Public vs Private IP Address
There are two common types of IP addresses: public IP addresses and private IP addresses.
They may look similar, but they are used in different places.
What Is a Public IP Address?
A public IP address is the address your network uses on the public Internet.
When you visit a website, the website usually sees your public IP address.
This is the IP address shown by CheckNowIP.
What Is a Private IP Address?
A private IP address is used inside a local network, such as your home Wi-Fi, office, or school network.
Common private IP ranges include:
192.168.x.x10.x.x.x172.16.x.xto172.31.x.x
Private IP addresses are not directly reachable from the public Internet.
Why Do I Have Both?
Your phone, laptop, and other devices may each have a private IP address inside your local network.
Your router then uses one public IP address to connect your entire network to the Internet.
This is why multiple devices in your home may appear to have the same public IP address when checking online.
Which IP Address Do Websites See?
Most websites see your public IP address, not your private IP address.