IP Address questions, fixes and result guides.
Practical answers for common ip address problems, confusing results and setup questions — with a direct path back to the live test.
What is my public IP address used for?
Your public IP is the address internet services see for the current network path. It is used for routing and can also support coarse network or regional identification, but it is not a precise home address.
Why does my public IP change?
Many ISPs use dynamic addressing, carrier-grade NAT or reconnect-based assignment. VPNs and mobile networks can also present different public addresses as your route changes.
IPv4 vs IPv6: what is the difference?
IPv4 uses a smaller legacy address space, while IPv6 provides a much larger address space and different network design. A connection can support one or both depending on the ISP and network.
Does this show my private home-network IP address?
No. It shows the public address presented to the Devices Test Hub server. Private LAN addresses such as 192.168.x.x are not requested by this tool.
Why does my IP address or location change when I use a VPN?
A VPN routes traffic through another public gateway, so websites see the VPN exit address and its approximate location rather than your normal connection.
How accurate is this ip address tool?
VPNs, proxies, mobile carriers and corporate networks can change the public IP or location shown, and local/private LAN addresses are not exposed by this test.
What should I do if the ip address result looks wrong?
If the address is unavailable, refresh the page or try another browser or network. If the location looks wrong, disable a VPN or proxy for comparison and remember that IP geolocation is approximate.