Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesOn Windows 10 or 11, open Settings > Network & internet, select your connected Wi-Fi network or Ethernet, and look for IPv4 address in the network properties. That is your device’s address on the local network—not necessarily the address a website sees. To reduce exposure, distinguish between hiding a Wi-Fi network identifier, masking the IP shown to websites, and limiting location signals; each requires different controls and none guarantees complete anonymity.
Find the IP address shown in Windows network settings
Windows 10 and Windows 11 show the connected device’s local IPv4 address in the network properties. The exact selection depends on whether the device is connected by Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- Open Settings, then select Network & internet.
- For Wi-Fi, select Wi-Fi and then the connected network. For a wired connection, select Ethernet.
- Find IPv4 address in the network properties.
This is the address assigned to the device on that local network. Microsoft recommends leaving IP and DNS assignment on Automatic (DHCP) for most users: the router or access point supplies those settings. Manually changing the local address is not a routine privacy measure. Microsoft’s instructions for changing TCP/IP settings describe the Windows controls.
Local IP address versus the address websites see
Your local IPv4 address identifies the device within its connected network. A website generally sees the outward-facing address associated with the internet connection instead. The Windows network-properties screen is not a lookup tool for that outward-facing address.
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A relay, VPN, or similar service can change the IP address exposed to a website. If you need to check what a particular site can see, use a public-IP lookup service you trust while connected through the same browser, network, and privacy service you plan to use. The cited Windows and Apple guidance does not establish a particular lookup site, so this article does not endorse one.
Choose protection for the information you want to limit
“IP privacy” can mean several different things. A private Wi-Fi address concerns a network identifier; a relay or VPN can affect the IP a website sees; location controls govern some device and app signals. One setting does not replace the others.
| Control | What it affects | Where it applies | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private Wi-Fi Address | The Wi-Fi MAC address used to identify a device to a network | Supported Apple devices and Wi-Fi networks | Does not mask the public IP address shown to websites. Apple Support |
| iCloud Private Relay | The IP address and exact location Safari websites can see | Safari traffic on supported Apple devices | Requires iCloud+; availability varies by country or region and some sites may require an exception. Apple Support |
| VPN | The IP address a website sees when traffic is routed through the VPN | Traffic covered by the VPN service | Moves trust to the VPN provider; it does not prevent all tracking or location inference. |
| Location permissions | Some location signals available to Windows and apps | Windows device and app location controls | Apps and services may use other technologies, so one setting is not a guarantee. Microsoft Support |
Reduce Wi-Fi network tracking on Apple devices
A Wi-Fi network can use a device’s MAC address as an identifier. Apple’s Private Wi-Fi Address feature gives supported devices a different Wi-Fi address for each network and may rotate it periodically, making it harder to relate the device across networks by that identifier. Apple recommends allowing private addresses on supported networks. Read Apple’s guidance on private Wi-Fi addresses for device and network details.
This changes the identifier used on Wi-Fi; it does not hide the internet connection’s outward-facing IP address from websites. Keep those protections separate when deciding what risk you are trying to reduce.
Limit the IP address Safari websites see with iCloud Private Relay
Apple describes iCloud Private Relay as an iCloud+ feature that encrypts traffic leaving an iPhone and sends it through two separate internet relays. In Safari, websites do not see the user’s IP address and exact location, and the network provider cannot collect Safari browsing activity through this path. The feature must be enabled on each relevant device and is unavailable in some countries and regions. Apple’s Private Relay overview explains availability and settings.
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Apple also provides controls to limit IP address tracking on particular Wi-Fi or cellular networks and to choose a more general or more obscure IP location. Some websites use IP filtering, monitoring, or rate limits and may not work as expected with Private Relay. Apple documents how to let an individual site see the IP address when needed: temporarily allow a website to see your IP address.
What a VPN does—and what it cannot promise
A VPN service can encrypt traffic between your device and the VPN provider and mask the IP address a website sees, depending on the service and how it is configured. The trade-off is that you place trust in the VPN operator instead of relying only on your internet provider for that part of the connection.
A VPN does not guarantee anonymity. Websites and apps may still recognize accounts, cookies, browser characteristics, or other signals; location may also be inferred through sources other than an IP address. No provider comparison or current provider privacy terms are established here, so there is no evidence-based “best VPN” recommendation to make.
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IP masking does not stop every location signal
Windows location services may combine GPS, nearby Wi-Fi access points and routers, cell towers, and an IP address to estimate location. Windows lets users control device location and app permissions, but Microsoft notes that third-party software may use other technologies. Turning off one location setting therefore does not prove that all location inference has stopped. Review Windows location settings and the permissions of apps you use.
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Email privacy is a separate case
Apple Mail Privacy Protection can hide an IP address from email senders while loading messages, but it does not extend to links or attachments. If you click a link, the destination can receive information through that visit; message-loading protection should not be described as making the click anonymous. Apple’s Mail Privacy Protection overview explains the feature’s scope.
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If you need a screenshot of a page while working on IP settings, ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server for developers. Its one-call request can return an image or PDF; it is separate from the privacy controls above and does not find or protect an IP address. Learn about ScreenshotNeo.
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For a screenshot, send a GET request with the page URL and your API key:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webp
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Troubleshoot common IP and privacy questions
The address in Windows does not match what a website reports
That is expected: Windows shows the device’s local network address, while a website sees the outward-facing address for the connection. A relay or VPN can also change the address the site sees.
A website behaves differently with Private Relay or a VPN
Some sites rely on IP filtering, monitoring, or rate limiting. For an affected Safari site, Apple documents a way to allow that site to see the IP address. For a VPN, check the service’s own connection and site-compatibility guidance; no particular provider or setting is established here.
A location-aware app still estimates location after IP masking
IP masking addresses only one possible signal. Check Windows location and app permissions, and remember that nearby wireless networks, GPS, cell towers, or other app technologies may still contribute.
A Windows address changes or is assigned automatically
Automatic (DHCP) assignment is Microsoft’s recommended default for most users. Do not switch to a manually chosen address simply to conceal an IP; that does not hide the outward-facing address websites see.
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Quick Recap
Practical checklist
- Use Settings > Network & internet to find the connected Windows device’s local IPv4 address.
- Do not mistake that local address for the outward-facing IP visible to websites.
- Use Private Wi-Fi Address to reduce Wi-Fi identifier tracking on supported Apple networks, not as public-IP masking.
- Consider Private Relay or a VPN for the IP exposed to websites, with the relevant availability, compatibility, and trust trade-offs.
- Review location permissions separately; IP masking alone does not eliminate location inference.
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