Finding Your IP Address on Windows

The fastest way to find your IP address on Windows is to open the Command Prompt and run a single command. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and press Enter. When the black command window opens, type ipconfig and press Enter.

Look for the line labeled IPv4 Address under your active network connection. This is your local IP address — the number your computer uses on your home or office network. It usually starts with 192.168 or 10.0. If you are connected to Wi-Fi, look under the section labeled "Wireless LAN adapter" or similar. If you are using an ethernet cable, look under "Ethernet adapter."

If you need your public IP address instead — the one your internet service provider assigns to your entire network — go to any browser and search "what is my IP." The first result will show a number like 203.0.113.45. This is what websites see when you visit them.

Finding Your IP Address on Mac

On a Mac, open System Preferences (or System Settings on newer versions) and click Network. Your active connection will be highlighted on the left side. Click it, and your local IP address appears in the main panel next to "IP Address." It will look similar to Windows addresses: something like 192.168.1.105.

You can also use the Terminal for a faster method. Open Terminal (find it in Applications > Utilities), type ifconfig, and press Enter. Scroll through the output and find inet followed by a number — that is your local IP address. Ignore lines that show 127.0.0.1, as that is your computer talking to itself.

Finding Your IP Address on Linux

On Linux, open a terminal window and type hostname -I, then press Enter. Your local IP address will appear on the next line. This works on most distributions including Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian.

If that command does not work, try ip addr show instead. Look for lines that start with "inet" and contain numbers separated by periods. Skip any line showing 127.0.0.1. The address you want is usually under a section labeled "eth0" (for ethernet) or "wlan0" (for Wi-Fi).

Key Takeaways

  • Your local IP address is the number your computer uses on your home or office network, found through Command Prompt on Windows or System Preferences on Mac.
  • Your public IP address is assigned by your internet service provider and is what websites see; you can find it by searching "what is my IP" in any browser.
  • On Windows, use the ipconfig command; on Mac, use System Preferences or the ifconfig Terminal command; on Linux, use hostname -I.
  • Local IP addresses usually start with 192.168 or 10.0 and are different from the 127.0.0.1 address your computer uses internally.

Why You Might Need Your IP Address

You need your local IP address when you are setting up a printer on your network, accessing your router settings, or troubleshooting connection problems. Your public IP address matters when you are setting up remote access to your computer or when a website needs to know your location for security reasons.

If you are sharing files with someone on the same network, they may ask for your local IP address. If you are reporting a problem to your internet service provider, they often ask for your public IP address to check their records.

Understanding the Difference Between Local and Public IP Addresses

Your local IP address is private — it only works on your home or office network. Every device on your network gets one: your computer, phone, printer, and smart TV all have different local addresses. These addresses never leave your network.

Your public IP address is assigned by your internet service provider and represents your entire network to the outside world. All devices in your home share the same public IP address when they connect to the internet. This is the address that websites, streaming services, and online games see.

What to Do If You Cannot Find Your IP Address

If the commands above do not work, check that you are connected to the internet. Disconnect and reconnect to your network, then try again. On Windows, make sure you opened Command Prompt as an administrator — right-click the cmd icon and select "Run as administrator."

If you are using a VPN (virtual private network), your IP address may appear different because the VPN is masking your real address. Disconnect from the VPN temporarily to see your actual IP address. If you are still stuck, restart your computer and try once more.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?

IPv4 addresses use four numbers separated by periods, like 192.168.1.1. IPv6 addresses use letters and numbers separated by colons, like 2001:0db8:85a3:0000. Most home networks still use IPv4, but IPv6 is becoming more common as the internet runs out of IPv4 addresses.

Is it safe to share my IP address?

Sharing your public IP address is generally safe — websites already know it when you visit them. Sharing your local IP address is safe only with people on your own network. Never share either address with someone you do not trust, as it could be used to attempt unauthorized access.

Why does my IP address keep changing?

Your local IP address may change if your router restarts or if you disconnect and reconnect to the network. Your public IP address changes when your modem restarts or when your internet service provider reassigns it, which can happen weekly or monthly depending on your provider.

Can I change my IP address?

You can change your local IP address through your router settings, though this is rarely necessary. Your public IP address is assigned by your internet service provider and cannot be changed directly, but it will change naturally over time or if you restart your modem.