Wikipedia:Temporary account IP viewer

This page documents a procedural policy of Wikipedia.

It documents various processes by which the English Wikipedia operates.

WP:TAIV

This page in a nutshell: The ability to view the IP addresses used by temporary accounts can be granted to non-admins who meet certain criteria. This access is logged and can only be used to combat violations of policies or guidelines.

IP masking is coming to the English Wikipedia in September 2025. To prepare for this, non-admins may request access to view temporary account data. Admins are automatically included in this permission, and may grant it to qualified non-admins.

Criteria for granting

Shortcut

WP:TAIVGRANT

To be eligible for the permission, an editor must:

Make a request for the permission (admins are not permitted to assign the right without a request)^[a]
Have a registered account for six months^[a]
Have made at least 300 edits to English Wikipedia^[a]
Agree to use the IP addresses in accordance with the Foundation's guidelines, solely for the investigation or prevention of vandalism, abuse, or other violations of Wikimedia Foundation or community policies, and understand the risks and responsibilities associated with this privilege^[a]^[b]
Have a demonstrated need for access. This is deliberately vague, but some examples are non-zero amounts of experience with new page patrol, counter-vandalism, or sockpuppet investigations. This is a local requirement, so it is subject to the discretion of the granting admin.

Admins are permitted to decline applicants who meet these criteria but are otherwise unsuitable for access to this tool. Stewards are authorized to make exceptions to the Foundation requirements (criteria 1–4) if warranted.

Once the permission is granted, editors must visit their preferences and enable Preferences → User profile → Enable revealing IP addresses for temporary accounts.

Requests for the permission may be made at Wikipedia:Requests for permissions/Temporary account IP viewer.

Criteria for use

Use of the tool is logged, and can only be used in the course of combating violations of policies and guidelines.^[a]

Criteria for revocation

Shortcut

WP:TAIVREVOKE

Admins are permitted to remove the permission upon the misuse of the right, including the disclosure of the information to unauthorized individuals.

Additionally, it should be removed from editors who have been inactive for a year.^[a]

Templates

Wikitext

userbox

where used

{{User Wikipedia/Temporary account IP viewer}}

This user has temporary account IP viewer rights on the English Wikipedia. (verify)

linked pages

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f This is a requirement from the Wikimedia Foundation policy governing the permission, and is exempt from consensus.
^ This requirement is satisfied by editors checking a box in their preferences, stating they have read and agree to this condition. Because this is enforced by the software before editors can make use of the permission, editors are not required to state their agreement in their request.

[WMF-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f This is a requirement from the Wikimedia Foundation policy governing the permission, and is exempt from consensus.

[2] This requirement is satisfied by editors checking a box in their preferences, stating they have read and agree to this condition. Because this is enforced by the software before editors can make use of the permission, editors are not required to state their agreement in their request.

[a]

[b]