What Is IPv6?
IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is the most recent version of the Internet Protocol. It was developed to address the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses. While IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses (about 4.3 billion), IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses — providing roughly 340 undecillion unique addresses. That's enough for every grain of sand on Earth to have trillions of IP addresses.
What Does an IPv6 Address Look Like?
IPv6 addresses are written as eight groups of four hexadecimal digits separated by colons:
2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334Groups of all zeros can be shortened with
:: — so the above becomes 2001:db8:85a3::8a2e:370:7334
Do I Have IPv6?
Not all internet service providers have fully deployed IPv6 yet. Many connections still use IPv4 exclusively, while others support both (called "dual stack"). Our IP lookup tool on the homepage will show you which protocol your connection is currently using.
If you see an address with colons (like the example above), you're on IPv6. If you see four numbers separated by dots (like 74.125.224.72), you're on IPv4.
IPv6 Benefits
- Virtually unlimited addresses — no more address exhaustion
- Built-in security — IPsec encryption is part of the protocol
- Better performance — simplified packet headers mean faster routing
- No more NAT — every device gets a unique public address
- Auto-configuration — devices can configure themselves on the network
IPv6 Adoption
As of 2026, approximately 40-45% of internet traffic uses IPv6. Google, Facebook, and most major websites fully support it. Mobile carriers have been leading adoption — many 4G and 5G connections are IPv6-only. Adoption varies significantly by country and ISP.
Can I Switch to IPv6?
Your ISP controls whether you have IPv6 access. You can contact them to ask about availability, but you typically can't enable it yourself. Most modern routers and operating systems support IPv6 automatically once your ISP enables it.