Understanding your IP address
An IP address helps devices send information to the right destination over a network. The public address above is the one DevPicker sees for this visit. It is useful when checking a connection, comparing networks, or giving your internet provider details for troubleshooting.
Public and local IP addresses
Your public IP is the address visible to websites. Your device can also have a local address used inside your home or office network, such as 192.168.1.20. That local address helps your router deliver traffic to the right device.
On many IPv4 networks, phones, computers, and other devices share one public address through network address translation (NAT). This explains why two devices on the same Wi-Fi can show the same result here while having different local addresses.
Why does my IP address change?
Internet providers often assign dynamic addresses, which can change over time. Switching from home Wi-Fi to mobile data, joining another network, or connecting to a VPN can also change the address websites see. Restarting a router may change it, but does not guarantee a new address.
A static address is intended to stay the same. Whether your connection uses a static or dynamic address depends on your provider and service plan.
Why does the page show IPv4 or IPv6?
IPv4 addresses contain four numbers separated by dots, such as 192.0.2.1. IPv6 uses groups of hexadecimal characters separated by colons, such as 2001:db8::1. IPv6 provides a much larger address space.
A connection can support both versions. This page shows the address used to reach DevPicker for the current visit, so seeing IPv4 here does not prove that IPv6 is unavailable. Another website may use a different version. See Cloudflare's guide to IP addresses for more background.
What changes when I use a VPN or proxy?
When your browser traffic passes through a VPN or proxy, websites normally see that service's outgoing address. The provider and location shown here may therefore belong to the VPN or proxy rather than your home connection.
You can compare the result before and after connecting, then reload this page. A changed address shows that this visit used a different public address; it does not establish that every app uses the VPN or that you are anonymous. Signed-in accounts and cookies can still identify you.
Why is the reported city wrong?
IP location is an estimate from a database, not a GPS reading. The result may point to a nearby city, your provider's network, or a VPN server. Mobile networks can serve people across a wide area, and location databases can differ or take time to reflect changes.
A city result cannot identify your home or street address. Some addresses have no city information at all. MaxMind explains these accuracy limits in more detail.
How can I find my local IP address?
Use your device's network settings when troubleshooting a printer, router, or another device on the same network:
- Windows: Open Command Prompt, run
ipconfig, and look for the IPv4 or IPv6 address under your active Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter. Ignore disconnected adapters. See Microsoft's ipconfig reference. - Mac: Open System Settings, choose Network, select the active connection, and open Details, then TCP/IP. These are the network settings described by Apple.
Your device may list several addresses. Use the one for the connection you are investigating; it does not have to match the public address at the top of this page.
What do the extra details mean?
Screen resolution and browser timezone come from your browser. The optional provider, city, and IP timezone come from an IP.SB lookup after you select Load location and provider. Your browser timezone can differ from the IP timezone when you travel, use a VPN, or choose a different device setting.
If the lookup fails, you can retry while the main IP display remains available. A missing field means the service did not supply that detail.
Is it safe to share my public IP?
Websites you connect to already receive a public IP address as part of the connection. Sharing it with a trusted support team can help them investigate a problem. Avoid posting it unnecessarily in public screenshots or messages, since it can reveal network and approximate location information.
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