How to know if IP is public or private. Would you like to see clearly and understand whether the address assigned by the operator is public or private? The steps to follow are really within everyone’s reach, very easy to follow.
To determine if an IP address is public or private, you can follow these steps.
| Step | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identify the IP Address | Note down the IP address you want to check. |
| 2 | Check for Private IP Address Range | Compare the IP address with the following private IP address ranges: |
| – 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255 | ||
| – 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255 | ||
| – 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255 | ||
| 3 | Determine the Type of IP | If the IP address falls within any of the above ranges, it’s a private IP. Otherwise, it’s a public IP. |
| 4 | Consider Special Cases (if any) | Some IPs like 127.0.0.1 (localhost) have specific uses and may not fit in the public/private category. |
| 5 | Utilize Online Tools (optional) | For additional verification, use online tools like “WhatIsMyIPAddress” to check the IP type. |
This table provides a straightforward way to identify whether an IP address is public or private by comparing it with known private IP ranges and considering any special cases.
How to know if IP is public or private step by step
Difference between public IP and private IP
Before I explain how to tell if the IP is public or private , I need to let you know the difference between these two categories of network addresses.
As you well know, the IP address is a number that identifies a device connected within a network (be it a computer, smartphone, tablet or any other device with connectivity).
Depending on the type of network, it is possible to distinguish at least three types of IP addresses: public , private and private provided by telephone operators .
Below is a list of the characteristics of each of these IP “families”.
- Public IP – this is the IP address with which a device is identified on the Internet , that is, the one through which it can be accessed from any other node on the Internet.
- Local private IP – is the IP address through which a recognized device arrives within a local network . For example, if you think of a classic home network, the private IP address is the one assigned by the router to all devices connected to the network generated by it. These devices communicate with the outside using only a public IP, usually associated with the router: it is possible to share the public IP because internal communications are managed correctly by the router, which knows exactly which device “hijacks” the received packets. This mechanism, in jargon, is called NAT (or network address translation). Local private IPs cannot normally be accessed from the outside, unless you define precise routing rules through the internal mechanisms of the router, doing what is commonly called “opening the doors.”
- Private IP provided by the operator – the mechanism behind this category of IP is similar to what has been seen now, with one big difference: the “local” network in question is the one created by all users of a specific telephone operator. This means, in practice, that some service providers create huge private networks: each node of these networks coincides with an active user, who is assigned a specific IP address. These addresses, thanks to the NAT mechanism, manage to communicate with the outside world using only a public IP. The use of a public address or a private address provided by the operator is irrelevant for the simple purpose of browsing the Internet, but it becomes problematic where it must act as a server. In this case, even “opening NAT” on your home router would still be unreachable, as the address used for browsing would be private, even if it belonged to a much larger network.
So if you are trying to open your router ports to configure programs like uTorrent or eMule, you are using the PS4’s online multiplayer or doing similar operations, and you can’t do it even by following the guides I gave you just now, your service provider has most likely assigned you a private, not a public IP address.
This practice is generally used for technical reasons intended to “save” IP addresses or to ensure adequate protection against external attacks. Not all telephony operators assign private IP addresses to their users, however, it is good to make sure of this feature (and the possibility of making a public, static or dynamic IP request) when signing the contract.
How to know the IP details
Once the difference between the various categories of network addresses has been clarified, it is time to explain how to know if the IP address assigned to you by the phone provider you have chosen is public (and therefore accessible from outside). ) or private.
This check is very simple: compare the “Internet address” specified within the router with the one that identifies the device from which you operate on the Internet.
To do this, start any browser and access the admin panel of the router you are connected to by visiting the address 192.168.1.1 , the address 192.168.1.254 or the address 192.168.0.1 . Then enter, when necessary, the username and password to log in.
If you have never tried to access the router before and you are sure you have not changed your password before, the default credentials could be admin / admin or admin / password , depending on the network equipment you have.
If you are unable to access your router with the steps I have shown you above, I urge you to follow the instructions in my dedicated guide.
Once the login is complete, go to the related page for connection status summary and locate the article related to IP Address.
Unfortunately I cannot provide you with accurate information on all routers available on the market, however I can show you the steps to go through some of the more popular devices.
- FASTGate (Fastweb) router : after logging in, click on the connection tab located at the top and then online , located in the left navigation bar – the information you are looking for is specified immediately below the graph related to speeds unloading and loading.
- TP-Link router (firmware 1.1.x): After entering the router, go to Network Map , located on the left navigation bar. The information you are looking for is specified in the Internet box .
- TP-Link router (firmware 1.0.x): log in to the router and then click on the Device Information tab , located on the left, and look for the Internet Information box , within which you will find the information you are looking for.
- TP-Link router (firmware 0.x) – click on the STATUS section , resident on the left sidebar and locate the DSL box : the information you are looking for is specified in the IP Address .
- Linksys router – click on the Status / Status tab , located on the far right, and note the address located near the Internet IP Address entry .
- ASUS router – click on the Network Map tab , then on the Primary Internet / WAN icon , then make a note of the address specified in the WAN IP wording .
note : IP addresses of type 192.168.xx or 10.xxx or, again, 172. (16-31) .xx are almost always local private IP addresses (that is, those that identify the router on the home / home network). company) and are not useful for later control. Therefore, I recommend that you look elsewhere for the IP address.
Once you have obtained the IP address that the router uses to connect to the Internet, you just have to compare it with the one seen from the outside. To find out, all you have to do is connect to the WhatsMyIP.org site and read the address specified immediately after Your IP address is .
Understanding whether your IP address is public or private is essential for network configuration, remote access, security, and privacy. By following the steps mentioned above, you can easily determine the type of IP address you have. Always prioritize online security and take necessary precautions to protect your devices and personal information. Stay informed and keep your internet connection secure!
