• Introduction to the tool

My Public IP : Know your IP address on the Internet

Are you looking to know your public IP address? Your IP address is used every time your device communicates with a server on the Internet. It allows online services to know where a network connection originates from.

With PleaseTools – My Public IP, you can quickly display the public IP address used by your Internet connection, directly from your browser.

But what is a public IP address? How does it differ from a private IP address? Why can your IP change? What can actually be known from an IP address?

This guide answers those questions and explains how to check your public IP simply.

What is a public IP address?

A public IP address is an IP address used to communicate on the Internet. It corresponds to the address visible to Internet services when a connection goes out of your network to the Web.

For example, a public IPv4 address can have a form similar to:

41.243.12.85

An IPv6 address has a different notation, for example:

2001:db8:1234:5678::1

The public IP address is not necessarily assigned directly to your computer or phone. In a home, business, or mobile network, multiple devices can share the same public address thanks to NAT (Network Address Translation).

That is why your computer can have a private address such as:

192.168.1.25

while using another IP address to access the Internet.

How to know my public IP?

The simplest way is to use an IP detection service.

With My Public IP from PleaseTools, no special network configuration is required.

Step 1: open the tool

Go to the My Public IP page of PleaseTools.

The tool automatically detects the IP address associated with your Internet connection.

Step 2: view your IP address

Your public IP address is displayed directly on the page.

You can then copy it for use in a network configuration, a diagnosis, a firewall rule, or any other technical need.

Step 3: check the User-Agent

The page also displays the User-Agent sent by your browser or HTTP client.

The User-Agent allows a server to know certain information about the client software used to make the request.

For example, it may contain information about the browser, operating system, or engine used.

Public IP vs Private IP: what’s the difference?

It is one of the most important concepts to understand when working with IP addresses.

Private IP address

A private IP address is used inside a local network.

The most well‑known IPv4 private ranges are:

10.0.0.0/8
172.16.0.0/12
192.168.0.0/16

You often find this type of address on computers, smartphones, printers, servers and other devices connected to a router or a corporate network.

Example:

192.168.1.20

This address allows your router to distinguish your computer from other devices on the local network.

Public IP address

The public IP address is used for communications with the Internet.

Your network can therefore work according to a similar diagram:

Computer
192.168.1.20
       │
       ▼
Router / Modem
       │
       │ NAT
       ▼
Public IP
41.xxx.xxx.xxx
       │
       ▼
Internet

Multiple devices can thus share the same public IPv4 address.

Why can several devices have the same public IP?

Thanks to NAT, a router can translate connections coming from multiple private addresses to a single public address.

For example:

All four devices can therefore use the same public IP to access the Internet.

This is especially important when interpreting an IP address: a public IP address does not necessarily mean that only one device or one person is using it.

In some networks, especially mobile networks and certain Internet accesses, multiple clients can even share a public address via larger‑scale NAT mechanisms.

Why does my public IP address change?

Your public IP address can be dynamic.

An Internet Service Provider may assign an IP address to your connection for a certain period and then assign another one later.

You might therefore see:

Today: 41.xxx.xxx.10

and later:

Tomorrow: 41.xxx.xxx.42

This does not necessarily mean there is a problem with your connection.

Dynamic IP

A dynamic IP is usually assigned automatically by the provider.

It is perfectly suitable for the majority of common uses:

• web browsing;
• social networks;
• email;
• streaming;
• mobile apps;
• online gaming.

Static IP

A static IP generally remains the same.

It can be useful for certain professional uses, such as:

• Web server;
• VPN server;
• remote access;
• mail server;
• video surveillance system;
• network infrastructure;
• IP address whitelists.

The choice between dynamic and static IP therefore depends on the intended usage.

IPv4 or IPv6: which address do I have?

There are mainly two generations of the IP protocol currently used on the Internet: IPv4 and IPv6.

IPv4

IPv4 uses 32‑bit addresses.

Example:

192.0.2.10

IPv4 notation consists of four numbers separated by dots.

IPv6

IPv6 uses 128‑bit addresses.

Example:

2001:db8:85a3::8a2e:370:7334

IPv6 offers a considerably larger address space than IPv4. Both protocols can operate in parallel on the Internet.

Therefore it is possible that your connection uses mainly IPv4, IPv6, or both depending on your provider, your network and the services you access.

Why might the IP shown be different from my router’s?

This is a common situation.

Your router may display one address on its network interface while a website shows another address.

Several mechanisms can explain this difference:

• NAT;
• CGNAT;
• VPN;
• proxy;
• corporate network;
• mobile network;
• intermediate gateway;
• tunneling service.

In the case of a VPN, for example, the web server may see the VPN server’s IP address rather than the one assigned directly by your ISP.

What can be known from an IP address?

An IP address can provide certain technical information or allow certain lookups.

Depending on the databases and services used, one can typically retrieve:

• address type;
• network or prefix;
• associated organization;
• provider or operator;
• estimated country;
• estimated region or city;
• ASN information;
• routing information.

But one must be cautious when interpreting this data.

An IP address alone does not constitute proof of a person’s identity.

It may correspond to a router, a company, a mobile operator, a server, a VPN, a proxy or a shared infrastructure.

Can an IP address reveal my exact address?

No.

IP geolocation is an estimate, not a system that generally determines a precise postal address.

The accuracy depends on the quality of the databases, the ISP and the network architecture.

Using a VPN or proxy can also cause the intermediate server’s address rather than the original connection’s address to appear.

Thus one should avoid interpreting an IP geolocation as a GPS location.

To analyze an IP address further, you can use an IP Location tool, but the results should always be considered estimates.

Why do websites know my IP?

When a browser connects to a web server, a network communication is required.

The server must be able to receive the request and send a response.

In a simple architecture:

Browser
     │
     │ HTTP request
     ▼
Web Server
     │
     │ HTTP response
     ▼
Browser

The server or the infrastructure in front of it can therefore obtain the source IP address of the connection.

Modern architectures can however introduce intermediaries such as reverse proxies, CDNs or security systems. For example, when a site uses a Cloudflare proxy, the origin server may receive a connection coming from Cloudflare’s infrastructure; specific headers then allow forwarding the client’s IP address to the origin server.

Is my public IP information sensitive?

An IP address is a technical piece of information that should be handled with care.

It is discouraged to publish your IP address unnecessarily when it could directly expose a network infrastructure.

However, knowing an IP address does not automatically mean one can take control of the corresponding device.

A properly protected connection should, among other things, use:

• a firewall;
• correctly configured services;
• up‑to‑date software;
• strong passwords;
• appropriate authentication;
• minimal network exposure.

The IP address is just one element among many in the security of an infrastructure.

Why is it useful to know your public IP address?

Knowing your IP can be useful in many scenarios.

1. Firewall configuration

Some infrastructures allow only certain IP addresses.

You may need to know the public IP address used by your connection.

2. Accessing a server

An administrator may need to verify from which IP they are connecting to a remote server.

3. Whitelisting

Some services allow limiting connections to a whitelist of authorized IP addresses.

Your public IP can then be added to that list.

4. Network diagnostics

Comparing the address shown by a web tool with the one shown by your router can help understand your connection’s architecture.

5. VPN verification

After enabling a VPN, you can use an IP detection service to verify whether the public address visible on the Internet has changed.

6. Web development

Developers may need to know their public IP to test network rules, APIs, authentication systems or access restrictions.

How to test your IP after enabling a VPN?

The test is very simple.

1. Open My Public IP.
2. Note the displayed address.
3. Enable your VPN.
4. Reload the page.
5. Compare the obtained address.

If the VPN works as expected, the address visible to the web service may change and correspond to the VPN’s exit infrastructure.

The apparent location of the connection may also change.

Public IP, IP location and Whois: what’s the difference?

These three tools answer different questions.

It is therefore useful to use them together during a network diagnosis.

Example

You discover your public IP:

41.xxx.xxx.xxx

You can then use an IP location tool to get a geographic estimate and a Whois tool to lookup the registration information available.

These results should not be confused with the actual identity of the user.

My public IP for developers

For a developer, knowing the public IP address can be especially useful during infrastructure testing.

For example, an API may be protected by a rule allowing certain addresses:

Allowed IPs:
41.xxx.xxx.10
41.xxx.xxx.11

If your ISP changes your dynamic IP, your access may stop working.

This explains why some professional environments use static IPs, VPNs or other secure access mechanisms rather than a simple rule based on a dynamic IP.

Public IP address and web server

When a user visits your site, your application may also need to know the client’s IP address.

But in a modern architecture, reverse proxies and CDNs must be taken into account.

For example:

Visitor
   │
   ▼
CDN / Reverse Proxy
   │
   ▼
Web Server
   │
   ▼
Application

The web server does not necessarily receive the visitor’s connection directly.

Cloudflare, for example, documents the use of the CF-Connecting-IP header to forward the client’s IP address to the origin server.

This is important for Laravel, PHP, Node.js, Python and other web applications that use the client’s IP address in logs, security rules or analytics systems.

How to quickly check your IP?

To simply know your public IP address, use My Public IP from PleaseTools.

The tool is especially convenient when you need to quickly retrieve the address used by your connection without going through router configuration.

You can then use this address with other PleaseTools network tools to deepen your diagnosis.

Frequently asked questions about the public IP address

What is my public IP address?

Your public IP address is the IP address visible from the Internet for the connection used by your device or network. The My Public IP tool from PleaseTools displays it directly.

Does my phone have a public IP?

Your phone can have a private address on a Wi‑Fi network and use a public address to access the Internet. On a mobile network, the architecture can be different and several users may share certain public addresses.

Why does my IP change?

Your provider may use dynamic IP addresses. A reconnection, a network change or other events can lead to the assignment of a different address.

Does my IP address reveal my name?

No. An IP address does not directly provide your name. Additional information held by the provider or other entities may be required to associate a connection with a subscriber in a proper legal context.

Can two people have the same public IP?

Yes. Multiple devices on the same network can share a public IP address thanks to NAT. Larger‑scale sharing mechanisms can also allow several clients to use the same public address.

Is a public IP always fixed?

No. A public IP can be dynamic or static depending on the type of connection and the services offered by the provider.

What is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?

IPv4 uses 32‑bit addresses while IPv6 uses 128‑bit addresses. Their representation and networking mechanisms differ, but both are used for Internet communications.

Why is my IP different when I use a VPN?

A VPN can route your Internet traffic through another server. Sites you visit can then see the VPN’s exit IP address rather than the one provided directly by your operator.

Can you hide your IP address?

It is possible to change the IP address visible to an Internet service by using, depending on the context, a VPN, a proxy or other intermediate infrastructures. This does not automatically make the activity anonymous or untraceable.

Is it dangerous to know your IP address?

No. Knowing your public IP address is a normal network diagnostic operation. Security mainly depends on the configuration of services exposed to the Internet, the firewall, updates and authentication mechanisms.

Conclusion

The public IP address is one of the fundamental elements of communications on the Internet. It allows online services to identify the network origin of a connection and plays an important role in routing communications.

Knowing your IP can be useful for network troubleshooting, firewall configuration, server administration, VPN verification or Web application development.

With PleaseTools – My Public IP, you can quickly obtain the IP address visible on the Internet from your browser.