# Static vs dynamic IP addresses

Distinguish a stable address from an automatically assigned one, and separate public, local, shared and dedicated addresses.

Website: https://zenshield.com/glossary/static-ip

Canonical URL: https://zenshield.com/glossary/static-ip

Page reviewed: 2026-09-12

A static IP is configured to remain fixed under the service or network arrangement that provides it. A dynamic IP is assigned through a process that can change the address over time. These terms do not tell you whether the address is public or private.

## Keep four questions separate

Ask whether an address is public or local, static or dynamic, shared or dedicated, and associated with IPv4 or IPv6. Those are different characteristics.

A home computer can have a stable local address while the router uses a dynamic public address. A VPN can show a shared exit address that remains the same across several connections. Stability does not establish that the address belongs only to you.

## When a stable address matters

Some services use an address allowlist for access. If your network’s public address changes, you may need to update that allowlist. A stable address can simplify that arrangement, but it does not replace authentication.

Before buying a static or dedicated address service, ask which address is guaranteed, which apps use it, and what happens after a reconnect. Do not assume a general VPN subscription includes it.

## Check your actual need

If a website simply shows the wrong approximate city, a static IP may not solve the database label. If a remote service needs a known source address, ask its administrator which address family and access policy apply.

Zenshield’s public website does not establish a static or dedicated-IP offering. Use the current product documentation for availability. For ordinary address changes, follow [how to change your public IP](https://zenshield.com/learn/change-ip-address) and verify the result with the same tool.

## Sources
- https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2131
- https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Glossary/IP_Address