What is my public IP address?

Your public IP address is the IPv4 address assigned to your internet gateway by your ISP. It is the source address websites, APIs, and online services see when you connect without a VPN. Inside your home or office, devices use private addresses like 192.168.1.x, but Network Address Translation on your router maps all outbound traffic to this single public IP. ScanSuite detects it automatically when you load our What Is My IP page by reading the source address of your HTTP request at our edge servers.

What is the difference between public and private IP addresses?

Public IP addresses are globally unique and routable across the internet. Private IP addresses — defined in RFC 1918 as ranges 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, and 192.168.0.0/16 — are used only within local networks and are not reachable from the internet directly. Your router performs NAT to translate many private devices to one public IP. When a website logs your visit, it records the public address, not your laptop's 192.168.x.x address. Our tool shows the public side of that translation.

How accurate is IP geolocation?

IP geolocation maps address ranges to approximate geographic locations using databases maintained by MaxMind and similar providers. City-level accuracy is common for fixed broadband, but results can be wrong by tens or hundreds of kilometers. Mobile carrier IPs often geolocate to carrier hub cities rather than your physical location. Datacenter and VPN IPs show the hosting facility location, not the user. IP geolocation should never be used as sole proof of identity or for high-stakes access control decisions.

Does a VPN change my public IP address?

Yes. When you connect to a VPN, your outbound traffic exits through the VPN provider's server, and websites see the VPN server's public IP instead of your ISP-assigned address. Disconnecting the VPN restores your original ISP IP. ScanSuite's tool helps verify this behavior — load the page before and after connecting to confirm the address changed. Note that DNS leaks, WebRTC leaks, or split-tunnel configurations may still expose identifying information even when the IP appears changed.

Can websites see my private 192.168.x.x address?

No. Private addresses never traverse the public internet. Your router's NAT replaces the private source address with your public IP before packets leave your network. The only exception is WebRTC in some browsers, which can leak local IP addresses through STUN requests — a separate issue from standard HTTP traffic. Our tool reports the public IPv4 address that normal web browsing exposes. To check for WebRTC leaks, use dedicated browser privacy tools in addition to IP lookup.

Why does my IP address change?

Many ISPs assign dynamic public IPs via DHCP. Your address may change when you reboot your modem, after DHCP lease expiration, or during ISP maintenance. Business customers often pay for static IPs that remain constant. Mobile hotspots and cellular connections change IPs frequently as you move between towers. If you rely on IP allowlisting, consider static IP service, dynamic DNS, or VPN with fixed egress. Re-check your IP after outages or router restarts.

What API endpoints does ScanSuite provide for IP lookup?

ScanSuite exposes REST API endpoints that return your public IPv4 address and associated metadata in JSON format. Typical response fields include ip, city, region, country, timezone, isp, and organization. Developers use these endpoints in monitoring scripts, CI pipelines, and applications that need programmatic egress verification. API usage should include appropriate rate limiting and error handling. Refer to ScanSuite documentation for current endpoint URLs, response schemas, and any authentication requirements for production use.

Is checking my IP address safe and legal?

Yes. Looking up your own public IP address is completely legal and safe. Your IP is already transmitted to every server you contact — an IP lookup tool simply reflects what those servers already see. There is no security risk in knowing your own public address. However, publishing your IP on public forums when you run exposed services can invite unwanted scanning. Use firewalls and disable unnecessary port forwarding to minimize exposure if your IP becomes widely known.

How does ScanSuite detect VPN or proxy usage?

ScanSuite applies heuristics based on IP intelligence databases that classify address ranges by usage type — residential, mobile, datacenter, VPN provider, or Tor exit node. When your address falls into a known VPN or hosting range, the tool flags it accordingly. These indicators are approximate: residential VPN nodes, corporate proxies, and cloud egress NAT may produce false positives or negatives. Use the flags as guidance, not definitive proof of VPN usage or identity concealment.

What is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6 public addresses?

IPv4 addresses are 32-bit dotted-decimal numbers like 203.0.113.42. IPv6 addresses are 128-bit hexadecimal strings like 2001:db8::1. Many ISPs still primarily assign IPv4 for residential service, often behind carrier-grade NAT due to address exhaustion. IPv6 adoption is growing but dual-stack behavior varies. ScanSuite's What Is My IP tool focuses on IPv4 public address detection, which remains the most commonly logged identifier across web services, firewalls, and SaaS allowlists today.

Can I use this tool to find someone else's IP address?

No. This tool shows only the public IP address of the device or network making the request — your own egress IP. You cannot enter another person's name or email to look up their IP. Obtaining someone else's IP without authorization may violate privacy laws and terms of service. Lawful IP attribution during security incidents relies on server access logs, not public lookup tools. Always ensure you have proper authorization when investigating IP addresses in security contexts.

Why does my IP show a different city than where I live?

IP geolocation databases map address blocks to the location where the ISP registered the range, not your physical GPS coordinates. ISPs often register blocks at regional hubs or corporate headquarters. Mobile users may appear hundreds of kilometers from their actual location. VPN and cloud egress IPs show datacenter cities. This is expected behavior — geolocation is an estimate useful for content localization and fraud scoring, not precise location tracking of individuals.

Does ScanSuite store my IP lookup results?

ScanSuite processes IP lookup requests to return results to your browser. On the free tier, no account is required and lookup history is not associated with user profiles. Request data is handled transiently for the purpose of delivering results and maintaining service reliability. Review our Privacy Policy at scansuite.io/privacy-policy for complete information on data retention, logging practices, and your rights regarding personal data processed through ScanSuite tools and API endpoints.

How is my IP address used in network security?

Public IP addresses appear in firewall logs, WAF events, authentication audit trails, and intrusion detection alerts. Security teams correlate source IPs during incident response, block malicious ranges, and configure geo-blocking policies. Allowlisting trusted office egress IPs restricts SaaS admin access. Penetration testers verify their traffic originates from authorized scanner IPs. Understanding your own public IP helps you interpret logs accurately and configure access controls without accidentally locking yourself out.

What is carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT)?

Carrier-grade NAT occurs when ISPs assign private RFC 1918 addresses to customer routers and perform NAT again at the ISP level before traffic reaches the public internet. Multiple households may share one public IPv4 address. CGNAT makes inbound port forwarding impossible without ISP cooperation and can cause issues with peer-to-peer applications, gaming, and IP-based allowlisting. If your public IP belongs to your ISP rather than appearing as a unique residential allocation, CGNAT may be in effect.

Can I hide my public IP address?

VPN services, Tor, and proxy servers mask your real public IP by routing traffic through intermediary servers. Websites then see the intermediary's address instead of your ISP-assigned IP. This improves privacy against casual tracking but is not anonymous against determined adversaries who may correlate timing, browser fingerprints, or account logins. For maximum privacy, combine VPN usage with hardened browser settings, disable WebRTC leaks, and use DNS over HTTPS to prevent DNS-based identification.

How do I allowlist my IP in a firewall or SaaS application?

Copy your public IPv4 address from ScanSuite and paste it into the allowlist, inbound rule, or IP restriction field of your target system. Use CIDR notation /32 for a single host address (e.g., 203.0.113.42/32). If your IP is dynamic, allowlist a broader range only if your security policy permits, or request a static IP from your ISP. Always maintain a backup access method — misconfigured allowlists can lock you out of cloud consoles and remote systems entirely.

What authoritative standards define IP address allocation?

The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) allocates IP address blocks to Regional Internet Registries (RIRs). RFC 791 defines IPv4. RFC 1918 defines private address space. RFC 4632 covers CIDR notation. WHOIS and RDAP databases document address ownership. Geolocation providers compile proprietary mappings from RIR data, BGP routing, and latency measurements. ScanSuite references these public standards and commercial IP intelligence databases to present accurate, standards-conformant IP information.

What Is My IP — Check Public IP Address Free

A "what is my IP" tool detects the public IPv4 address that websites and services see when your device connects to the internet, along with ISP, approximate geolocation, and connection metadata derived from IP databases.

Open the ScanSuite What Is My IP page and your public IPv4 address appears automatically. The tool shows ISP, approximate city and country, timezone, and whether a VPN or proxy may be in use — all from your browser with no account required.

Your public IP address is the network identifier assigned to your router or gateway by your Internet Service Provider. Every website, API, and online service you reach sees this address — not the private 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x address used inside your home or office LAN.

ScanSuite's free What Is My IP tool displays your current public IPv4 address the moment you load the page. It also surfaces ISP name, approximate geolocation, timezone, and connection hints useful for troubleshooting, firewall allowlisting, and security awareness.

ScanSuite's free What Is My IP tool instantly shows your public IPv4 address, ISP, approximate geolocation, and VPN indicators. Use it to configure firewall allowlists, verify VPN connectivity, document egress IPs, or integrate IP detection via API — directly from your browser without an account.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is my public IP address?: Your public IP address is the IPv4 address assigned to your internet gateway by your ISP. It is the source address websites, APIs, and online services see when you connect without a VPN. Inside your home or office, devices use private addresses like 192.168.1.x, but Network Address Translation on your router maps all outbound traffic to this single public IP. ScanSuite detects it automatically when you load our What Is My IP page by reading the source address of your HTTP request at our edge servers.
What is the difference between public and private IP addresses?: Public IP addresses are globally unique and routable across the internet. Private IP addresses — defined in RFC 1918 as ranges 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, and 192.168.0.0/16 — are used only within local networks and are not reachable from the internet directly. Your router performs NAT to translate many private devices to one public IP. When a website logs your visit, it records the public address, not your laptop's 192.168.x.x address. Our tool shows the public side of that translation.
How accurate is IP geolocation?: IP geolocation maps address ranges to approximate geographic locations using databases maintained by MaxMind and similar providers. City-level accuracy is common for fixed broadband, but results can be wrong by tens or hundreds of kilometers. Mobile carrier IPs often geolocate to carrier hub cities rather than your physical location. Datacenter and VPN IPs show the hosting facility location, not the user. IP geolocation should never be used as sole proof of identity or for high-stakes access control decisions.
Does a VPN change my public IP address?: Yes. When you connect to a VPN, your outbound traffic exits through the VPN provider's server, and websites see the VPN server's public IP instead of your ISP-assigned address. Disconnecting the VPN restores your original ISP IP. ScanSuite's tool helps verify this behavior — load the page before and after connecting to confirm the address changed. Note that DNS leaks, WebRTC leaks, or split-tunnel configurations may still expose identifying information even when the IP appears changed.
Can websites see my private 192.168.x.x address?: No. Private addresses never traverse the public internet. Your router's NAT replaces the private source address with your public IP before packets leave your network. The only exception is WebRTC in some browsers, which can leak local IP addresses through STUN requests — a separate issue from standard HTTP traffic. Our tool reports the public IPv4 address that normal web browsing exposes. To check for WebRTC leaks, use dedicated browser privacy tools in addition to IP lookup.
Why does my IP address change?: Many ISPs assign dynamic public IPs via DHCP. Your address may change when you reboot your modem, after DHCP lease expiration, or during ISP maintenance. Business customers often pay for static IPs that remain constant. Mobile hotspots and cellular connections change IPs frequently as you move between towers. If you rely on IP allowlisting, consider static IP service, dynamic DNS, or VPN with fixed egress. Re-check your IP after outages or router restarts.