Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about IP addresses, privacy, and our tools.
General IP Questions
What is an IP address?
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique numerical identifier assigned to every device connected to the internet. It's like a digital address that allows devices to find and communicate with each other. There are two main versions: IPv4 (like 192.168.1.1) and IPv6 (like 2001:db8::1).
What's the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?
IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses providing about 4.3 billion unique addresses, while IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses providing 340 undecillion addresses. IPv6 was created to solve IPv4 exhaustion and includes improvements like better security, auto-configuration, and more efficient routing.
What's the difference between a public and private IP?
Public IP addresses are globally unique and routable on the internet. Private IP addresses (like 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x) are used within local networks and cannot be directly accessed from the internet. Your router has a public IP while your devices have private IPs.
Can I have both IPv4 and IPv6?
Yes, this is called dual-stack configuration. Many modern networks support both IPv4 and IPv6 simultaneously, allowing devices to communicate using either protocol depending on what's available.
Privacy and Security
Can someone find my exact location from my IP?
No, IP geolocation is typically accurate only to the city or region level. The location shown reflects your ISP's infrastructure, not your specific address. Law enforcement can get exact locations from ISPs with proper legal authority, but this information isn't publicly available.
Does a VPN really hide my IP address?
Yes, a properly configured VPN masks your real IP address by routing your traffic through VPN servers. Websites see the VPN server's IP instead of yours. However, DNS leaks or WebRTC leaks can sometimes expose your real IP if the VPN isn't configured correctly.
Is it illegal to hide my IP address?
No, using VPNs, proxies, or Tor to hide your IP address is legal in most countries. However, some countries restrict VPN use, and using these tools for illegal activities remains illegal regardless of the anonymity they provide.
Can websites track me by my IP address?
Websites can use IP addresses for basic tracking, but it's limited. Dynamic IPs change, and multiple users can share IPs. Websites typically use cookies, browser fingerprinting, and account logins for more accurate tracking.
Technical Questions
Why does my IP address change?
Most residential internet connections use dynamic IP addresses that can change when you restart your router, after a certain time period, or when your ISP reassigns addresses. Business connections often have static IPs that don't change.
What is reverse DNS and why does it matter?
Reverse DNS (PTR records) maps IP addresses back to hostnames. It's important for email servers (many reject mail from IPs without reverse DNS) and helps identify the purpose of an IP address (like mail.example.com).
What is an ASN?
An Autonomous System Number (ASN) identifies a network on the internet for BGP routing. Every major ISP and hosting provider has one or more ASNs that identify their network infrastructure.
What causes DNS leaks?
DNS leaks occur when DNS queries bypass your VPN tunnel, typically due to IPv6 traffic on IPv4-only VPNs, misconfigured DNS settings, transparent DNS proxies from ISPs, or WebRTC in browsers.
About Our Tools
How accurate is the location information?
Our geolocation is typically accurate to the city level for most IPs. Accuracy varies by region and ISP. Mobile connections and VPNs may show the location of network infrastructure rather than the user's physical location.
Do you store or log IP addresses?
We prioritize privacy and do not store full IP addresses by default. We may use truncated or hashed IPs for analytics and security. See our privacy policy for full details.
Why do some tools only work with IPv4?
Some services like DNSBL (blacklist) checking are primarily designed for IPv4. IPv6 blacklisting exists but isn't as standardized or widely used due to the vast IPv6 address space.
How often is the geolocation data updated?
We use regularly updated geolocation databases. MaxMind updates weekly, and we cache results briefly (a few minutes) to improve performance while maintaining accuracy.