What Is My IP Address?

And Why It Actually Matters

Ever wondered what that string of numbers is that websites see when you visit them? Or why some streaming services know you’re not actually in the US when you’re trying to watch that show?

That’s your IP address at work.

And whether you know it or not, it’s following you around the internet, telling websites where you are, who your internet provider is, and sometimes even blocking you from accessing content.

Let me break down what an IP address actually is, why it matters, and what you can do about it.

Check Your IP Address Right Now

Before we dive into the technical stuff, here’s your current IP address:

Check Your IP Address Here — Live Tool

I built a simple IP checker tool that shows your public IP, location, ISP, and timezone instantly. Click here to use it.

That number (and the location info) is what every website you visit can see. Keep that in mind as we go deeper.

So… What Is an IP Address?

IP stands for Internet Protocol. Your IP address is essentially your device’s unique identifier on the internet.

Think of it like this:

When you send a letter, you need:

• Your address (so they know where to send a reply)

• Their address (so it gets to the right place)
  The internet works the same way. When you visit a website:

• Your IP address = your return address

• The website’s IP address = where you’re sending your request

Without IP addresses, the internet wouldn’t know where to send data. Your Netflix video wouldn’t know how to reach your laptop. Your email wouldn’t arrive. Nothing would work.

In simple terms, your IP address is how the internet finds you.

What Does an IP Address Look Like?

There are two types you’ll see:

IPv4 (The Old Standard)

Looks like this: 192.168.1.1

Four numbers separated by dots. Each number ranges from 0 to 255.

Problem: We’re running out of IPv4 addresses. There are only about 4.3 billion possible combinations, and with billions of devices online, we’ve basically run out.

IPv6 (The New Standard)

Looks like this: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334

Way longer. Uses letters and numbers. Looks complicated.

Good news: IPv6 has 340 undecillion possible addresses. That’s 340 with 36 zeros after it. We’re not running out anytime soon.

Most of the internet still uses IPv4, but IPv6 is slowly taking over.

Public IP vs Private IP: What’s the Difference?

Here’s where it gets interesting.

Your Public IP Address

This is what the internet sees. It’s assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Everyone on your home WiFi shares the same public IP address. Your laptop, phone, and smart TV all look like they’re coming from the same place to the outside world.

Example: 203.0.113.45

Your Private IP Address

This is your device’s address on your LOCAL network (your home WiFi).

Your router assigns private IPs to each device so they can talk to each other. But these addresses are invisible to the outside internet.

Example: 192.168.1.10 (your laptop), 192.168.1.11 (your phone)

The tool above shows your PUBLIC IP, the one websites see.

Why Your IP Address Actually Matters

Okay, so you have an IP address. So what? Why does it matter?

1. Websites Know Your Location

Your IP address reveals your approximate location. Not your exact address, but usually your city and country.

This is why:

• YouTube knows to show you ads in your language
• Netflix blocks content based on your country
• Google shows you local search results

Your IP = your digital location tag.

2. Your Internet Activity Can Be Tracked

Every website you visit sees your IP address. And your ISP (internet provider) can see EVERYTHING you do online, every site you visit, every video you watch.

In some countries, ISPs are required to log this data. In others, they sell it to advertisers.

3. Geo-Restrictions Use Your IP

Ever tried to watch a show and got hit with:

“This content is not available in your region”

That’s geo-blocking. They checked your IP, saw your location, and blocked you.

4. Some Services Ban IPs

Get banned from a forum or game? They probably banned your IP address.

Problem: If you have a dynamic IP (most people do), it changes periodically. So you might get unbanned automatically when your IP changes. Or someone else might get banned because they got assigned your old IP.

Fun side effect: Sometimes you’ll visit a website and be mysteriously blocked because someone who had your IP before you did something bad.

5. Hackers (Technically) Can Use Your IP

Let’s be real: Knowing your IP address alone isn’t that dangerous.

A hacker can’t “hack you” simply by knowing your IP address. But they CAN:

• See your approximate location
• Launch a DDoS attack (flood your connection with traffic to knock you offline)
• Try to exploit vulnerabilities in your router (if you haven’t updated it)

Should you panic? No. Your IP address is already semi-public. Every website you visit sees it.

Should you be careful? Yes. Don’t give out your IP in random forums or chat rooms.

How to Find Your IP Address (If the Tool Above Didn’t Work)

Quick Method:

Just Google: “What is my IP”

Google will show it instantly.

On Windows:

1. Open Command Prompt
2. Type: ipconfig
3. Look for “IPv4 Address”

On Mac/Linux:

1. Open Terminal
2. Type: ifconfig or `ip addr
3. Look for your IP address

On Mobile:

• iPhone: Settings → WiFi → Tap the (i) icon
• Android: Settings → Network & Internet → WiFi → Tap your network

Note: This shows your PRIVATE IP (local network). To see your PUBLIC IP (what websites see), use the tool above or Google it.

Can Someone Track You With Your IP Address?

Short answer: Kind of, but not really.

What they CAN see:

• Your approximate location (city/region)
• Your ISP (internet provider)
• Your timezone

What they CANNOT see:

• Your exact home address
• Your name
• Your browsing history
• Your personal information

Exception: Law enforcement with a warrant can ask your ISP to reveal who was assigned a specific IP address at a specific time. But random people on the internet can’t do this.

How to Hide or Change Your IP Address

Want to mask your IP? Here’s how:

1. Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network)

What it does: Routes your traffic through a server in another location. Websites see the VPN’s IP, not yours.

Popular VPNs:

• NordVPN
• ExpressVPN
• ProtonVPN (has a free tier)
• Mullvad Good for: Privacy, bypassing geo-restrictions, hiding from your ISP

2. Use a Proxy Server

What it does: Similar to a VPN, but less secure and usually slower.

Good for: Quick IP changes, but not for serious privacy

3. Use Tor Browser

What it does: Routes your traffic through multiple servers (nodes) around the world, making it nearly impossible to trace.

Good for: Maximum anonymity

Bad for: Slow, some sites block Tor users

4. Connect to Public WiFi

What it does: You’ll have a different IP address from your home network.

Warning: Public WiFi is insecure. Use a VPN if you do this.

5. Ask Your ISP for a New IP

Most ISPs assign dynamic IPs that change periodically. You can sometimes get a new one by:

• Restarting your router
• Calling your ISP and asking

Static IP vs Dynamic IP

Dynamic IP (Most People)

Your ISP assigns you a temporary IP that changes every few days/weeks/months.

Pros: More privacy (your IP changes), cheaper
Cons: If you’re running a server, your IP change breaks things

Static IP (Businesses, Servers)

Your IP never changes.

Pros: Good for hosting websites, servers, and remote access
Cons: Costs extra, less privacy

Most home users have dynamic IPs.

Do You Need to Worry About Your IP Address?

Honestly? Not really.

Your IP address is like your phone number. It’s semi-public. Websites need it to function. And alone, it’s not that dangerous.

You SHOULD care about your IP if:

• You’re worried about ISP tracking
• You need to bypass geo-restrictions
• You’re in a country with heavy internet censorship
• You want more privacy online

You DON’T need to panic if:

• Someone “found your IP” (they can’t do much with it)
• You accidentally revealed it online
• A website logged it (every website does this)

Quick FAQs

Q: Can someone find my exact address from my IP?
A: No. They can see your city/region, but not your street address.

Q: Does my IP change when I use mobile data vs WiFi?
A: Yes. Different networks = different IPs.

Q: Can I be tracked in incognito mode?
A: Yes. Incognito mode doesn’t hide your IP. It just doesn’t save your browsing history locally.

Q: Do I have the same IP as my neighbour?
A: No (unless you’re sharing WiFi). Each household gets its own public IP from the ISP.

Q: Is IPv6 better than IPv4?
A: Technically, yes (more addresses, better routing), but for normal users, it doesn’t matter much.

In Summary

Your IP address is your internet identity card. It’s necessary for the internet to work, but it also reveals information about you.

Should you hide it? Depends on your privacy needs.

Should you panic if someone knows it? No.

Should you use a VPN? If you care about privacy, yes.

Most importantly: Your IP address is just one piece of your digital footprint. If you care about privacy, focus on the bigger picture, use HTTPS, strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and be smart about what you share online.

Here’s my source code for the IP address checker on my Github.

Want to hide it? Get a VPN.

Want to learn more? Drop questions in the comments.