Finding Your IP Address on Windows

The fastest way on Windows is to open the Command Prompt and type a single command. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and press Enter. In the black window that opens, type ipconfig and press Enter. Look for the line that says "IPv4 Address" — that is your computer's IP address on your local network, usually a number like 192.168.1.5 or 10.0.0.15.

If you need your public IP address instead (the one your internet service provider assigns to your whole network), that command will not show it. For that, open any web browser and search "what is my IP" — Google will display it at the top of the results, or visit a site like whatismyipaddress.com. Your public IP is what websites see when you visit them.

You can also find your local IP through Settings. Open Settings, go to Network & Internet, select Wi-Fi or Ethernet depending on how you are connected, and scroll down to see your IP address listed under "Properties."

Finding Your IP Address on Mac

On Mac, the graphical route is simplest. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, select System Settings, then click Network on the left sidebar. Your local IP address appears next to "IPv4 Address" in the window that opens — it will look similar to Windows addresses, like 192.168.1.10.

If you prefer the command line, open Terminal (search for it in Spotlight by pressing Command+Space), type ifconfig, and press Enter. Scroll through the output and look for "inet" followed by a number — that is your local IP. Ignore lines that say "inet 127.0.0.1" because that is your computer talking to itself.

For your public IP on Mac, the web search method works the same way: search "what is my IP" in any browser.

Finding Your IP Address on Linux

Linux users typically work from the terminal. Open a terminal window and type hostname -I to see all local IP addresses on your machine, or type ifconfig to see more detail about each network connection. Look for lines labeled "inet" — those are your IPv4 addresses.

Some Linux systems use ip addr show instead, which displays the same information in a slightly different format. Both commands show your local network address.

Your public IP is found the same way as on other systems: open a browser and search "what is my IP."

Key Takeaways

  • Your local IP address (used on your home or office network) is found through Command Prompt on Windows, System Settings on Mac, or the terminal on Linux.
  • Your public IP address (what websites see) is easiest to find by searching "what is my IP" in any web browser.
  • On Windows, type ipconfig in Command Prompt; on Mac, use System Settings or type ifconfig in Terminal; on Linux, type hostname -I or ip addr show.
  • Local IP addresses usually start with 192.168 or 10.0 and change only when you reconnect to your network or your router restarts.

Why You Might Need Your IP Address

You need your local IP address when you are setting up a printer on your network, connecting to a file server, or troubleshooting network problems. Your router's settings page also requires you to type your computer's IP into a browser to access it. Some games and applications ask for your local IP to communicate with other computers on the same network.

Your public IP is what your internet service provider uses to route traffic to your home. Websites log it when you visit, which is why your location can sometimes appear to be different from where you actually are — your public IP is assigned by your ISP and may not match your physical location exactly.

The Difference Between Local and Public IP Addresses

A local IP address is assigned by your router and only works on your home or office network. Every device on your network gets one — your computer, phone, printer, smart TV. These addresses never leave your network; they are private and invisible to the outside internet.

A public IP address is assigned by your internet service provider and is visible to every website and service you connect to online. It represents your entire network to the outside world. If you have a home network with ten devices, they all share the same public IP address when they connect to the internet.

Your local IP can stay the same for months, but your public IP can change whenever your router restarts or your ISP decides to reassign it — usually without warning. If you need a stable public IP for remote access or hosting, you can pay your ISP for a static IP, though this costs extra.

What to Do If You Cannot Find Your IP Address

If the commands above do not work or show no results, your network connection may be down. Check that your ethernet cable is plugged in or that you are connected to Wi-Fi. On Windows, look at the network icon in the bottom-right corner of the taskbar — it should show a connected status. On Mac, check the Wi-Fi icon in the top-right corner.

If you are connected but the commands still show nothing, restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. Wait two minutes for it to fully restart, then try the commands again. If you still see no IP address, your network adapter may need a driver update on Windows, or your network settings may need to be reset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone find my computer using my IP address?

Your public IP tells someone your general location and internet provider, but not your exact address. Your local IP only works on your network, so it is useless to someone outside it. However, if someone knows your public IP and your computer is not behind a firewall, they could attempt to connect to open ports — which is why keeping your firewall enabled matters.

Does my IP address change?

Your local IP usually stays the same unless you restart your router or your computer is offline for a long time. Your public IP can change whenever your router restarts or your ISP reassigns it, which may happen every few months or every few years depending on your provider. If you need a stable public IP, contact your ISP about paying for a static address.

What if I have multiple IP addresses showing?

If you see several addresses in the output, you likely have multiple network adapters — perhaps both ethernet and Wi-Fi, or a virtual network adapter. Your active connection is the one that shows a status of "connected" or "up." The others are either inactive or used for specific purposes like virtual machines.

Is my IP address the same as my MAC address?

No. Your IP address is a number that changes based on your network, like 192.168.1.5. Your MAC address is a permanent identifier built into your network card, like 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E. They serve different purposes — IP routes traffic across networks, while MAC identifies devices on the same local network.