An IP test answers a specific question: which public Internet Protocol address is visible when this browser reaches a website? That address can identify the network provider and support an approximate location estimate, but it does not reveal a person or street address by itself. It may also be shared by many devices or customers.
Public IP versus private IP
| Address | Where it is used | How to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Public IP | Routed between your network and Internet destinations | Ask an external service such as the ToolsFree IP page |
| Private IP | Used inside a home, office, or other private network | Read the active interface in the device or router settings |
IPv4 private networks commonly use the RFC 1918 ranges 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, and 192.168.0.0/16. These ranges are reused in many independent networks and are not routed on the public Internet. A router can translate traffic from several private addresses to one public address using NAT.
The ToolsFree IP test shows the public address visible to its lookup service. A web page cannot generally read the private address assigned by your router, so the two values should not be confused.
How to find your private address
- Windows: run
ipconfigand inspect the active adapter's IPv4 or IPv6 address. - macOS: open Network settings or run
ifconfigin Terminal. - Linux: run
ip addressand inspect the active interface. - Android or iOS: open the details of the connected Wi-Fi network.
Ignore loopback entries such as 127.0.0.1 and addresses belonging to disconnected adapters. A device may have several valid addresses at once, including IPv4, IPv6, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, VPN, and virtual interfaces.
IPv4 and IPv6
IPv4 addresses are 32 bits and are usually written as four decimal numbers, such as 192.0.2.10. IPv6 addresses are 128 bits and use hexadecimal groups, such as 2001:db8::10. The larger IPv6 space reduces the need for address sharing, but both versions can coexist on a dual-stack connection.
Address version does not by itself make traffic private or secure. IPv6 supports IPsec, but applications still need protocols such as HTTPS for normal web encryption. The address shown by a site depends on which version and route the connection used to reach that site.
Shared, dedicated, dynamic, and static
Shared or dedicated
A home router normally lets several local devices share one public IPv4 address. An ISP may add carrier-grade NAT, where several customers also share a public address. An IP lookup cannot prove from the address alone whether it is dedicated to your account. Check the router's WAN address against the public result and ask the provider whether the service uses CGNAT or includes a dedicated address.
Dynamic or static
A dynamic address may change when the provider renews or reassigns a lease; reconnecting does not guarantee a new one. A static address is intended to remain assigned. The current value alone cannot prove which contract you have—compare results over time or check the provider's terms.
What an IP can reveal
- The public address and whether the observed connection used IPv4 or IPv6.
- The network or autonomous system associated with the address.
- An approximate country, region, or city derived from a geolocation database.
Geolocation is an estimate of the network endpoint, not GPS and not proof of residence or identity. Results can point to an ISP hub, company gateway, mobile network, proxy, or VPN edge. Different databases may disagree.
What changes when you use a VPN
A VPN normally routes traffic through its endpoint, so websites see the endpoint's public address instead of the one used by your direct connection. This can be checked by recording the IP before and after connecting. The VPN does not hide account logins, cookies or every browser signal, and it moves part of your trust to the VPN operator. An unchanged IP may mean the tunnel is not carrying that traffic, but a changed IP does not prove anonymity.
A practical IP test
- Record the public IP, address version, ISP/network name, approximate location, date and connection type.
- If testing a VPN, repeat before and after connecting without publishing the full addresses.
- Compare the public result with the router's WAN address to investigate CGNAT.
- Use the device commands above when you need the private address.
- Treat location and privacy labels as observations, not identity or security verdicts.
If you are diagnosing performance too, use the repeatable method in the speed-test guide. Open What's My IP to inspect the address currently visible to ToolsFree.