How To Get Someone’s IP Address (Step-by-Step Guide)

Denis K

Author

Sometimes you need to know who’s really behind a message, a connection, or a website visit. And in those cases, an IP address can tell you a surprising amount. If you’ve ever wondered how to get someone’s IP address, this guide will walk you through it — legally, clearly, and with real-world examples.

What is an IP address and what does It show?

A device that is connected to the internet gets a unique string of digits called an IP address. It helps send traffic between servers and devices.

IP addresses can do more than just that. They can show the geographical location of a user (such their city or area), their internet service provider (ISP), and occasionally even who owns a business network. They won’t tell you who someone is, but they can provide you useful hints.

Is it against the law to look for someone’s IP address?

Yes, it’s usually legal, as long as you’re not hacking, lying, or breaking privacy regulations.

Getting an IP address by standard techniques, including email headers, web server logs, or public exchanges, is usually lawful. Depending on where you live, using lies to get it or following someone without their permission may be against the law.

Is there a difference between tracing and tracking an IP address?

Yes. You can only tell what an IP is doing when you trace it if it does something, like send you an email, click on a link, or connect to your server. Tracking, on the other hand, is keeping an eye on an IP’s activity over time, such as how many times they visit a site or how they behave during several sessions.

When you track someone, you look at their IP address to see where they came from after they make a comment on your site. But if you keep track of every visit from that IP over days or weeks, writing down the pages they look at and how long they stay, that’s monitoring.

This distinction is important when learning How To Get Someone’s IP Address — because what you do with that IP afterward determines whether you’re simply observing or crossing a line.

Tracing is usually safe and gives you information, like looking at a license plate. Tracking is more advanced, yet it can be annoying, especially if it is done without permission. This is why tracking is more likely to lead to moral and legal issues.

Why You Might Want to Track Someone IPs

Tracking IP addresses, both your own and in specific cases others’, is a practice employed for various legitimate reasons by businesses, cybersecurity professionals, network administrators, and individuals. 

Here’s a comprehensive list of reasons why someone might want to track IP addresses:

Law Enforcement Investigations: IP tracing is a tool used by law enforcement to investigate cybercrimes, though obtaining detailed subscriber information from ISPs usually requires legal authorization.

Remember that while IP tracking has many legitimate uses, privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA govern how IP addresses and associated data can be collected and used. It is essential to be aware of these regulations and prioritize ethical and legal considerations when engaging in any form of IP tracking.

How to Get Someone’s IP Address (ethically and legally)

Check web server or hosting logs

You can see who is accessing your website by looking at the server logs. Most logs will display the IP address of the visitor, the time they came, and the pages they looked at. This is helpful for stopping bots or looking into abuse. In fact, analyzing server logs is one of the ways people might try to trace online activity — which raises the question: how easy is it to get someone’s IP address?

While it depends on the context, in many cases it’s surprisingly simple, especially if the user interacts with a website or a link controlled by the person seeking that information.

Use command-line tools for direct connections

In situations where there’s a direct connection between your device and another person’s (e.g., some games or file-sharing apps), you might be able to see their IP address using network commands like netstat.

Use IP logging services responsibly

You can create a tracking link using services like Grabify or IP Logger. When someone clicks the link, their IP address and other information are recorded. This method must be used ethically, with clear consent, and with the understanding that you are only tracking interactions with the link, not the person directly. 

Examine email headers

The headers of an email can sometimes reveal the IP address of the sender’s email server. Keep in mind that many major email providers now mask this information for privacy.

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult with legal professionals to ensure your actions comply with local laws and regulations, especially concerning data privacy and the collection and use of IP addresses.

Use social media or forums wisely

You can’t access IPs directly from Facebook or Twitter, but you can see someone’s IP address in your server logs if they click on a link you shared that was hosted on a site you own.

Don’t think that social media sites will give over user IPs; they won’t do it unless a court tells them to.

IP tracking tools

You can make tracking links with tools you can find online. Their IP address is logged when the victim clicks the link.

How it works:

• Use a service like Grabify or IPLogger.
• Make a link shorter (like a meme or picture)
• Share the URL and keep an eye on the logged data.

How Grabify Works?

• Create a Tracking Link
  Enter any URL you want to share into Grabify. The service will generate a shortened tracking link for you.
• Share the Link
  Send this new link to someone (for example, via email, chat, or social media).
• View Analytics
  When the recipient clicks the link, Grabify logs their IP address and other details (like device type, browser, and location). You can then view this data on your Grabify dashboard.

What Data Does Grabify Collect? 

• IP Address: Identifies the visitor’s network.
• Geolocation: Estimates the visitor’s country, city, and sometimes more precise location.
• Device & Browser Info: Shows what kind of device and browser the visitor used.
• Technical Specs: Includes details like screen resolution, operating system, and more.
• Referrer & Path: Tells you how the visitor found your link.

Always use this in a moral way. If you’re logging someone’s IP in private, let them know.

What You Can (and Can’t) Do With an IP Address

What You Can Do:

• Some websites and services utilize IP addresses to keep an eye on what people do online.
• Send Targeted Ads/Spam: Advertisers can utilize IP address data to send ads that are more likely to be seen by the right people.
• Run Personalized Phishing Attacks: If you know an IP address and a general location, you can make phishing attempts that are more believable.
• DDoS Attacks: You can start a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack.
• Hack into a Network or Device: An IP address can be a good place to start if you want to hack into a network or device.
• IP addresses and other data can be bought and sold on the dark web for a number of bad reasons.
• Find your ISP: Finding the ISP that goes with the IP address.
• Scan for Vulnerabilities: Using an IP address to look for open ports and any security holes on the network or device.
• Report abuse to their provider.

Legality and Ethics: Using someone’s IP address for malicious activities, harassment, or to gain unauthorized access is illegal and unethical. Law enforcement may be able to obtain more specific information from ISPs with legal orders.

What You Can’t Do:

• You can’t find out someone’s name, phone number, or home address just by looking at their IP address. That information is private and usually only the ISP with legal authority can get to it.
• Get into their private accounts or data — An IP won’t let you log in, see files, or go to your email or social media. Those need to be properly authenticated.
• Pinpoint exact location—at best, you’ll find out the approximate area (such a city or region), but not the GPS coordinates. It’s like knowing someone’s ZIP code but not their street address.
• Hack their phone— You can’t control someone’s phone or computer just by knowing their IP address. Firewalls and passwords are examples of security measures that keep someone from getting in without permission.
• Install malware from a distance—malware normally needs the victim to do something, like click on a dangerous link. Just having an IP address isn’t enough to send software to another device.
• Track movements in real time: An IP can’t follow someone’s real-time location or trip like GPS can.
• Give out sensitive information like passwords or phone numbers. These aren’t linked to IPs. Even hackers need other ways, like phishing, to get them.
• To take over someone’s account, you still need their username, password, and occasionally two-factor authentication.
• Permanently cut off their internet or ruin their hardware. Even DDoS attacks can be stopped or made temporary. For home users, restarting the router usually fixes the problem.

An IP address is primarily a routing address on the internet, allowing data to be sent to the correct destination. It’s a foundational element of how the internet works, but by itself, it’s not a master key to someone’s digital life or device.

Extra Tools to Help Find Someone’s IP Address

If you want more insight, you can use public IP lookup tools, WHOIS services, or threat intelligence platforms. But remember, these provide general info, not personal IDs.

Network scanning and monitoring tools:

• Network Scanners: These tools scan a range of IP addresses within a network to identify active devices, their hostnames, MAC addresses, and open ports. Popular examples include:
• Angry IP Scanner: A free and open-source cross-platform network scanner that allows customizable scans.
• Advanced IP Scanner: A free IP address tracker designed for Windows.
• SoftPerfect Network Scanner: Scans IP address ranges and lists responding devices, along with hostname, MAC address, and response time.
• SolarWinds IP Address Manager: An enterprise-level tool for managing IP addresses across large networks. 
• Packet Sniffers: Tools like Wireshark capture and analyze network traffic in real-time, providing detailed insights into communication between devices. It can be used to identify IP addresses, protocols, and data being exchanged. 
• Network Monitoring Tools: These tools track network connections, detect unauthorized access, and monitor IP address usage within an organization. Examples include PRTG Network Monitor and SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor. 

When and Why You Might Need to Find an IP Address

Common use cases include:

• Tracing harassing emails
• Analyzing website traffic
• Blocking bots or scrapers
• Enforcing regional restrictions

Using IP Addresses for Personalized Marketing

IP addresses are a key part of how ad platforms serve localized content. When you visit a site, your IP tells the system roughly where you’re located—country, city, or region. This helps advertisers show you ads that match your location, language, or nearby services.

For instance, someone in Berlin might see German language ads for local banks, while someone in Chicago could get offers for nearby restaurants.

Marketers also use IP data to create geo-fenced campaigns (ads limited to certain locations), detect suspicious behavior (like clicks from bots or out-of-region users), and improve ad targeting. This reliance on IP data is also why questions like how to get someone’s IP address come up frequently—not just in marketing, but also in cybersecurity, fraud detection, and even personal privacy discussions.

Popular ad platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads Manager, Microsoft Advertising, and LinkedIn Ads allow you to set location targeting using IP-based geo filters. You can upload IP ranges or target by city, region, or ZIP code depending on the platform.

Pro Tip: IP data works best when combined with device signals and cookie tracking—but even on its own, it’s a valuable tool for narrowing your audience.

How to Hide or Mask Your Own IP (Bonus Security Tips)

Just like you might want to get someone’s IP, others might try to find yours. Here’s how to stay private:

Use a VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your internet connection and routes it through a server in a location of your choice, masking your real IP address.

Use a Proxy Server

Similar to VPNs, proxies reroute your traffic through a third-party server. Proxy servers can hide your IP address, but they don’t always offer the same level of security and encryption as VPNs.

Configure Firewalls

A firewall acts as a barrier between your device and external networks, monitoring and controlling incoming and outgoing traffic. It helps protect against unauthorized access, malicious connections, and data leaks. While firewalls are essential for security, they can also play a role in detecting suspicious behavior — including attempts at finding someone’s IP address. By reviewing firewall logs and blocking unusual connection attempts, users can better defend against IP tracking and potential intrusions.

Avoid Public Wi-Fi Networks

Public Wi-Fi networks can be unsecure and expose your IP address and other data to potential attackers. If you must use public Wi-Fi, always use a VPN.

Use the Tor Network

This free network anonymizes your internet activity by bouncing your connection around the globe.

Remember, while an IP address can reveal some information about a person or entity, it’s not a direct identifier like a name or street address. However, when combined with other data, it can be used for various purposes, both legitimate and malicious. Being aware of these possibilities and taking steps to protect your IP address is essential for maintaining your online privacy and security.

Best Practices for Staying Anonymous Online

Maintaining your anonymity online is more important than ever, with threats to privacy coming from advertisers, governments, and cybercriminals alike. There are many techniques available to help protect your digital identity — from using VPNs and secure browsers to avoiding trackers and managing permissions wisely. A more detailed breakdown of these methods can be found in our full guide on how to remain anonymous on the internet. These best practices will help you stay safe and anonymous while browsing the internet.

• A VPN hides your IP address and encrypts your traffic. Pick a VPN that doesn’t keep logs and is well-known.
• Use the Tor Browser: It sends traffic over many relays, which makes it hard to track.
• Choose Encrypted Communication: Use messaging apps like Signal and email services like ProtonMail or Tutanota that encrypt your messages.
• Take care of your browser: Turn off third-party cookies and use private browsing modes for short periods of time. DuckDuckGo is a search engine that cares about your privacy.
• Don’t share too much personal information: Be careful what you put online, especially on social media.
  Look at the permissions for the app: Be careful about what apps can do on your devices.
• Protect Your Accounts: Use passwords that are long and hard to guess, and turn on two-factor authentication. Get a password manager.
• Don’t use public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities because it could not be safe. If you have to use it, turn on a VPN.
• Update Your Software: To fix security holes, you should update your operating system, browser, and apps on a regular basis.
• It’s hard to be completely anonymous online, but following these tips will greatly improve your privacy and security.

Frequently Asked Questions