IPv4 vs IPv6 Why are we running out of addresses

Added: 2026-06-03

[00:00:00]Did you know the internet literally ran out of space for new devices?

[00:00:05]Decades ago, we built IPv4, a system that gives every connected device a unique 32-bit digital address.

[00:00:14]That provided roughly 4.3 billion addresses, which seemed like an endless supply at the time.

[00:00:21]But with the explosion of smartphones, laptops, and smart home gadgets, we quickly burned through them all.

[00:00:28]To save the internet, engineers rolled out IPv6 as the ultimate structural upgrade.

[00:00:34]Instead of just 32-bits, IPv6 uses a massive 128-bit address format.

[00:00:42]This creates 340 undecillion unique addresses, enough to assign one to every single atom on the surface of the Earth.

[00:00:51]Not only does it solve the space crisis, but IPv6 also brings faster routing and built-in security features.

[00:00:58]Migrating the entire planet is a slow process, so your devices are likely juggling both systems right now.

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