Address and version
IPv4 addresses look like 203.0.113.7; IPv6 ones are longer, such as 2001:db8::1. Many connections have both, and the lookup shows whichever your browser used for this request.
Looking up the address…
IP address
- Country
- Region
- City
- ISP
- Organisation
- Network (ASN)
- Time zone
- Coordinates
Approximate location Nearest data center
Lookups are made from your browser to ipwho.is, a third-party geolocation service. vpsNserver does not store the addresses you check. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
What an IP lookup tells you
Every device that talks to the internet reaches it through a public IP address. Your laptop doesn't own that address. It's lent to your connection by your broadband provider, mobile network, office or VPN, and every website you visit sees it as the return address for its replies.
A lookup reads that address and asks a geolocation database what's known about it: which network announces it, which provider runs that network, and where the address block is registered or routed. The result is usually right about the country, often right about the city, and sometimes a city or two out.
Mobile data and corporate VPNs are the usual exceptions. Their traffic often leaves the network hundreds of kilometres from where you're sitting, so the lookup shows the exit point, not you.
- WhoProvider and network (ASN)
- WhereCountry, region, city, time zone
- WhatIPv4 or IPv6, public or private
Reading the results
Three groups of facts come back, and each answers a different question.
Provider and ASN
The ASN (autonomous system number) identifies the network that announces the address to the rest of the internet. It's the detail you need when you whitelist a provider or report abuse.
Location and time zone
Good for spotting a VPN, a roaming phone or traffic from an unexpected country. It isn't precise enough to find a building, and it was never meant to be.
When a lookup is worth doing
A few everyday jobs where knowing the exact public address saves time.
Checking that a VPN or proxy works
Look up your IP with the VPN off, then again with it on. If the country and provider don't change, your traffic isn't going through the tunnel.
Setting up firewall allow-lists
Server firewalls and admin panels need your office's public address, not the 192.168.x.x shown in your network settings. Copy the address above into the rule, and remember that home connections can change it overnight.
Investigating a login alert
Take the address from your server logs or the alert email and look it up. A hosting-company ASN suggests a script or bot. A home broadband provider in a country you've never been to is worth a password change.
Choosing where to host
Look up a handful of addresses from your analytics or access logs. If most visitors come through networks in one region, a data center in that region keeps every page load short.
Private addresses can't be looked up
Some address ranges are reserved for use inside private networks. Routers never send them out onto the public internet, so no geolocation database lists them. If you paste one of these into the tool, it will tell you so instead of guessing.
That's also why the address in your computer's network settings rarely matches the one at the top of this page. Your router translates between the two.
| Range | Used for |
|---|---|
10.0.0.0/8 | Private network (home and office LANs) |
172.16.0.0/12 | Private network |
192.168.0.0/16 | Private network (most home routers) |
100.64.0.0/10 | Carrier-grade NAT, shared by many mobile and broadband customers |
127.0.0.0/8 | Loopback, the machine talking to itself |
169.254.0.0/16 | Link-local, assigned when no router answers |
fc00::/7 | IPv6 unique local addresses |
fe80::/10 | IPv6 link-local addresses |
FAQ
Common questions
Why does the location look wrong?
Geolocation databases map whole address blocks, not individual devices. Mobile networks, VPNs and some business connections route traffic through a gateway in another city or country, and the lookup reports that gateway.
Can someone find my home from my IP address?
No. An IP address points to a provider and an approximate area. The link between an address and a named subscriber is held by your provider, and it's only released through a legal process.
Why does my IP address keep changing?
Most home and mobile connections get a dynamic address that's reassigned when the router restarts or the lease expires. Servers and business lines usually have a static address that stays the same.
Does the tool support IPv6?
Yes. Enter any public IPv4 or IPv6 address. Leave the box empty to see the address your browser is using right now.
Do vpsNserver servers come with their own IP address?
Yes. Each dedicated hosting plan includes a dedicated IP address, and VPS plans come with geolocated IPs in the country of the data center you choose.
Put your server where your visitors are
Choose from data centers in more than 110 countries and give your users a short trip to your site.
- 114 VPS countries
- 114 dedicated server countries
- Support ticket and Client Area
- Serving businesses since 2001