How to Track an IP Address: Complete Guide for Beginners
If you’ve ever watched a cybercrime thriller, you’ve seen it - lines of code flashing on the screen, impossibly loud keystrokes, and within seconds, someone’s location pops up, tracked by their IP address.
In reality, it's not that easy, but it's not impossible either. Whether you're securing your website or trying to investigate suspicious activity, here's how IP tracking really works.
What is an IP address?
Before we get into tracking IP addresses, let’s start with what an IP address is and what it actually does.
Think of an IP address like a name tag at a conference. It tells others (computers on the internet) where you're from and which company (your internet service provider) you’re with, so communication can happen. Here’s why IP addresses are important:
- Data routing Every device that connects to the internet has an IP address. It’s how they recognize each other, how they communicate. Let’s say you click on a link. Your device sends a request using its IP address. The website, on the other end, processes that request, figures out what you need, and sends the response straight back to your IP address.
- Supporting Internet Protocols (TCP/IP) Every time you do something online, whether it’s opening a website, streaming a video, or sending an email, your IP address and the destination’s IP address work together behind the scenes. Your address tells the internet where the response should go, and the recipient’s IP address makes sure your request lands in the right place.
- Domain Name System (DNS) resolution When you type Instagram.com, your computer doesn’t understand words - it understands numbers or IP addresses. The Domain Name System (DNS) works in the background to convert domain names into numerical IP addresses, allowing your device to locate and connect to the correct server effortlessly.
- Managing sessions and maintaining connectivity Ever noticed how you don’t have to log in every single time you visit a secure website? That’s your IP address at work. It tells the site, "Hey, it’s still me," keeping your connection active so you don’t have to start from scratch every time. Without it, browsing would feel a lot more frustrating.
- Facilitating peer-to-peer communication Your IP address allows you to download files through torrents. Instead of routing everything through a central server, it connects you directly to other users. The same principle applies to VoIP systems like Skype and Zoom. When you start a call, your IP is the matchmaker, linking your connection directly to the other person’s, so it’s smooth and (hopefully) lag-free.
Alright, now that you’ve got a handle on IP addresses and how they work, let’s break it down even further. Not all IP addresses are the same. Some are public, and some are private. And then there’s the whole IPv4 vs. IPv6 debate.
Let’s walk through the different types, one by one, so you know exactly what’s what.
- Accessibility: Public vs. Private IP addresses A public IP address comes from your internet service provider, and it’s what identifies your network on the internet. A private IP is different. Your router assigns it to devices inside your home or business network, like your laptop, phone, or smart TV. It’s how they talk without ever leaving your network.
- Internet protocol: IPv4 vs. IPv6 addresses Two versions of IP addresses exist today: IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4, introduced in 1981, is the standard and consists of four number sets (0-255). IPv6, launched in 1998, fixes IPv4’s address shortage by using eight groups of four digits, separated by colons, providing nearly unlimited unique IP addresses.
Reasons for tracking an IP address
So, why would anyone want to track an IP address? There are plenty of reasons. It all depends on the situation - sometimes it’s for security, other times it’s just curiosity. Let’s find out.
- Security and cybercrime investigation Maybe someone tried to sneak into your website through the backdoor. With IP address tracing, you can figure out who they are and take action. Businesses use IP trackers to spot and block malicious traffic before it causes damage.
- Fraud prevention and account protection Ever wondered how Instagram knows where you are and tailors content to your location? Social media platforms, banks, and even e-commerce websites use IP tracking to adjust what you see based on where you are.
- Business and marketing insights IP address tracing helps businesses see where their visitors are from. They can tailor their marketing efforts based on location. The same applies to competitor analysis.
- Network troubleshooting Websites go down from time to time. It happens. Systems fail. What matters is how quickly the IT team can fix the problem. To do that, they trace data from IP to IP to see if the issue is coming from a specific device, a server, or an external internet connection.
We've covered why tracking IP addresses matters. But it also comes with serious privacy and legal concerns since an IP address can reveal sensitive information. That’s why it’s crucial to follow the rules when doing it.
Proxies make it harder to trace an IP address. These servers replace a device’s IP with an alternate one, so when tracked, the IP leads to a different location with completely different details from the original.
Residential Proxies are especially effective if you want your address to remain private because they use IP addresses sourced from real users, making them appear more legitimate.
How to track an IP address: 3 methods
Alright, let’s cut to the chase: you want to know how to trace an IP address. Here’s how:
Using command line tools
The first method we’ll cover is using your computer’s command prompt. How you access this text-based interface depends on your operating system. If you’re on Windows, press Win + R, on Linux, press Ctrl + Alt + T, and on Mac, press Cmd + Space.
Got your command prompt open? Great. Now, there are three different ways to trace an IP address from the command line. We’ll walk you through each one, explaining the differences so you can decide which works best for you.
Ping: Best for quick connection tests
If you want to check whether a server is online or see if a suspicious IP address is active, Ping is the fastest tool for the job. It’s also the simplest way to trace an IP address. Just type the following command in your terminal:
ping google.com
Here’s what you’ll see:
Ping sends small packets of data to an IP address and measures how long it takes for that device to respond. To test it out, try pinging Google. Its servers are highly reliable and always online. You’ll see the target IP address, along with packet details.
The catch? Tracking IP addresses with Ping only tells you if an IP exists - nothing more. It won’t show you how data from that IP is traveling, which is crucial for network troubleshooting.
Traceroute (Tracert on Windows): Best for troubleshooting network issues
Traceroute is the go-to tool when you want to see the path data takes from your IP address to another destination on the internet. While Ping only tells you whether an IP is live, Traceroute shows you how your connection actually reaches that IP.
This makes it great for diagnosing slow connections. You can pinpoint where the delay is happening, whether it’s a slow internet service provider (ISP), a congested route, or a failing server along the way.
To run the command, just type:
traceroute google.com
Here's what you'll see:
Each numbered line in the response represents a server IP address, known as a hop, that your request passes through before reaching Google.com. Just from this output, you can see the path your data takes and identify where issues might be happening.
But you’ll also notice that Traceroute takes much longer than Ping, and firewalls can block some hops altogether. For example, hop 4 in our test was ignored, which is common when certain servers don’t respond to trace requests.
Nslookup: Best for finding a domain’s IP and DNS information
If you want to bypass the blocks and delays that come with Ping and Traceroute, use Nslookup. It lets you quickly retrieve the IP address associated with a domain name - without sending data packets or waiting for a response.
Type the following command:
nslookup google.com
Here's what you'll see:
From the response, we can see that Google’s DNS server (8.8.8.8) was used to resolve the domain name:
Domain name: google.com
IPv6 address: 2a00:1450:401a:801::200e
IPv4 address: 216.58.223.78
The term “Non-authoritative” means that Google retrieved the IP address details from cached data instead of its own authoritative name servers. That’s completely normal for this IP tracking method, so no need to worry.
Online IP lookup services
While the command prompt is a powerful way to trace an IP address, it has its downsides - like having to remember specific command syntax. An IP lookup tool offers a much simpler way to track an IP right from your web browser. No coding, no setup, and no troubleshooting. Just paste a domain name and wait for the details.
Here are a few reliable IP lookup tools you can check out:
These tools can show you the physical location of an IP address, its source, the ISP, and the network name, all without worrying about commands, syntax, or code. It’s quick and easy.
Analyzing email headers
You opened an email and squinted in suspicion. You’re not sure where it came from, let alone if the content is legitimate. One of the quickest ways to verify the source is by checking the sender’s IP address in the email headers. Here’s how:
Gmail
- Open the email.
- Click the three dots to open a dropdown menu.
- Select 'Show Original'.
Outlook
- Open the email.
- Click the three dots at the top of the screen.
- Hover over the 'View' option to open another dropdown.
- Select 'View Message Details'.
Yahoo mail
- Open the email.
- Click the three dots at the top of the email.
- Select 'View Raw Message'.
Once you do this, you’ll see a long block of symbols. This is the header. Now, look for the first line that says 'Received from.' It will display the sender’s IP address.
From there, you can use any of the methods we’ve covered - like the command prompt or an IP lookup tool, to trace the IP’s source and geolocation.
Conclusion
That’s it! Now you can track the source of a suspicious email, pinpoint where your connection to a target server is failing, or identify weak spots in a network. It’s almost as easy as they make it look in the movies!
But remember, tracing an IP address comes with ethical and legal responsibilities. So, always play by the book. Good luck!
Can someone track my exact location using an IP address?
No, an IP address alone won’t reveal your exact location. It can only provide a rough estimate, like your city, region, and ISP.
But if an attacker combines your IP with other data, such as cookies, Wi-Fi triangulation, or GPS signals from a compromised device, that’s a different story. In that case, they could get much closer to pinpointing your location.
How accurate are IP geolocation services?
The accuracy of an IP lookup service depends on the database it uses and the type of connection. These services are generally good at identifying a country, but their accuracy drops at the state and regional level, and even more at the city level.
Unless the IP is tied to a fixed business or broadband connection, it’s rare for IP lookup tools to pinpoint a street-level location.
Is it legal to track someone’s IP address?
It depends. If you’re doing it for network security, website analytics, or fraud prevention, then it’s likely legal.
But if you’re tracking an IP to stalk someone or hack into their system, that’s a different story - it’s illegal in most places. In regions like Europe, businesses are required to inform users if they collect IP addresses.
