How to use What's My IP & ISP Inspector
- Open the tool. Open this page in a browser with an internet connection.
- Run the check. Select Check my IP to request your public address and available provider details.
- Analyze the data. Review results and limitations, copy available data, and rerun after changing your network settings.
How Public IP Address Detection Works
When your browser connects to a website, network routing carries packets through your router gateway and internet service provider to the destination. The server sees the public IP address of the final outgoing connection. A home router commonly translates several private device addresses into one public IPv4 address using NAT. Carrier-grade NAT can also make several subscribers share an address.
This checker requests Cloudflare trace first, then asks ipapi for matching ISP and organization metadata. If trace is unavailable, ipapi supplies the address. An Autonomous System Number (ASN) identifies the network responsible for routing an address block. The registered organization may be a hosting company, mobile carrier, or transit provider rather than the retail ISP printed on your bill.
IP geolocation estimates a city, region, country, timezone, and sometimes geolocation coordinates from network databases. Those coordinates are not a GPS reading. A reverse DNS lookup queries the PTR record to discover a network hostname; this checker shows a hostname only when its provider returns one. Missing fields remain unavailable rather than being guessed.
IPv4 vs. IPv6: Understanding the Difference
IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses such as 192.0.2.1, while IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses written in hexadecimal groups. A dual-stack connection may use either family depending on the destination. This lookup reports the family used for its request; one result does not establish whether the other family is enabled.
A DHCP lease can assign a changing address to your router or device. Restarting a router does not guarantee a new public address, especially with a static service or carrier-grade NAT. A VPN tunnel or proxy server can substitute its exit address for yours. These lookup endpoints do not reliably detect VPNs, so an address visible to the web is not evidence that a VPN is absent or unsafe.
What this network tool measures
Public address and protocol family
Shows the IPv4 or IPv6 address observed by the lookup request, helping distinguish the address family currently used.
ASN and provider context
Adds organization, ASN, hostname and approximate location fields when the upstream data source returns them.
Evidence with stated limits
Separates provider metadata from GPS or subscriber records so an approximate lookup is not mistaken for a physical address.
When this check is useful
Troubleshoot a VPN or proxy
Compare the observed exit address before and after connecting a tunnel, while remembering that this check cannot verify every application route.
Document a network change
Copy the address, provider and ASN when reporting a change to an ISP, hosting provider or support team.
Check dual-stack behavior
Repeat the check from different destinations or configurations when investigating IPv4 and IPv6 routing separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone find my physical address from my IP?
An IP lookup normally estimates a region or city, not a street address or apartment. Accuracy varies and can point to an ISP facility or VPN exit. A provider may hold subscriber records, which this tool cannot access.
How do I change or hide my IP?
A VPN or proxy changes the exit address seen by destinations it covers. Reconnecting may change a dynamic ISP address, but is not guaranteed. Check both IPv4 and IPv6 routing and remember that websites can still recognize accounts and cookies.
What is an ASN?
An Autonomous System Number identifies a network that exchanges routing information with other networks. It helps associate an IP range with an ISP or organization, but does not identify an individual subscriber.
Why does my IP lookup show a city I do not live in?
IP geolocation databases often locate the ISP registration, regional gateway or hosting facility rather than the subscriber. Treat the city as an estimate and do not use it as proof of a device location.
Will refreshing always give me a new IP address?
No. Your ISP may keep a dynamic lease, use carrier-grade NAT or assign a static address. A refresh only repeats the observation; it does not request a new address.
Do I need an internet connection, and are my inputs uploaded?
An internet connection is required. The site handshake sends a random challenge, not files or text inputs. Network diagnostics need external connections. IP checks contact Cloudflare and ipapi; DNS queries send the entered hostname to Cloudflare; WebRTC contacts Google STUN; latency probes contact the listed providers. Those services receive your connection address and may apply their own logging policies. Results are not saved by this tool.
Continue checking your network
Technical references: Cloudflare DNS JSON, ipapi fields, WebRTC candidate addresses, Brave IP handling.