# 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

Canonical URL: https://zenshield.com/glossary/ipv4

Page reviewed: 2026-09-09

IPv4 is an Internet Protocol version that uses 32-bit addresses, commonly displayed as four numbers separated by dots. 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](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/IPv4) for the underlying definition. For a connection that is failing now, use the [troubleshooting guide](https://zenshield.com/help/connection-problems). To choose an app, follow the [VPN selection worksheet](https://zenshield.com/learn/choosing-a-vpn).

## Sources
- https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/IPv4