Connection troubleshooting · Updated 7 October 2026

Why does my public IP keep changing?

A public IP identifies the address used by a particular internet request. It is not a permanent identity for you or your device. A different result can be normal when your network, VPN route or address assignment changes. Start by comparing fresh results with the same IP version.

What can change the result?

Switching connections. Moving from home Wi-Fi to mobile data uses another network. A different public address is expected, even if you have not moved physically.
Dynamic IPv4 assignment. Your provider may assign an address that can change over time. Reconnecting can result in the same address or a new one; a router restart does not guarantee a change.
A VPN or proxy. Connecting, disconnecting or choosing another exit server can change the address a website sees. Split tunneling can also make different apps use different routes.
Temporary IPv6 addresses. Some devices create temporary addresses for outgoing connections and replace them over time. That can change part of an IPv6 address while the connection continues to work.
Different IP versions. An IPv4 result and an IPv6 result may both describe your current connection. They are not evidence that the same address changed.

Run a comparison you can interpret

Choose one browser and connection. Note whether you are using Wi-Fi, mobile data, a VPN or a browser proxy. Keep other settings stable while checking one change.
Record a fresh starting result. Open the IP comparison tool and select Record starting IP. It records the address and version used for that request.
Make the change you want to test. For example, connect a VPN or switch networks. Wait until the connection is ready, and keep the comparison page open.
Select Check again. Compare both the address and IP version. The tool explains an unchanged address, a same-version change or a switch between versions.

You can also record results manually from the public IP checker. A tab left open shows an earlier snapshot until you reload it. Avoid posting the recorded addresses publicly; they are useful connection details, even though a normal lookup does not reveal your name or street address.

A worked example

Documentation examples, not your connection
Starting result	Later result	What it tells you
`203.0.113.42`	`198.51.100.24`	Both are IPv4. The later request used a different IPv4 address.
`203.0.113.42`	`203.0.113.42`	The requests used the same visible address. This alone does not reveal their complete routes.
`203.0.113.42`	`2001:db8::42`	The IP version changed. You cannot infer that an existing IPv4 route changed.

The example ranges above are reserved for documentation. Do not enter them as real public addresses in the lookup form.

Does a changing IP mean my connection is unstable?

Not by itself. An address change and a dropped connection are different observations. If browsing works and you deliberately changed networks or VPN servers, the new result may be expected. If calls, downloads or games also disconnect, record when that happens and ask your provider to investigate the connection as well as the address assignment.

When an IP-based allowlist stops working, give support your current public address through their trusted support channel. Ask whether they support IPv4, IPv6 or both. A service that expects a fixed address may need a static-IP option or a different way of granting access.

Can I keep the same public IP?

Ask your provider whether your plan includes a static public address and which IP versions it covers. Provider policies differ. Reserving a local address in your router's settings only controls the address inside your network; it does not make your internet-facing address static.

If you host a service, a changing address is only one part of the problem. A dynamic DNS name can follow a supported address change, but it does not create inbound connectivity through carrier-grade NAT or a firewall. Read the router WAN IP and CGNAT guide before treating dynamic DNS as a complete fix.

What if only the location changes?

If the address stays identical but a map moves, investigate the geolocation result rather than assuming your connection changed. Different data sources and updates can produce different estimates. See why IP locations can be wrong.