IPv6

What is IPv6?

Every device on the internet needs an address so other devices can find it, just like every house needs a street address for mail delivery. The original addressing system, IPv4, uses numbers like 192.168.1.1 and can support about 4.3 billion addresses. That seemed like plenty in the 1980s, but with billions of phones, computers, smart TVs, and IoT devices now online, we've run out.

IPv6 is the replacement. It uses much longer addresses (like 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334) and supports a practically unlimited number of devices. Most major websites, ISPs, and mobile networks already support IPv6, and your devices likely use it without you knowing.

Why it matters

For everyday browsing, you probably won't notice a difference between IPv4 and IPv6. Both work, and most websites support both. However, IPv6 can offer some real benefits.

IPv6 connections can sometimes be faster because they avoid the address-sharing workarounds (called carrier-grade NAT) that ISPs use to stretch their limited supply of IPv4 addresses. These workarounds add an extra layer of translation that can increase latency. IPv6 also simplifies how devices connect to each other, which can help with gaming, video calls, and smart home devices. As more of the internet moves to IPv6, having it available ensures your connection stays compatible with the latest services and infrastructure.

What you can do

• Check whether your ISP supports IPv6. Most major providers in the US (Comcast, AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) already do, but some smaller or older services may not.
• Make sure IPv6 is enabled on your router. Many modern routers support it but ship with it turned off. Look for an "IPv6" section in your router's settings.
• Keep your router firmware updated. IPv6 support and stability improve with updates.
• If your ISP doesn't offer IPv6, there's no need to worry right now. IPv4 will continue working for the foreseeable future, and most services support both.
• Don't disable IPv6 unless you're troubleshooting a specific issue. Your devices are designed to use both protocols together, and turning off IPv6 can actually slow things down on networks that prefer it.

What Network Weather shows you

Network Weather checks whether your internet connection supports IPv6 and whether your devices are using it alongside the older IPv4 protocol.