IPv6 vs IPv4: What You Need to Know About Internet Protocols

When your phone connects to Netflix or your smart TV buffers during a movie, it’s using an IP address, a unique identifier that lets devices talk to each other over the internet. Also known as Internet Protocol address, it’s the backbone of every online connection—whether you’re streaming, gaming, or just checking the weather. But not all IP addresses are the same. Right now, we’re stuck between two versions: IPv4, the original system that’s been running the internet since the 1980s, and its newer, more capable replacement: IPv6, a modern protocol designed to solve the biggest problem IPv4 never saw coming.

IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, which sounds technical—but what it really means is there are only about 4.3 billion possible addresses. That might sound like a lot until you realize every smartphone, smart fridge, security camera, and streaming box needs one. We ran out of new IPv4 addresses years ago. Companies and ISPs are now juggling old ones, reselling them, or using workarounds that slow things down. Meanwhile, IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses. That’s not just a little more—it’s 340 undecillion addresses. Enough to give every grain of sand on Earth its own unique number. And it’s not just about quantity. IPv6 cuts out extra steps in routing data, makes connections more secure by default, and lets devices talk directly to each other without middlemen.

So why don’t you see the difference? Because most of your devices still use IPv4 behind the scenes. Your router, your streaming box, even your phone—they’re built to work with both. But as more networks switch over, you’ll notice fewer dropped connections, faster load times on international sites, and better performance for live streaming and gaming. The shift isn’t flashy, but it’s happening everywhere—from your local library’s Kanopy service to Fubo’s live sports streams. The real win? You won’t have to do anything. The infrastructure is changing under the hood. But knowing the difference means you’ll understand why your internet gets better over time, even if you didn’t ask for it.

Below, you’ll find real-world guides on streaming, networks, and tech that rely on these protocols—even if they never mention them by name. From fixing buffering on Netflix to setting up a dual PC stream, every solution ties back to how data moves across the internet. Whether you’re trying to save money on a streaming plan or get your projector’s HDR to work right, the rules of IP addressing are quietly making it happen.