow location in the browser
- Which device on your network you are using
The one party that can link your IP to you by name is your internet provider, because it assigned the address to your account.
How to hide your IP address
There are four common ways. Only two actually hide the address and protect what you send.
| Method | Hides your IP from sites | Encrypts your traffic | Speed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VPN | Yes, every app | Yes | Small drop on a good VPN | Paid subscription |
| Proxy | Yes, one app or browser | Usually not | Varies | Free or paid |
| Tor Browser | Yes, that browser only | Yes, inside Tor | Slow | Free |
| Another network | No, you just get a different IP | No | Normal | Free |
For everyday use a VPN is the practical choice: one tap, and every app is covered. The VPN buying guide explains what to check before you subscribe.
Is your VPN working? How to read the checks
Turn your VPN on and reload this page. The IP and city should switch to the VPN server. Then look at the four checks beside it.
- VPN or proxy
- Whether your IP belongs to a data center or a known VPN network rather than a home or mobile provider.
- WebRTC
- A browser feature for video calls that can reveal your real IP behind a VPN. A different IP here is a leak.
- IPv6
- Some VPNs only cover IPv4. If your network has IPv6 and the VPN ignores it, your real IPv6 address shows up here.
- Device time zone
- Your computer's clock versus the IP's location. A mismatch is not a leak, but it tells sites you are probably using a VPN.
DNS leaks need a separate test because they happen when your device looks up website names. This page does not test DNS yet.
The VPN or proxy check compares your network number (ASN) with our list of 77 hosting, cloud, VPN provider and privacy relay networks, each with a source. A network missing from the list shows as none detected, so the check can miss a VPN.
Public and private, IPv4 and IPv6
Public vs private IP
The address at the top of this page is your public IP: the one your router shows the internet. Inside your home, the router gives each device its own private IP, usually starting with 192.168 or 10. Private IPs never leave your network, which is why sites cannot see them.
IPv4 vs IPv6
IPv4 addresses look like 203.0.113.42 and ran out years ago. IPv6 addresses are longer, like 2001:db8::8a2e:370:7334, and are slowly taking over. Many connections have both, and a good VPN has to handle both.
Find your IP on any device
Your device settings show its private IP, not the public one above.
Windows
- Select Start > Settings > Network & internet.
- For a Wi-Fi connection, select Wi-Fi, then select the Wi-Fi network you're connected to. For an Ethernet connection, select Ethernet.
- Look for your IP address next to IPv4 address.
Windows 11 and Windows 10. Steps from Microsoft Support: Essential network settings and tasks in Windows (non-affiliate source), checked October 20, 2026.
Mac
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Wi-Fi in the sidebar. You may need to scroll down.
- Click Details for the Wi-Fi network you're connected to.
- Your IP address for the Wi-Fi connection is next to IP address. Your router's address is next to Router.
macOS 27 Golden Gate, Wi-Fi connection. Steps from Apple Support: Wi-Fi settings on Mac (non-affiliate source), checked October 20, 2026.
iPhone
- Open Settings and tap Wi-Fi.
- Tap the Info button next to the network you're connected to.
- Your private IP address appears in the network details, with the subnet mask and router.
iPhone and iPad. Steps from Apple Platform Support: Troubleshoot Wi-Fi connectivity on iPhone and iPad (non-affiliate source), checked October 20, 2026.
Router
- In the search box on the taskbar, type "command prompt". When the Command Prompt button appears, select Run as administrator to the right of it, then select Yes.
- Type "ipconfig", then press Enter.
- Find your Wi-Fi network in the results and note the address next to Default gateway, for example 192.168.1.1. This is your router's address.
- To change router settings, open your router's admin page. Your router's manual explains how.
From a Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC. Steps from Microsoft Support: Fix Wi-Fi connection issues in Windows (non-affiliate source), checked October 20, 2026.
Questions people ask about their IP
Can someone find my home address from my IP?
Not from the IP alone. Public lookups only get as close as your city or region, like the result above. Your internet provider knows which customer had the address at a given time, and can be required to share that with authorities under a legal order.
Why does this page show the wrong city?
IP location databases map blocks of addresses to where your provider routes them, which is often a nearby larger city. Mobile networks can place you hundreds of kilometers away. A VPN will show the city of the VPN server instead.
Is my IP address the same on all my devices?
Devices on the same home Wi-Fi share one public IP, the one shown above. Each device also has its own private IP inside your network. On mobile data your phone gets a different public IP from your carrier.
Does my IP address change?
Usually, yes. Most home providers hand out dynamic addresses that change from time to time, for example after a router restart. Mobile IPs change much more often. A fixed (static) IP is normally a paid extra.
Can someone hack me with my IP address?
An IP address alone does not give anyone access to your devices. It can be used to aim attacks at your connection, such as flooding a gamer's connection or scanning your router for open ports. Keeping your router updated and its admin password changed covers most of that risk.
How do I check my VPN's IP address?
Connect to your VPN, then reload this page. The IP and location should change to the VPN server, and the status should read Hidden. If it still shows your home provider, the VPN is not routing your traffic.
Do you store my IP address?
No. Your IP is read when the page loads, shown to you, and not saved or logged by VPN Brief. The privacy checks run in your browser and contact Cloudflare's test servers, as our privacy policy explains.
More privacy tools
Maintained by Thomas Grant, an editorial pen name used by VPN Brief
Location and network data come from Cloudflare's edge network. The VPN or proxy check compares your network with our list of 77 networks. The WebRTC and IPv6 checks run in your browser and use Cloudflare's public test servers. Last reviewed October 20, 2026. Our publication standards.
How this free tool is funded.
The provider links on this page are non-affiliate links, so we do not earn from them today. If a link starts earning a commission, we will label it and update this note.
Commercial terms never change the result you see above. Read our affiliate disclosure.