How to Determine if Your IP is Unique or Shared

The Internet operates primarily through a system of IP addresses, which are unique identifiers for devices on a network. However, not all IP addresses are unique; some are shared. Understanding whether your IP address is unique (static) or shared (dynamic) is important for various reasons, from security to network management. In this article, we will guide you through the process of determining your IP address type. We will also explore the common shared IP address ranges and the concept of anycast addresses.

Step-by-Step Guide to Checking Your IP Address

1. Check Your IP Address

The first step is to find out your public IP address. You can do this by visiting a website like or These websites will display your public IP address, which is visible to everyone on the internet.

2. Determine Your Network Type

Home Network

If you are on a home network, you are most likely using a shared IP address provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Home networks typically use a router that assigns local IP addresses in a range such as 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x. All devices on your home network share the same public IP address.

Business Network

In a business or organizational setting, multiple devices often share a single public IP address through a router. This is because the internet connection is typically shared among several devices in an office or organization.

3. Use IP Lookup Tools

To get detailed information about your IP address, use an IP lookup tool or service such as or If the tool shows multiple users or devices associated with that IP address, it is likely a shared IP.

4. Contact Your ISP

To confirm whether your IP is dynamic or static, contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP). They can provide information about your connection type and whether your IP address is shared with other users. Static IP addresses are assigned to a single device and do not change, while dynamic IP addresses can change periodically.

5. Check for IP Address Changes

If you notice that your IP address changes frequently, especially after restarting your router, it is likely a dynamic, shared IP address. Static IP addresses remain constant.

Understanding Shared IP Address Ranges

All IP addresses, in some form, are shared to a certain extent. For instance, 127.0.0.1 is a shared loopback address, used by a computer to refer to itself (loopback address) and is known as

The private network ranges, which are definitely shared, include:

10.x.x.x192.168.x.x172.16.x.x to 172.31.x.x100.64.0.0 – 100.127.255.255 (for ISPs)fc00::/7 for IPv6

In a home internet setup, the IP numbers allocated to a home internet gateway are shared among the generally multiple devices connecting to that gateway. For example, if someone is using their home internet, they will have a shared IP on their local LAN.

Exploring Anycast IP Addresses

Anycast is a network address distribution technique that routes communications to the nearest server based on the current network load. Some IP addresses are routed using anycast to the nearest server geographically. For instance, Cloudflare's fast DNS service, 1.1.1.1, uses anycast for quick access.

CDNs (Content Delivery Networks) may also use anycast shared IP numbers for performance. To detect anycast addresses, you can perform a traceroute and ping from several servers around the world. If they don't all end up in the same country, it is reasonable to assume it is an anycast address.

Conclusion

Understanding whether your IP address is unique or shared is crucial for various reasons, including network security and management. By following the steps outlined above, you can determine whether your IP address is static and unique or dynamic and shared. If you are unsure, contacting your ISP can provide the most accurate information.