What is an IP address?
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is the number that identifies a device or network on the internet, much like a postal address for data. When you open a website, your request carries your IP so the server knows where to send the page back.
The address at the top of this page is your public IP: the one your internet provider assigned to your connection, and the one every website, app and online service sees.
IPv4 vs IPv6
Two versions are in use today:
- IPv4 addresses are 32-bit numbers written as four parts from 0 to 255, such as
203.0.113.42. There are only about 4.3 billion of them, so they are scarce and often shared between many users. - IPv6 addresses are 128-bit numbers written in hexadecimal, such as
2001:db8:85a3::8a2e:370:7334. The pool is large enough for every device many times over.
Many connections have both. A website uses IPv6 when both sides support it and falls back to IPv4 otherwise, which is why this page checks both. If the IPv6 row says "Not detected", your network most likely has only IPv4 (a browser blocker can also stop the check).
Public vs private IP address
Your router has one public IP that faces the internet. Every device behind it (phone, laptop, TV) gets a private IP that only works inside your local network, usually starting with 192.168., 10. or 172.16–31.. The router translates between the two (NAT), so websites only ever see the public address. This page shows the public one.
Static vs dynamic IP
Most home and mobile connections get a dynamic IP that can change when your router restarts or the lease ends. A static IP stays the same, which suits servers, allow-lists and long sessions on your own accounts. Providers usually charge extra for one. A static ISP proxy gives you a fixed IP in the country you choose without changing your home plan.
How to change the IP address websites see
There are four common ways. Each has trade-offs:
- Use a proxy. Your browser, app or script connects through the proxy, and sites see the proxy's IP and country. Proxies work per app or even per request, which suits price and SEO monitoring, ad verification, testing localised pages and managing your own accounts from a stable IP. Choose datacenter IPv4 for speed, rotating residential IPs for many locations, or mobile carrier IPs for mobile networks.
- Use a VPN. It routes all of your device's traffic through one server, and sites see that server's IP. Useful on public Wi-Fi, but you get one IP at a time and little control per app.
- Use Tor. Free, but slow, and many sites restrict Tor exit nodes.
- Restart your router or switch to mobile data. Your provider may give you a new dynamic IP. It is still your provider's address, in the same area.
After you connect, reload this page. The IP, country and ISP rows should show the new address.
Proxy vs VPN: what's the difference?
Both send your traffic through another server, so sites see a different IP. They are built for different jobs. We sell proxies, not a VPN.
| Proxy | VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| What goes through it | One browser, app or script, or single requests | All traffic from the device |
| IP addresses | As many IPs, countries and types as you buy; can rotate per request | Usually one server IP at a time |
| Setup | Host, port, login and password in your tool or code | An app on the device |
| Encryption | Adds none of its own; HTTPS sites stay encrypted as usual | Encrypts traffic between you and the VPN server |
| Typical use | Data collection, price and SEO monitoring, ad verification, QA | Personal browsing on untrusted networks |
How to find your IP address on any device
To see a device's public IP, open this page on that device. To find its private (local) IP:
Windows
Open Settings → Network & internet → your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection → Properties, and look for "IPv4 address". Or open Command Prompt and run ipconfig.
Mac
Open System Settings → Network → your connection → Details. Or run ipconfig getifaddr en0 in Terminal.
iPhone and iPad
Open Settings → Wi-Fi and tap the (i) next to your network.
Android
Open Settings → Network & internet → Internet and tap your network. Menu names vary a little between phone makers.
Linux
Run ip -4 addr or hostname -I in a terminal.
Chromebook
Open Settings → Network, select your network and look in the network details.
Router
Your router's public IP is the one at the top of this page. Its local address (the gateway) is usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1; it appears as "Default Gateway" in ipconfig on Windows and as "Router" in the Mac network details.
What your IP address does not reveal
An IP address identifies a connection, not a person. On its own it does not show:
- your name, email address or phone number;
- your street address: IP location is approximate and often points to your provider's nearest hub;
- your browsing history or what you do on other sites;
- the files or apps on your device.
Your internet provider can link an IP to its customer and generally shares that only when the law requires it. Sites you sign in to can also record which IP you used.
Check your IP from the command line
Our /ip endpoint returns just your IP as plain text, which is handy in scripts and for testing a proxy. /ip.json returns your IP and country code as JSON.
# Your own IP curl https://t7proxy.com/ip # Through a proxy (HTTP or SOCKS5) curl -x http://user:pass@proxy-host:port https://t7proxy.com/ip curl -x socks5h://user:pass@proxy-host:port https://t7proxy.com/ip
If the second and third commands print the proxy's IP rather than yours, the proxy is working.
How to check that your proxy is working
- Note your own IP. Write down the IP, country and ISP shown at the top of this page.
- Connect the proxy in your browser, app or script with its host, port, login and password.
- Reload this page, or run the curl command above through the proxy.
- Compare. The IP, country and ISP should now be the proxy's. For a proxy in another country the IP time zone changes too, so a "Differs from IP" tag next to your browser time zone is expected.
- Read the "Proxy headers" row. "None" means the proxy added no forwarding headers. "Found" lists the ones it added, such as Via or Forwarded.
If the IP does not change, check the host, port, login and protocol (HTTP or SOCKS5), then try again. To test several proxies without connecting them yourself, check them all in one go: you get each proxy's exit IP, country, ISP and latency.
More free IP tools
- Proxy checker: test up to 10 HTTP or SOCKS5 proxies and see whether each works, with its exit IP, location, ISP, IP type and latency.
- IP address lookup: enter any public IPv4 or IPv6 address to see its approximate location, ISP and ASN.
- IPv6 connectivity test: check whether your connection has IPv6 and which protocol your browser prefers.
- Plain-text IP:
curl https://t7proxy.com/ipprints your IP for scripts and quick proxy tests.
Frequently asked questions
What is my IP address?
Your IP address is the public address your internet provider gives your connection. Every website you open sees it. The address at the top of this page is the one websites see for you right now. Through a proxy, they see the proxy's IP instead.
Can someone find my exact address from my IP?
No. An IP address points to a country, usually a region or city, and the provider, but not your name or street. Only your provider can link an IP to a customer, and it shares that only when the law requires it.
Why is the location shown for my IP wrong?
IP location comes from databases that map blocks of addresses to places, not to homes. Providers often route traffic through a hub in another city, so the city can be off by tens or hundreds of kilometres. The country is almost always right.
What is my ISP and how do I find it?
Your ISP is the internet provider your connection runs on. This page shows it in the ISP row, together with its network number (ASN). On a mobile connection you will see your carrier; through a proxy you will see the proxy's provider.
What is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?
IPv4 addresses are 32 bits long, look like 203.0.113.42, and there are only about 4.3 billion of them. IPv6 addresses are 128 bits long and look like 2001:db8::1, with enough for every device. Many connections have both, and a site uses whichever both sides support.
Why does my IP address change?
Most home and mobile connections get a dynamic IP that the provider can reassign, for example when your router restarts or the lease runs out. A static IP stays the same; providers usually charge extra for one, or you can use a static proxy.
How do I change my IP address?
Restart your router or switch to mobile data to get a new IP from your own provider. To use an IP in another place, connect through a proxy or a VPN: websites then see that IP and its location. T7Proxy sells proxies, not a VPN.
How do I check which IP my proxy is using?
Connect the proxy and reload this page, or run curl -x with your proxy details against t7proxy.com/ip. If the IP shown is the proxy's and not your own, the proxy is working. Compare the country and time zone too.
How do I find my IP address on iPhone or Android?
Open this page on the phone to see its public IP. The address in the phone's Wi-Fi settings is its private IP on your local network: on iPhone, tap the (i) next to your network; on Android, open the network details.
What does "proxy headers found" mean?
Your request reached us with forwarding headers such as Via or X-Forwarded-For. A proxy, a company network or some mobile carriers add them on the way, and they can include the original IP. Many private proxies do not add them.
