IPv4 vs IPv6: What's the Difference
IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses (like 8.8.8.8), about 4.3 billion of them, which have long been exhausted; IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses (like 2001:4860:4860::8888), a nearly unlimited supply.
Most networks today are "dual-stack," with both IPv4 and IPv6 exits. This site supports looking up both.
Address format
IPv4 is four decimal octets; IPv6 is eight groups of hexadecimal, with :: compressing consecutive zeros.
Why transition to IPv6
IPv4 addresses are exhausted, forcing ISPs to widely use shared CGNAT addresses; IPv6 has plenty of addresses and can give every device its own public address.
FAQ
- Do I have an IPv6 address?
- Check whether this site's home page shows an IPv6 exit, or visit an IPv6-only test site. Many home broadband connections already have IPv6 enabled by default.
- Does IPv6 expose my device?
- IPv6 usually gives each device its own address, which is less private than a shared IPv4; most systems use temporary addresses (Privacy Extensions) to mitigate this.
Want to check a specific IP? Enter it on thehome pageto see its full details: location, IP type, risk score, blocklist status and more.
Related Topics
- IP Risk Check: What Is a Risk / Fraud Score and How to Read It
- How to Tell a Residential IP from a Datacenter (IDC) IP
- IP Blocklist Check: See Whether an IP Is Blacklisted
- WebRTC Leak Test: Stop Your Real IP From Leaking Behind a Proxy
- What Are ASN and BGP, and How to Look Them Up
- What Is a Native IP (vs a Broadcast IP)?
- Is TikTok Throttling / Banning You an IP Problem? (Troubleshooting Guide)
- How to Change and Optimize Your Home Broadband IP
- What Are CGNAT / Shared IP, and How to Detect Them
- Proxy vs VPN vs Tor: What's the Difference
- How to Check Your Public IP Address (Complete Guide)
- The Difference Between Dynamic and Static IPs
- Why IP Geolocation Is Inaccurate, and How Precise It Really Is
- What Is a Dual-ISP Residential IP
- What Is Reverse IP Lookup and How to Use It
- What Is an IP Address
- How Streaming Unblocking Depends on Your IP (Netflix / Disney+ and More)
- What Are whois / RDAP, and How to Read IP Registration Info
- Latency, Packet Loss & TTL Explained
- The Difference Between Dedicated and Shared IPs
- How to Hide Your Real IP and Protect Your Privacy
- How to Check IP Quality: 5 Dimensions to Judge Any IP
- How to Check an IP Risk Score: Scoring Logic and Self-Check
- How to Check What an IP Is Good For (Use-Case Fit)
- How to Check IP Purity: A Self-Check Checklist