The Short Version
Private IP: The address your local network uses. Assigned by your router. Only unique within your home/office.
What Is a Public IP Address?
Your public IP address is the one that websites and online services see when you connect. It's assigned to your router by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and is unique across the entire internet. Think of it as your house's street address — it's how the postal service (the internet) knows where to deliver packages (data) to you.
You can see your public IP right now using our IP lookup tool.
What Is a Private IP Address?
Private IP addresses are used inside your local network — your home or office WiFi. Your router assigns a private IP to each device (phone, laptop, smart TV, etc.) so it can route traffic correctly within the network. These addresses are not visible to the outside internet.
Private IP addresses always fall within these reserved ranges:
| Range | Typical Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255 | Large networks / enterprises | 10.0.0.1 |
172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255 | Medium networks | 172.16.0.1 |
192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255 | Home networks (most common) | 192.168.1.100 |
How They Work Together
When you browse the web, your device sends a request using its private IP to your router. The router translates this to your public IP using a process called NAT (Network Address Translation), then sends the request to the internet. When the response comes back, the router translates it back to your device's private IP. This is how dozens of devices in your home can share a single public IP.
How to Find Your Private IP Address
Your private IP can be found through your device's network settings. We have step-by-step guides for every platform:
Public vs Private: Key Differences
| Public IP | Private IP | |
|---|---|---|
| Visible to internet | Yes | No |
| Assigned by | Your ISP | Your router |
| Unique scope | Global | Local network only |
| Can be used to locate you | Approximately (city level) | No |
| Changes when | ISP reassigns / router restarts | Device reconnects to network |