What an IP address is and why you might need yours

An IP address is a string of numbers that identifies your computer on a network — either your home network or the internet. It looks like four numbers separated by dots, such as 192.168.1.5 (a local address) or 203.0.113.42 (a public address). Your computer has both: a local IP that lets devices in your home find each other, and a public IP that identifies you to websites and services outside your network.

You might need to find your IP address to troubleshoot a network problem, set up a printer or security camera on your home network, access your computer remotely, or provide it to technical support. The method depends on whether you want your local IP (the one your router assigns) or your public IP (the one your internet provider assigns).

Key Takeaways

  • Your local IP address is found in network settings on Windows, Mac, or Linux and usually starts with 192.168 or 10.
  • Windows users can open Command Prompt and type ipconfig to see all network addresses in seconds.
  • Mac users can find their IP in System Settings under Network, or by typing ifconfig in Terminal.
  • Your public IP address (the one the internet sees) can be found by visiting a website like whatismyipaddress.com from any browser.
  • If you are setting up a device on your home network, you need the local IP; for remote access from outside your home, you need the public IP.

Finding your local IP address on Windows

The fastest way on Windows is to use Command Prompt. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and press Enter. A black window opens. Type ipconfig and press Enter. You will see a list of network adapters. Look for the line that says "IPv4 Address" — the number next to it is your local IP address. It usually starts with 192.168 or 10.

If you prefer not to use Command Prompt, you can find it in Settings instead. Open Settings, go to Network & Internet, then select Wi-Fi or Ethernet depending on how you are connected. Click on the network you are using, scroll down, and look for "IPv4 address" in the details section.

Finding your local IP address on Mac

Open System Settings and click Network on the left side. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet). Your local IP address appears in the details pane on the right, labeled as "IP Address." It usually starts with 192.168.

If you want to use Terminal instead, press Command + Space to open Spotlight, type terminal, and press Enter. In the Terminal window, type ifconfig and press Enter. Look for the section labeled with your connection type (en0 for Ethernet, en1 for Wi-Fi on newer Macs). Find the line that says "inet" followed by a number — that is your local IP address.

Finding your local IP address on Linux

Open a terminal window. Type ip addr or ifconfig and press Enter. You will see a list of network interfaces. Look for the one that is active (usually eth0 for Ethernet or wlan0 for Wi-Fi). Next to "inet" you will see your local IP address. On modern Linux systems, ip addr is the standard command; older systems may require ifconfig.

If you are using a graphical desktop environment, you can also right-click the network icon in the system tray and select connection details or settings to view your IP address without opening a terminal.

Finding your public IP address

Your public IP is the address the internet sees when you visit a website. To find it, open any web browser and visit a site like whatismyipaddress.com, myip.com, or iplocation.net. The page will display your public IP address when ready — no login or software needed.

You can also find your public IP by typing "what is my ip" into a search engine. Google and other search engines will show your public IP at the top of the results. This method works on any device with a browser, including phones and tablets.

The difference between local and public IP addresses

Your local IP address is assigned by your router and is used only within your home or office network. Devices on the same network use it to find and communicate with each other. This address never changes unless you restart your router or manually reconfigure your network settings. Local addresses always fall into a few ranges: 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, or 172.16.x.x to 172.31.x.x.

Your public IP address is assigned by your internet service provider and is visible to every website and service you connect to on the internet. It can change periodically — sometimes daily, sometimes monthly, depending on your provider's settings. If you need a stable public IP for remote access or hosting, you can contact your provider about a static IP, though this usually costs extra.

When you need each type of IP address

Use your local IP when you are setting up devices on your home network: printers, security cameras, network storage, smart home devices, or when you want to access your computer from another device in the same house. You also need it to troubleshoot network problems or to configure your router's settings.

Use your public IP if you want to access your computer from outside your home network, if you are hosting a service that people on the internet need to reach, or if you need to report your address to an internet service for security or logging purposes. Most everyday internet use — browsing, email, video calls — does not require you to know your public IP.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my IP address keep changing?

Your public IP changes because your internet provider assigns addresses dynamically rather than permanently. Your local IP can change if you restart your router or if your device reconnects to the network. If you need a stable address, set a static IP in your router's settings or contact your provider about a static public IP.

Is it safe to share my IP address?

Sharing your public IP is generally safe — websites already see it every time you visit. Sharing your local IP is safe within your own home network. However, do not share either address with strangers or untrusted sources, as someone with your IP could attempt network attacks or harassment.

Can I change my IP address?

Your local IP can be changed in your router settings or by setting a static address on your device. Your public IP can be changed by restarting your modem or contacting your internet provider, though it may change back to a different address later. A VPN service can mask your public IP by routing traffic through another server.

What if ipconfig or ifconfig does not work?

Make sure you are typing the command correctly and pressing Enter. On Windows, open Command Prompt as administrator if the standard version does not show results. On Mac or Linux, check that you have a network connection active. If the command still does not work, use the graphical settings method instead.

Do I need my IP address to connect to Wi-Fi?

No. Your device gets an IP address automatically after you connect to Wi-Fi using the password. You only need to know your IP address if you are troubleshooting, setting up a device on the network, or accessing your computer remotely.