What is IPv4?
IPv4 is an Internet Protocol version that uses 32-bit addresses, commonly displayed as four numbers separated by dots.
Website: https://zenshield.com/glossary/ipv4
IPv4
IPv4 is an Internet Protocol version that uses 32-bit addresses, commonly displayed as four numbers separated by dots.
On this page
Each written number is between 0 and 255. IPv4 addresses can identify different kinds of networks; not every IPv4 address is a public internet address.
A practical example
The address 192.0.2.10 is an example reserved for documentation. An address you see inside your device settings can differ from the address reported by an external IP-checking service. They may describe different points along the same connection.
What to check
When comparing a connection before and after a VPN, record which tool you used and whether it reports IPv4 or IPv6. Repeat the same test rather than comparing unrelated screens. If one screen shows a local address and another shows a public address, first establish what each screen measures.
What it does not tell you
IPv4 is an addressing format, not a security rating. A change in one reported address does not prove that every app is routed through a VPN, and keeping the same local Wi-Fi address does not by itself show that the VPN failed.
Read the technical reference for the underlying definition. For a connection that is failing now, use the troubleshooting guide. To choose an app, follow the VPN selection worksheet.
Sources
What is my IP?Check your VPN is working
On this page
Keep exploring
What is my IP?Check your VPN is working
Keep exploring
What is a public IP address? ↗
A public IP address is used on the internet-facing path of a connection.
What is IPv6? ↗
IPv6 is an Internet Protocol version with a much larger address space than IPv4.
Static vs dynamic IP addresses ↗
Distinguish a stable address from an automatically assigned one, and separate public, local, shared and dedicated addresses.