🌐 IP WHOIS Checker

An IP WHOIS lookup is a query that retrieves detailed registration information about an IP address from public databases. It provides valuable information including the organization that owns the IP address, network details like CIDR blocks and ranges, geographic location data, contact information for technical and abuse reporting, registration and update dates, and ISP or hosting provider details. This information is essential for network administration, security investigations, and identifying the source of network traffic.

IP WHOIS location information represents the registration address of the organization that owns the IP address, not necessarily the physical location of the device using that IP. The accuracy varies: country-level information is generally very accurate, city-level data can be accurate for static business connections but may be off by hundreds of miles for residential or mobile connections, and the location often reflects the ISP's headquarters or data center rather than the end user's actual location. For precise geolocation, specialized geolocation services provide more accurate results.

Domain WHOIS provides information about domain name registrations including the domain owner, registrar, nameservers, and expiration dates. IP WHOIS focuses on network infrastructure and provides details about IP address allocations, the organizations that control IP ranges, network topology, and routing information. Domain WHOIS is managed by domain registrars and registries, while IP WHOIS is maintained by Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) like ARIN, RIPE, and APNIC. Both serve different purposes in internet governance and network management.

No, IP WHOIS lookups only work for public IP addresses. Private IP addresses (like 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, and 172.16.x.x-172.31.x.x) are reserved for internal network use and are not registered in public WHOIS databases. These addresses are defined by RFC 1918 and are used within private networks like home and office LANs. If you need information about a private IP address, you would need to consult the local network administrator or network documentation for that specific private network.

Yes, performing IP WHOIS lookups is completely legal and encouraged for legitimate purposes. WHOIS information is intentionally made public to facilitate network administration, security investigations, and internet governance. Common legitimate uses include investigating network issues, reporting abuse or spam, conducting security research, verifying business information, and network planning. However, this information should not be used for harassment, unauthorized access attempts, or other malicious activities. Always respect privacy and use WHOIS data responsibly and within legal boundaries.

IP WHOIS information is updated whenever there are changes to network allocations, contact information, or organizational details. Major changes like IP block transfers between organizations are updated immediately, contact information changes are typically updated within days or weeks, and routine administrative updates happen on an ongoing basis. The frequency depends on the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) and the organization managing the IP space. Our tool shows the "last updated" date for each record, helping you understand how current the information is.

If you find incorrect information in an IP WHOIS record, you should contact the appropriate Regional Internet Registry (RIR) or the organization listed as the contact. For records in North America, contact ARIN; for Europe and parts of Asia, contact RIPE NCC; for Asia-Pacific, contact APNIC. If you're the legitimate owner of the IP space, you can request corrections through the RIR's official channels. For contact information updates, reach out to the technical or administrative contacts listed in the WHOIS record. Keep in mind that only authorized representatives can modify WHOIS records.

Yes, our IP WHOIS checker supports both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. You can lookup information for traditional IPv4 addresses (like 8.8.8.8) as well as modern IPv6 addresses (like 2001:4860:4860::8888). The tool automatically detects the IP address format and queries the appropriate WHOIS databases. IPv6 WHOIS records often contain similar information to IPv4 records but may have additional details specific to IPv6 network management and allocation policies.

IP WHOIS lookups are an important first step in investigating malicious network activity, but they provide limited information. The WHOIS data will show you the organization that owns the IP address and provide abuse contact information, which is where you should report malicious activity. However, the actual person behind the activity might be a customer of that ISP, using compromised systems, or employing various techniques to hide their identity. For serious security incidents, work with law enforcement and security professionals who have access to additional investigative tools and legal authority to pursue malicious actors.

Our IP WHOIS checker is free to use for reasonable personal and professional use. The tool is powered by reliable WHOIS APIs and provides comprehensive information without requiring registration or payment. While there may be fair-use limits to prevent abuse and ensure service availability for all users, these limits are generous enough for normal usage patterns. For high-volume commercial applications or automated queries, please contact us to discuss appropriate usage terms and potential API access options.