How to Have a Public IP Address and Why You Might Need One

Denis K

Author

If you’ve ever tried to host a website, set up remote access, or simply understand your network better, you’ve probably wondered how to get a public IP address. At first it may sound complicated, but the core idea is actually straightforward.

Before moving on, you can quickly check your current public IP using this tool: whoerip.com.

This guide breaks everything down in simple terms. You’ll learn what a public IP address is, how it differs from a private IP, how to get one from your ISP (or through alternative methods), and how to use it for things like hosting a website, configuring remote desktop access, or any other tasks that require a publicly reachable address.

Let’s make it clear.

What is an IP address that is public?

The outside world uses a public IP address to get to your device or network.

When your computer or router connects to the internet, it does so using a unique address. This is like the street address of your home, but for online traffic. That is the IP address that everyone can see. A public IP is different from a private IP address, which is only used inside your home or office network (such 192.168.1.1).

Your private IP is like the number of your apartment, while your public IP is like the street address of the building. Your public IP is what others need to send you a package.

Different kinds of Public IP Addresses

If you want to receive a public IP address on purpose, you need to know the difference between the different types.

1. Public IPs that change over time

Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) gives you these, and they can vary from time to time. This is the default type for most home users.

• Pro: Simple and free—just plug in your router.
• Con: It can change, which makes it hard to host or access remotely unless you utilize a dynamic DNS provider.

2. Public IPs that don’t change

This is a public IP address that stays the same. You set it up yourself, and it stays the same until you or your ISP modify it.

• Pro: Good for accessing servers, hosting, or remote access.
• Con: It usually costs more. You need to ask your ISP for it.

Just so you know, most people who use the internet at home get a dynamic public IP unless they ask for a different one. If you’re not sure, restart your router and check to see if your IP address changes. If it does, it’s dynamic.

How to Obtain a Public IP Address

Yes, you probably already have one. But if you want a dedicated or useable public IP address, these are your main choices.

1. Check your current IP

Visit What Is My IP Address or search for “what is my IP” on Google. That’s the public IP address you have right now.

Your ISP has given you a dynamic public IP if you are on a home network. You can use this for simple stuff like browsing or online gaming, but if you’re wondering how to obtain a public IP address that stays fixed — like for hosting or remote access — keep reading.

2. Ask your ISP for a static IP address.

You will need to get in touch with your internet service provider if you require a public IP that doesn’t change.

Here’s what you should do:

• Get in touch with your ISP’s customer service by phone or email.
• Request a public IP address that doesn’t change.
• They might ask for a monthly fee.
• You will probably have to set it up on your modem or router by hand.

Tip: Be clear with your ISP about what you need it for. If you say “I want to host a game server from home” or “I need a fixed IP for remote work,” it will help minimize confusion and might even speed things up.

Keep in mind that having a public IP address means your network is more exposed to the outside world. If not properly secured, it can open doors to unwanted access attempts or even targeted attacks. Curious what someone could actually do with your IP? Here’s a helpful read on what someone can do with your IP address — it’s worth understanding the risks so you can take the right precautions.

3. Use a Hosting Service (for websites)

It could be easier to hire a virtual server (VPS) or use shared hosting if you want a public IP address to host a website. These services come with public IPs.

This saves you the trouble of setting up your home router and worrying about firewalls or NAT.

4. Port Forwarding and Dynamic DNS (If You Can’t Get a Static IP)

Let’s say you can’t get a static IP or your ISP won’t give you one. You can still get around this:

• Use your changing public IP
• Configure port forwarding on your router
• Use a dynamic DNS provider like No-IP or DuckDNS to connect a hostname to your IP address, which changes all the time.

It may be a little complicated, but it works.

Popular Dynamic DNS Providers

Here are a few well-known ones:

Many routers support built-in Dynamic DNS integration — just log into your router settings and look for the DDNS section. That way, the router handles the updates automatically.

Tips When Using a Public IP Address

Getting a public IP is only the first step. Here are some other things to think about: security, router configuration, and whether your ISP allows hosting services.

Understanding how to obtain a public IP address is useful, but managing and protecting that access is just as important — especially if you’re exposing devices or services to the internet.

• Protect it: Public IPs let anyone into your network. Be sure to utilize firewalls and turn off services you don’t need.
• Find out what your NAT settings are: Network Address Translation (NAT) is a feature that many home routers employ to prevent traffic from outside. To make services operate, you’ll need to set up port forwarding.
• Be careful with your data: Hosting services from home could break your ISP’s rules or use up all of your data.

Just so you know, public IPs can be tracked. If you care about your privacy, read our post on How to Hide Your IP Address.

How to Get a Public IP Address

You can’t usually “buy” a public IP like you would a product, at least not directly. In place of it, you:

• Get it from your ISP (ask for a static IP)
• Rent a server or use cloud hosting services like AWS or Linode.
• Buy IP ranges from a regional internet registry (RIR), but only if you are a big company. We’re talking about thousands of dollars and official permission.

If you don’t need to manage a lot of infrastructure, the best thing to do is ask your provider for one or hire a hosting server with a public IP address.

Frequently Asked Questions