Guides/IPv4 vs IPv6
IPv4 vs IPv6
IPv4 and IPv6 are two versions of the Internet Protocol—the numbering system that lets devices find each other online. Your connection may use one, the other, or both at the same time (dual-stack). Understanding the difference helps you interpret IP checker results.
IPv4 in plain language
IPv4 addresses look like 203.0.113.10. They have been the internet’s default for decades. Because the pool of IPv4 addresses is limited, ISPs often share them among customers with carrier-grade NAT, and many networks still prefer IPv4 for everyday browsing.
IPv6 in plain language
IPv6 addresses are longer and use hexadecimal groups separated by colons. They were designed to solve address exhaustion and to simplify some network features. Many mobile and fiber providers already give you a working IPv6 path even if you rarely notice it.
Why a checker might show one or both
A normal page load uses whichever family your browser and network choose first. That is why a single request can look “IPv6 only” even if you also have IPv4. Dual-stack checkers run separate IPv4-only and IPv6-only checks so each family can appear when your ISP provides it.
If IPv6 shows as Unavailable, your network may simply not have a working IPv6 route right now—that is common and not automatically a problem for browsing.