Why Does a Website Show the Wrong IP Address?
Troubleshoot why websites may show a different IP than expected, including VPNs, proxies, NAT, mobile networks, and IPv6.
Common causes
A website may show a different IP because you are using a VPN, proxy, corporate gateway, mobile carrier NAT, or IPv6 connection.
Your device's private local IP is also different from the public IP websites see.
What to compare
Check your router, device network settings, VPN app, and a public IP lookup tool. Compare whether IPv4 and IPv6 results differ.
If only one website shows a strange result, caching, proxy headers, or security services may be involved.
Fast troubleshooting steps
Turn off VPN or proxy temporarily, refresh the lookup, restart the network connection, and test from another browser or device.
Use Crafzo IP Lookup to confirm the public IP and location that external websites can see.
How to use this guide with the lookup tool
Start by identifying the question you need to answer: location, ownership, risk, proxy status, troubleshooting, or enforcement. The same IP result can support different decisions depending on that goal.
Read lookup fields together. Country, city, ISP, ASN, network type, fraud score, and health summary each explain a different part of the connection. A useful conclusion usually comes from combining several of them.
For any important decision, keep the lookup in context with your original evidence. IP intelligence is a fast enrichment layer, not a replacement for logs, account history, device signals, or business rules.
For a live example, run the relevant address through Crafzo IP Lookup or open the IPv6 Lookup to compare the article guidance with real lookup fields.
Signals to compare before acting
| Signal | What to check | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
| Lookup goal | Are you troubleshooting, investigating abuse, or reviewing risk? | Keeps the interpretation tied to the user or business need. |
| Location | Does the country or region explain the observed activity? | Adds context without claiming exact location. |
| Network | Does the ISP or ASN match consumer, business, cloud, or proxy expectations? | Helps decide whether traffic looks ordinary or unusual. |
| Risk | Do fraud and proxy signals match the behavior in your logs? | Guides whether to allow, challenge, monitor, or block. |
Practical checklist
- Define the decision before reading the lookup result.
- Combine at least two independent signals.
- Avoid exact-location claims.
- Keep a timestamped note for important reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my phone IP different from Wi-Fi?
Mobile data and Wi-Fi use different networks, so they usually have different public IPs.
Can IPv6 make results look different?
Yes. A site may see your IPv6 address while another sees IPv4.
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