What's my IP address?
Your public IP address, internet provider and approximate location — as websites see them.
| Internet provider (ISP) | … |
|---|---|
| Approximate location | … |
Location is an estimate based on public IP registration data — usually accurate to the city or region, never to your street. We don’t store your IP address.
What is an IP address?
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a number that identifies a connection on the internet, much like a postal address for data. Every website you visit sees your public IP address so it knows where to send its pages back to.
What your IP address reveals — and what it doesn’t
| Websites can see | Websites can’t see |
|---|---|
| Your internet provider (e.g. the company that supplies your fibre or LTE) | Your name, ID number or account details |
| A rough location — usually a city or province | Your street address |
| Whether you’re on IPv4 or IPv6 | What other devices are on your home network |
Public vs private IP addresses
Your router gets one public IP address from your provider. Inside your home, the router hands out private addresses (like 192.168.1.10) to each phone, TV and laptop. All of them share the one public address on the internet — that’s why every device in your home shows the same IP on this page.
IPv4 and IPv6
IPv4 addresses look like 41.13.200.7. There are only about 4.3 billion of them, which is why providers share them using CGNAT. IPv6 addresses look like 2c0f:f4c0:1234::1 and are practically unlimited. Many South African fibre and mobile networks now support IPv6. Either works fine for everyday use.
Dynamic and static IP addresses
Most home connections have a dynamic IP that can change when the router restarts. A static IP never changes — useful for remote access, hosting or business systems that allow access only from known addresses. Many providers offer a static IP as a paid add-on.
Want to understand more? Read our full guide to IP addresses.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone find my home address from my IP address?
No. An IP address shows your internet provider and a rough area — often only the city, and sometimes a different city altogether. Only your provider can link an IP address to an account, and in South Africa it would normally need a legal process (such as a court order) to release that information.
Why does my IP address show the wrong city?
Location databases estimate where an IP address is based on how providers register their address blocks. Mobile and LTE networks often route traffic through a central point, so your IP may appear to be in Johannesburg even if you’re in Cape Town or Polokwane. This is normal.
How do I change my IP address?
Restarting your router often gives you a new IP address, because most home connections use a dynamic IP. Switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data also changes it. A VPN replaces it with the VPN server’s address. If you need an address that never changes, ask your provider about a static IP.
What is the difference between a public and a private IP address?
Your public IP address (shown above) is how the internet sees your whole household. Your private IP address (like 192.168.1.23) is assigned by your router to each device inside your home and isn’t visible on the internet.
What is CGNAT, and why does it matter?
Carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT) means your provider shares one public IP address among many customers. It’s common on LTE, 5G and some fibre networks. It doesn’t affect browsing, but it can stop port forwarding, hosting game servers and remote access to cameras. Ask your provider for a public or static IP if you need these.
What is my router’s IP address?
Most South African routers use 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1 or 10.0.0.1. On Windows, open Command Prompt and type ipconfig — look for “Default Gateway”. On a phone, open your Wi-Fi network’s details and look for “Router” or “Gateway”.
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