Find the IP address your browser presents

For a quick public IP check, search for what is my IP in a browser on the connection you want to test. Read the result labeled as your public or external IP address. It reflects the connection that reached the lookup service. For example, a browser using a VPN may show an address assigned to the VPN’s exit server. Run the check on the same device and in the same browser involved in your troubleshooting. A test from your phone on mobile data can produce a different result than a test from your laptop on home Wi-Fi. An IP address identifies a network endpoint so traffic can be routed to it. IPv4 uses 32 bits and commonly appears as four decimal numbers separated by dots. IPv6 uses 128 bits and is written with hexadecimal digits separated by colons. Both can be available on the same connection, and the result depends partly on which protocol the lookup used. Cloudflare’s IP address guide

Use the local address for devices on your network

Your computer and printer can have separate local IP addresses even when they share a public IPv4 address. A router can use network address translation to keep track of outgoing requests and direct replies to the appropriate device. For example, a laptop might have the local address 192.168.1.24 and a printer 192.168.1.31. Other homes can reuse those same private addresses on their own networks. IANA lists three private-use IPv4 ranges beginning with 10, 172.16 through 172.31, and 192.168. If you are setting up a printer, look for the address displayed in the printer’s network settings. A public lookup instead reports what the external service sees from your connection. IP addresses help route traffic, while a URL can also specify the particular resource to open. In documentation, example addresses such as 192.0.2.10 and 2001:db8::10 use ranges reserved for that purpose. IANA private address ranges · How address translation works · What a URL contains

Check Windows or Mac network settings

On Windows, open Settings, choose Network & internet, and select the connection you are actually using. For Wi-Fi, open the properties for the connected network and look for the field labeled IPv4 address. For a wired connection, select Ethernet and check its address. On a Mac, open System Settings, choose Network, select the active service, then open Details → TCP/IP. Read the address fields without changing their settings. If Ethernet and Wi-Fi are both connected, each interface can have its own values. Also distinguish the device address from the router or default gateway address. The gateway is the next stop for traffic headed beyond the local network. For a support request, include which connection you checked and whether you copied IPv4 or IPv6. That context helps the person helping you identify the relevant entry when several addresses appear. Microsoft network settings · Apple TCP/IP settings

Interpret changes and approximate locations

A network can assign an address dynamically, so a saved value may change after a reconnection or a move to another network. A VPN or proxy can also change the address a website sees for traffic routed through it. When comparing results, note the time, connection and whether a VPN or browser privacy relay was active. Repeat the test under the conditions where the issue occurs. A location result from an IP lookup is a database estimate. It may correspond to a provider’s network or the place where your traffic exits, and different lookup services can disagree. For instance, a phone connected through a mobile carrier may appear to be browsing from another city. If a service rejects access based on location, share the approximate result and the time with its support team through the official channel. If you are troubleshooting a device inside your home, the local address and network name are usually the more relevant details. Cloudflare’s location accuracy notes · How a VPN routes traffic