How to find someones IP？ Three fast & simple methods.
Axel Björn Lundqvist
2026-05-27 16:00
In daily web browsing, remote work, or website management, we sometimes need to obtain the other party’s IP address. Whether it’s for troubleshooting network issues, identifying malicious access, or simply out of geek curiosity, knowing how to obtain an IP address is very useful.
Today, we are sharing three simple, fast, and practical methods to check the other party’s IP address.
Please note:This article is for technical learning and legitimate use only. Do not use it to infringe on others’ privacy.
Before introducing the specific methods, we need to briefly understand: What exactly is an IP address?
IP address stands for Internet Protocol Address. You can think of it as a “house number” in the online world.
When you send a package, you need to write down the delivery address clearly so the courier can deliver it to you. Similarly, for your computer, phone, or server to send and receive data over the internet, it must have a unique “house number” — that is the IP address.
Types of IP Addresses
IPv4 address: Composed of 32 binary bits, usually represented in dotted decimal notation.
Pv6 address: Composed of 128 binary bits, usually represented as 8 groups of hexadecimal digits separated by colons. It provides an almost unlimited address space and solves the IPv4 address exhaustion problem.
Two Main Functions of an IP Address
Identification:Distinguishes each device on the network
Location addressing:Tells data “where to go”
| Website/Server Management | Check visitor IPs for traffic statistics and user source analysis; troubleshoot abnormal server access |
| Game Server Management | Ban cheaters on self-hosted game servers |
| Network Security Testing | Corporate security teams identify internal network vulnerabilities |
| Parent/Network Administrator Control | Check IPs of devices connected to home Wi-Fi; corporate IT admins identify policy violations |
| Reporting and Evidence Collection | Report harassment/threat emails to platforms or police; collect evidence of cyberattacks |
| Network Troubleshooting | Test network connectivity (ping, tracert); diagnose routers, DNS, and other network devices |
| Checking Your Own Device IP | Check your public or local IP for port mapping, remote access, etc. |
Core Principle
You have the right to know the IP addresses of devices you own, networks you manage, and information you receive. However, you do not have the right to check others’ IP addresses through deception, intrusion, or other means for illegal purposes.
Principle: Generate a tracking link. When the other party clicks it, the system records their IP address and redirects them to a normal page.
Steps (using a common IP Logger tool as an example):
1. Search for and open an IP Logger website in a search engine.
2. Enter a target URL (e.g., `https://www.baidu.com`).
3. Copy the generated tracking link.
4. Send the link to the other party.
5. After they click it, log in to the IP Logger backend to view the recorded IP address.
6. Copy the IP address into an IP lookup tool to get the approximate location (city level).
Tip: The main challenge with this method is getting the other party to click the link. They might become suspicious if they notice an unusual URL.
Principle: When you have a P2P direct connection with the other party (e.g., certain online games, direct video calls), the system records their IP address, which you can view using the `netstat` command.
Note: This method only works for peer-to-peer (P2P) direct connection scenarios. Everyday applications like WeChat and QQ mostly communicate through servers, so `netstat` will show server IPs (e.g., Tencent or Alibaba), not the other party’s real IP.
Steps (for Windows operating system):
Step 1: Open Command Prompt
Press `Win + R` on your keyboard, type `cmd` in the Run dialog, and press Enter.
Step 2: Establish a connection with the other party
Establish a P2P-type active connection, such as in certain online games or direct video calls.
Step 3: Execute the netstat command
Type `netstat -an` in the Command Prompt window and press Enter.
Step 4: Review the output
Exclude local network addresses and localhost addresses (192.168.x.x / 10.x.x.x / 127.0.0.1). Close other network applications (e.g., browser). The remaining IPs are possible targets.
Step 5: Copy the IP to an IP lookup tool
Check the IP’s ownership and ISP to get an approximate location (city/province level).
Principle: Every time a user visits a website, the server automatically records their IP address in log files. Website owners can view these logs directly.
Steps:
Step 1: Have the other party visit your website
You need to own a website, and the other party must visit any page on it.
Step 2: Log in to the server/website backend
Depending on your server environment, choose the corresponding method:
Option A: Nginx Server
Locate the log file (default path: `/var/log/nginx/access.log`)
View the most recent access records
Filter access logs for a specific time period
Option B: Cloudflare CDN User
Log in to the Cloudflare dashboard
Go to your domain, click “Analytics” or “Logs”
View visitor IP addresses (Cloudflare adds a `CF-Connecting-IP` header)
Option C: BaoTa Control Panel
Log in to the BaoTa panel
Click “Websites” in the left menu
Find the target website and click “Settings”
Click the “Website Logs” tab
View the log list, which directly displays IP, time, and access path
| Comparison Dimension | Link Tracking | Command Prompt | Website/Server Logs |
| Technical foundation required | No | A little | A little |
| Extra tools required | No (just a website) | No (built into system) | Need your own website |
| Average time required | 1-2 minutes | 30 seconds | 1 minute (website required in advance) |
| Can the other party detect it | They may notice something unusual | Undetectable | Undetectable |
| What information can you see | IP + device + browser + time | IP only | IP + time + accessed page |
| Biggest challenge | Getting the other party to click the link | Need a P2P direct connection scenario | Need your own website |
Q: Can I find someone’s exact physical address using their IP address?
A: No. Regular users can only determine the city level. Only a court order requiring the ISP (Internet Service Provider) to provide the registered address associated with the IP can reveal the exact location.
Q: Can I block someone from accessing my website if I find their IP?
A:Yes. You can block that IP in your server firewall (e.g., Cloudflare, Nginx, .htaccess).
Q: Someone else has obtained my IP address. What should I do?
A:You can try the following:
Restart your router (dynamic IPs will change)
Contact your ISP to request an IP change
These are three practical methods to check another party’s IP address — from the simplest link tracking, to the built-in command line tool, to the website owner’s server logs. You can choose the one that best fits your situation and technical level.
Reminder:IP addresses are personal and private. Please only use these techniques within legal boundaries — for example, troubleshooting network issues, protecting your website’s security, and legally collecting evidence. Never use them for harassment, fraud, or privacy violations.
The internet has boundaries; technology requires respect. Knowing how to use these methods is a skill, but upholding ethical principles is what truly matters.
