IP & time help · Mr Kcal Store
A public IP is the internet-facing address a remote service sees for a connection. A private IP is used inside a private network. If you paste a router address such as 192.168.1.1 into a public geolocation tool, there is no unique worldwide location to return.
Find the public IP for this connection
Recognize the three private IPv4 ranges
| Private range | Example | Prefix |
|---|---|---|
| 10.0.0.0–10.255.255.255 | 10.0.0.20 | 10.0.0.0/8 |
| 172.16.0.0–172.31.255.255 | 172.20.1.20 | 172.16.0.0/12 |
| 192.168.0.0–192.168.255.255 | 192.168.1.20 | 192.168.0.0/16 |
Only the listed part of 172 is private under RFC 1918. Do not classify every address beginning with 172 as private. Other special-use and reserved addresses also exist, so being outside these three ranges does not automatically make an address suitable for public geolocation.
Find the right address for your task
- For a website or support question: use “Use my IP” in the lookup tool from the connection you are investigating. Record the observation time and whether you used Wi-Fi, mobile data or a company network.
- For your printer or local router: use your network or device settings. A public IP lookup cannot discover which device owns a reused private address inside your LAN.
- For a server log: check whether the logged field represents the connecting client, a reverse proxy or an internal address. Ask the server administrator which field is reliable before interpreting it.
Why several devices can show one public IP
Consider a laptop at 192.168.1.20 and a phone at 192.168.1.21 on one home network. Their IPv4 connections can pass through the same router and appear under one public address. That does not mean the laptop and phone are the same device.
A provider or company can also share an internet-facing address more widely. Conversely, a device can use different public addresses for IPv4 and IPv6. These examples are reasons to avoid using one IP as proof of identity.
Why the tool rejects my private address
The rejection is expected: the address does not identify one globally unique public endpoint. Replace it with the public address observed for the relevant internet connection. If you need help with a local device, inspect the router’s own connected-device list instead.
Is a public IP the same as an exact home address?
No. A public IP lookup provides network information and approximate location records. It does not provide a verified street address or identify an individual.
Reference and related guide
The private ranges above are defined in RFC 1918, Address Allocation for Private Internets. Continue with IPv4 versus IPv6 detection or IP lookup troubleshooting.
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