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Your public IP is the address websites see

Our IP checker shows the source address used by your connection to this website. With a VPN or proxy, that may be the exit server’s address. The result is for this request and may be IPv4 or IPv6.

A private IP is used inside a local network

Home routers often give devices an IPv4 address such as 192.168.1.20. That identifies the device on the local network. Several devices can share one public IPv4 address using network address translation.

Why your public address can change

Your internet provider may change it, and switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data can produce a different result. VPNs and some privacy services can also change the address websites see. Some providers share a public IPv4 address across customers.

Does an IP address reveal my home?

An IP address is not an exact home address. IP-based location databases can estimate an area, but may point to a provider, a VPN server or somewhere else. Treat your IP as information worth sharing thoughtfully.

What about IPv6?

IPv6 networks can give devices globally routable addresses as well as local ones. Firewall settings still matter. Seeing an IPv6 address does not tell you that a device is openly accessible.