core

WhatIsMyIPAddress

WhatIsMyIPAddress (whatismyipaddress.com) is a free web tool that displays your public IP address — the unique numerical label your internet provider assigns to your connection — the moment you l...

For: WordPress beginners setting up admin security, freelancers configuring client site access, or anyone troubleshooting server-side rules on shared hosting.

Disclosure: Some links on WPSchool are affiliate links. This glossary entry is purely educational — no affiliate products are recommended here.

Last verified: April 2026

What Is WhatIsMyIPAddress?

WhatIsMyIPAddress (whatismyipaddress.com) is a free web tool that displays your public IP address — the unique numerical label your internet provider assigns to your connection — the moment you load the page. No login, no setup. You visit, you get your IP.

Answer capsule: WhatIsMyIPAddress is a lookup tool that instantly shows your public IPv4 or IPv6 address, your approximate location, and your internet provider. WordPress users consult it when they need their current IP to whitelist in .htaccess, server firewalls, or plugin security settings.

Why WordPress Users Need to Know Their IP

Your IP address shows up in three places across a typical WordPress setup, and getting it wrong locks you out of your own site.

First, .htaccess-based admin restrictions. When you limit access to /wp-admin to specific IPs — a common hardening step — you need an accurate current IP. We see this on client sites constantly: a freelancer locks down the admin area with a hardcoded IP, the client’s ISP reassigns their address, and suddenly no one can log in.

Second, hosting control panel firewalls. Hosts like SiteGround, Kinsta, and Cloudways let you whitelist IPs at the server level. Entering a wrong IP blocks legitimate access without touching WordPress at all.

Third, plugin security rules. Tools like Wordfence and MalCare let you whitelist trusted IPs so your own logins don’t trigger alerts. When we set these up during security audits, we always open whatismyipaddress.com first to confirm the exact address before pasting it into plugin settings.

How to Use It

  1. Open whatismyipaddress.com in the same browser and network you use to manage your site.
  2. Your IPv4 address appears at the top of the page — it looks like 203.0.113.42.
  3. Copy that number and paste it wherever WordPress, your host, or your server expects an IP allowlist entry.

One gotcha we’ve measured on client sites: if you’re on a VPN, the IP shown is your VPN exit node, not your real ISP address. That means the IP you whitelist won’t match your actual connection when the VPN is off. Always check with the VPN disconnected unless you plan to always manage the site through that VPN.

IPv4 vs IPv6

As of 2026, most shared hosting whitelists still run on IPv4 (32-bit addresses, four groups of numbers). WhatIsMyIPAddress shows both formats if your connection supports IPv6. When in doubt, use the IPv4 version — it has broader firewall compatibility.

  • IP whitelisting — restricting access to a resource to a specific list of approved IP addresses
  • .htaccess — Apache configuration file used to set server-level rules, including IP restrictions on wp-admin
  • Static vs dynamic IP — a static IP never changes; a dynamic IP (common on home connections) changes periodically, which breaks permanent whitelists
  • VPN — a service that masks your real IP, which affects which IP you should whitelist

Additional Reading

  • How to Restrict WordPress Admin Access by IP Address — WPBeginner’s step-by-step .htaccess guide
  • IP Address Basics — official explainer from WhatIsMyIPAddress
  • WordPress .htaccess security hardening — see our guide on locking down wp-login.php
  • WordPress admin security checklist — covers IP whitelisting alongside two-factor auth and login limits
Back to Glossary