Almost everyone has heard the term “IP address”, yet few people know what it actually is or why it should matter to them. And yet it is the very foundation of how the internet and your home network work. Let us explain it in plain language and show how to find your IP address easily.

What an IP address is

An IP address is a unique number that identifies a device on a network. For data to reach you (a web page, a video, an e-mail), the network has to know where to deliver it. That is exactly what an IP address is for.

It most often looks like four numbers separated by dots, for example 192.168.1.10. This is the IPv4 format. Because the world started running out of these addresses, a newer and longer IPv6 format is gradually being introduced (it looks like 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334), offering a practically inexhaustible supply.

Public versus local IP address

This is the most important distinction, and most of the confusion comes from it. You actually have two different IP addresses:

  • The public IP address is the one the whole internet sees you by. Your provider assigns it and it is shared by your entire household. Your router uses it to talk to the world.
  • The local (private) IP address is the one each device on your home network has individually, for example your computer, phone, TV or camera. It usually starts with 192.168. or 10.. Outside your network it is invisible.

Think of it like an apartment building: the public IP is the address of the whole building (street and number), the local IPs are the individual apartment numbers inside. The post (the internet) delivers to the building, and the router then hands it to the right apartment.

Static versus dynamic IP

Ordinary households usually have a dynamic public IP, meaning one that changes from time to time (your provider occasionally assigns a new one). For most people this is not a problem.

A static IP (a fixed one) is useful when you need to be reliably reachable from outside at the same address, for example for remote access to cameras, a server or a company network. In that case it is wiser to use a VPN or order a static IP from your provider. We will gladly help with the setup.

What a public IP can be used for

A public IP is your address visible from the internet, so thanks to it you can be reachable from outside too. In practice it can be used for:

  • Remote access to your home, for example to cameras, a home server or NAS, or into a company network.
  • Running your own service, for example a website, a game server or a VPN gateway home.
  • Port forwarding, which directs an incoming connection to a specific device on the network.

With a dynamic IP that changes, a DDNS (dynamic DNS) service helps, assigning a fixed name to the changing address, so you reach it the same way every time.

An important security note: every open port is also an entry point for attackers. So it is almost always safer to use a VPN than to open ports to the internet. And note that if you have CGNAT, you do not have a usable public IP of your own at all, which is what the next part is about.

Why remote access often does not work: CGNAT

The most common real-world reason why you cannot reach home from outside, even after setting up port forwarding, is CGNAT (a shared public IP). Some providers, especially mobile ones and part of fixed lines, share a single public IP across many customers at once. In that case you do not have your own usable public IP at all, so port forwarding has no way to work. The solution is a VPN or relay, or ordering a paid static (public) IP from your provider.

How to find your public IP address

The easiest way is to look right here. This is the public IP address the internet sees you by right now:

Your public IP address
detecting…
We detect it directly from your connection; nothing is stored.

Alternatively, just type “what is my ip” into Google and you will see it too. It works on a computer and on a phone.

How to find your local IP address

You can find a device’s local (private) IP like this:

  • Windows: press the Windows key, type cmd, open the Command Prompt and enter ipconfig. Look for the “IPv4 Address” line.
  • Mac: System Settings → Network → choose the connection (Wi-Fi/Ethernet), the IP address is shown in the details.
  • Android: Settings → Wi-Fi → tap the connected network → you will see the IP address.
  • iPhone: Settings → Wi-Fi → tap the “i” next to the connected network → IP address.

Your router’s address (the so-called gateway) is usually similar, for example 192.168.1.1, and entering it into your browser typically opens the router settings.

When we can help with IP addresses

Most questions around IP addresses arise with remote access, cameras, port forwarding and network security. If you need to be safely reachable from outside, link branches, or reach cameras and devices at home, we will gladly set the network up correctly and securely (ideally over a VPN, not through risky port opening). Get in touch and we will advise.