What is the difference between public and private IP?

A public IP is globally unique and reachable from the Internet; a private IP works only within a local network.

Can a private IP be accessed from the Internet?

No, unless you set up port forwarding, tunneling, or a VPN.

How do I find my public IP?

Open this site and your public IP is shown automatically, or look up any IP for full details.

Networking Basics

Public IP vs Private IP: What's the Difference?

What is an IP Address

An IP address is the address of a device on a network, used to route data to the right destination. Today's networks use IPv4 (e.g., 192.168.1.1) and IPv6 (e.g., 2400:3200::1).

Public IP: Globally Unique

A public IP address is globally unique and assigned by ISPs or organizations. Devices with public IPs can be reached directly from the Internet, such as 8.8.8.8 (Google's public DNS).

Private IP: Local Only

Private IP addresses work only within a local network and can be reused across different networks. IANA reserved these IPv4 ranges for private use:

10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255 (10/8)
172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255 (172.16/12)
192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255 (192.168/16)
169.254.0.0 - 169.254.255.255 (link-local)

Why Does My Device Show a Private IP?

Home broadband typically uses a router with NAT: the router has one public IP while all devices on the LAN share it. From inside the network you see a private IP; from the Internet, your home appears as a single public IP.

Find your public IP instantly with the toolbox, including location, ISP and ASN. →

FAQ

Q: Can a private IP be reached from the Internet? A: No, unless you use port forwarding, tunneling, or a VPN.
Q: Are there private ranges in IPv6? A: Yes, fc00::/7 is private and fe80::/10 is link-local.
Q: Does my public IP change? A: Most residential lines use dynamic public IPs that may change after a reboot.