🔎 IP Address Lookup

IP address lookup is a process that identifies the geographical location and network information associated with an IP address. It works by querying databases that map IP address ranges to specific locations, ISPs, and organizations. Our tool uses multiple commercial geolocation databases to provide accurate information about country, city, ISP, organization, and other network details for any IPv4 or IPv6 address.

IP geolocation accuracy varies by location level: 99.9% accurate for country identification, 55-80% for region/state, and 50-75% for city level. Accuracy is higher in densely populated areas and may be affected by factors like VPN usage, proxy servers, mobile networks, CDN services, and how ISPs assign IP addresses. Rural areas typically have lower accuracy due to broader IP address allocation ranges.

Yes, IP address lookup is completely safe and legal. IP addresses are public information transmitted with every internet request, and looking up their geolocation data is a standard practice for security, analytics, and content personalization. Our tool processes lookups securely without storing your queries or personal information. However, using the information obtained for harassment, stalking, or malicious purposes is illegal and unethical.

IP location inaccuracies can occur due to several reasons: your ISP may route traffic through different regions for optimization, you might be using a VPN or proxy service, mobile carriers often use centralized IP pools, or your ISP may register IP blocks in a different location than where they're actually used. Dynamic IP addresses and content delivery networks (CDNs) can also cause location discrepancies.

No, IP addresses cannot reveal your exact physical location like your home address. IP geolocation typically shows the general area (city or region) where your ISP is located, not your precise location. The accuracy is usually within several miles to several dozen miles. To protect your privacy further, you can use VPN services, which mask your real IP address and location by routing your traffic through different servers.

IP lookup provides various information including approximate geographic location (country, region, city), ISP and organization details, autonomous system number (ASN), connection type, time zone, postal code, coordinates, and sometimes carrier information for mobile networks. It can also detect VPN, proxy, or Tor usage. However, it cannot reveal personal information like names, addresses, phone numbers, or browsing history.

To protect your privacy from IP tracking, use a reputable VPN service to mask your real IP address, consider using Tor browser for anonymous browsing, regularly clear browser cookies and cache, disable location services for apps that don't need them, and be cautious about sharing personal information online. Using proxy servers, firewall protection, and keeping software updated also helps maintain privacy and security online.

IPv4 addresses (like 192.168.1.1) are 32-bit addresses that have been used since the internet's inception, while IPv6 addresses (like 2001:db8::1) are 128-bit addresses designed to replace IPv4 due to address exhaustion. Both can be looked up for geolocation, but IPv6 geolocation may be less accurate as the infrastructure is newer and databases are still being developed. Our tool supports both formats and provides the same types of information for each.

When an IP lookup shows VPN, proxy, or hosting provider information, it means the IP address belongs to a service that routes traffic on behalf of end users. VPNs and proxies are used for privacy, security, or to bypass geographical restrictions. Hosting providers host websites and services. In these cases, the geolocation shows the server location, not the actual user location, which is the intended privacy protection behavior.

IP geolocation databases are typically updated monthly or quarterly by providers, as IP address allocations change relatively slowly. Our tool uses real-time queries to the most current databases available. However, some changes like new ISP assignments, network infrastructure changes, or geographic relocations may take time to reflect in all databases. For the most current information, we query multiple authoritative sources.

IP lookup for mobile devices can be challenging because mobile carriers often use centralized IP pools, meaning devices may appear to be located at the carrier's main data center rather than the user's actual location. Mobile IPs also change frequently as devices move between cell towers. While country-level accuracy remains high, city-level accuracy for mobile IPs is typically lower than for fixed broadband connections.

No, IP geolocation and GPS are completely different technologies. IP geolocation estimates location based on network infrastructure and ISP data, providing approximate regional location. GPS uses satellites to provide precise coordinates, typically accurate within a few meters. IP geolocation doesn't require device permission and works for any internet-connected device, while GPS requires explicit permission and compatible hardware. IP lookup is less precise but more universally applicable.