Your computer has two IP addresses you might need: one for your local network and one for the internet

Your IP address is a number that identifies your computer on a network, similar to how a street address identifies a house. Most computers have two: a local IP address (used only within your home or office network) and a public IP address (how the internet sees you). You'll find the local one much more often—when connecting a printer, setting up a smart home device, or troubleshooting network problems. The public one is what websites record when you visit them.

Finding either one takes less than a minute and requires no special software. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, or Linux, but all three methods are straightforward.

Key Takeaways

  • Your local IP address appears in Settings on Windows, System Preferences on Mac, or the terminal on Linux, and is the one you need for most household tasks.
  • Windows users can find it fastest by typing ipconfig into Command Prompt, while Mac users open System Preferences and select Network.
  • Your public IP address (what the internet sees) is different from your local one and can be found by searching "what is my IP" in any browser.
  • Local IP addresses usually start with 192.168 or 10.0 and stay the same unless you restart your router or change network settings.

Finding your local IP address on Windows

The fastest way on Windows is through Command Prompt. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and open Command Prompt. Type ipconfig and press Enter. Look for the line labeled IPv4 Address under your network connection—that's your local IP address. It will look something like 192.168.1.100 or 10.0.0.50.

If you prefer not to use Command Prompt, you can find it through Settings instead. Open Settings, go to Network & Internet, select your connection type (Wi-Fi or Ethernet), and scroll down to find the IP address listed under your connection details.

Command Prompt is faster because it shows all your network information at once, but Settings works just as well if you're more comfortable with the graphical interface.

Finding your local IP address on Mac

On Mac, open System Preferences (or System Settings on newer versions) and click Network. Select your active connection—usually Wi-Fi or Ethernet—from the list on the left. Your local IP address appears in the window on the right, labeled as IPv4 Address. It will look similar to Windows addresses: something like 192.168.1.105.

If you're connected to Wi-Fi, make sure Wi-Fi is selected in the left panel. If you're using Ethernet, select that instead. The address only shows for whichever connection is currently active.

Finding your local IP address on Linux

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

If that command doesn't work, try ip addr show instead. Look for the line that starts with inet (not inet6)—the number after it is your local IP address. You may see multiple addresses if your computer is connected to multiple networks; the one you need is usually the first one listed.

Finding your public IP address

Your public IP address is what websites see when you visit them. It's different from your local address and is assigned by your internet service provider. To find it, open any web browser and search for "what is my IP" or "my IP address." The first result will show your public IP in large text.

You can also visit websites like whatismyipaddress.com or ipinfo.io, which display your public IP and sometimes additional information like your approximate location and internet service provider. All of these sites are free and require no sign-up.

Your public IP address changes periodically—sometimes weekly, sometimes monthly—depending on your internet service provider's settings. Your local IP address, by contrast, usually stays the same until you restart your router or change your network settings.

Why you might need your IP address

You'll need your local IP address most often. Common reasons include connecting a printer to your network (the printer's setup screen asks for your computer's IP), accessing your computer remotely from another device, or troubleshooting network problems with your internet service provider or router manufacturer.

Your public IP address matters less in daily use, but websites and online services record it. Some people check it to verify they're using a VPN correctly, or to see what information websites can see about their location.

What to do if your IP address changes

Local IP addresses can change if you restart your router, reconnect to Wi-Fi, or if your router's settings reassign addresses automatically. If you need an IP address to stay the same—for example, to always reach a printer at the same number—you can set a static IP address in your router's settings. This tells the router to always give your computer the same local IP.

The steps to set a static IP vary by router model, but the general process is: log into your router's admin panel (usually by typing your router's IP address into a browser), find the DHCP or IP settings section, and look for an option to reserve an IP address for your computer's device name or MAC address. Your router's manual or support website will have specific instructions for your model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my IP address the same on Wi-Fi and Ethernet?

No. If your computer is connected to both Wi-Fi and Ethernet at the same time, it has a separate local IP address for each connection. You'll see both if you run ipconfig on Windows or check Network settings on Mac. Most people use only one at a time, so this rarely matters.

Can someone find my location from my IP address?

Your public IP address can reveal your approximate location—usually your city or region, not your exact street address. Your local IP address (192.168.x.x or 10.0.x.x) is only visible to devices on your own network and reveals nothing to the outside internet.

Why does my IP address start with 192.168 instead of 10.0?

Both are normal. Your router assigns local IP addresses from ranges reserved for private networks. Most home routers use 192.168.x.x, but some use 10.0.x.x or 172.16.x.x. All three ranges are equally valid and work the same way.

What if I see multiple IP addresses when I run ipconfig?

You're seeing addresses for each network connection your computer has. If you're connected to Wi-Fi, look for the IPv4 address under the Wi-Fi adapter. If you're using Ethernet, look under the Ethernet adapter. Ignore addresses labeled "Loopback" or "Virtual"—those are for your computer's internal use.

Does restarting my router change my public IP address?

Usually yes, but not always. Most internet service providers reassign public IP addresses when you restart your modem or router, but some keep the same address for weeks or months. If you need to change your public IP, restarting your modem is the first thing to try.