How to Find an IP Address by Phone Number?

It is not possible to find an IP address using only a phone number. These two pieces of information exist on separate systems that do not intersect. Phone numbers are part of the telecommunications network, while IP addresses belong to the internet network. Different organizations manage each system.

The Distinction Between Phone Numbers and IP Addresses

To understand why you cannot find an IP address from a phone number, it is helpful to recognize their key differences:

• System Infrastructure: Phone numbers operate within the telecommunications system. In contrast, IP addresses are fundamental to the internet’s infrastructure. There is no direct bridge between these two distinct systems.
• Privacy and Legal Standing: Obtaining a person’s IP address using their phone number requires a valid warrant or court order; attempting to do so otherwise is a criminal offense. This information is protected under the privacy laws of many countries.
• Dynamic Nature of IP Addresses: Many IP addresses are not static, meaning they change frequently. The IP address assigned to a device today may not be the same tomorrow.

Methods for Finding Someone’s IP Address

While a phone number won’t yield an IP address, other methods can be used.

How to Find an IP Address via Email?

You can identify someone’s IP address from an email they have sent you. The following example uses Gmail, and for this method to be effective, the email must originate from a Gmail account.

1. Open the email from the person whose IP address you wish to find.
2. Click the three dots (more options) located next to the ‘reply’ icon on the right side of the page.
3. From the dropdown menu, select ‘show original’. This will open a new tab displaying the email’s full headers.
4. In the email headers, scroll down to locate the ‘Received’ field. The IP address will be listed within this information.

Alternatively, you can use the Google Admin Toolbox to analyze the email header:

1. Open the Google Admin Toolbox and select ‘Messageheader’ from the menu.
2. In the original email tab, click ‘Copy to clipboard’ to copy the header information.
3. Paste the copied information into the analysis box in the Messageheader tool.
4. Click ‘ANALYZE THE HEADER ABOVE’ to view the parsed information, including the IP address.

How to Find an IP Address with a Link

You can also discover someone’s IP address by sending them a specially crafted link. This involves using an IP logging service.

1. Find a URL that the target person is likely to click on.
2. Use an IP logger tool, such as Grabify, to create a tracking link.
3. Open the Grabify website and paste your chosen URL into the input field. Click ‘Create URL’.
4. Grabify will generate a new, shortened URL. Share this new link with the person whose IP address you want to obtain.
5. When the person clicks on the link, their IP address will be captured and displayed on your Grabify results page. You may need to refresh the page to see the updated information.

Legal Avenues for Obtaining IP Information

In the context of legal proceedings, law enforcement authorities can compel telecommunications companies or Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to connect a phone number to an IP address. This is a strictly regulated process that requires a court order or a similar legal mandate as part of an official investigation.

Is IP Address Tracking Illegal?

Tracking an IP address is generally legal, as the tools used for this purpose are licensed. Authorities frequently use IP tracking techniques to apprehend criminals.