Finding your IP address on Windows, Mac, or Linux

Your computer has an IP address — a unique number that identifies it on your network and the internet. You may need to find it to troubleshoot connection problems, set up a printer or smart home device, or share access with IT support. The steps differ depending on your operating system, but the process takes less than a minute on any of them.

An IP address looks like four numbers separated by dots: 192.168.1.5 or 10.0.0.42. Your computer actually has two: a local IP address (used only on your home or office network) and a public IP address (how the internet sees you). Most of the time you need the local one.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, open Settings, go to Network & Internet, and select Wi-Fi or Ethernet to see your local IP address.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, click Network, select your connection, and look for the IP address field.
  • On Linux, open a terminal and type hostname -I to display your local IP address when ready.
  • Your local IP address (starting with 192.168 or 10.0) is what you need for home network devices; your public IP is different and visible on websites like whatismyipaddress.com.
  • If you see "169.254" as your IP address, your computer is not connected to the network properly.

Finding your IP address on Windows 10 and 11

The fastest way on Windows is through Settings. Click the Start button, type Settings, and open the app. Then select Network & Internet from the left menu.

If you are connected by Wi-Fi, click Wi-Fi in the left sidebar, then click the name of your network under "Connected networks." Scroll down and you will see IPv4 address — that is your local IP address. If you are plugged in with an Ethernet cable, click Ethernet instead and follow the same steps.

You can also use the Command Prompt for a quicker view. Press Windows key + R, type cmd, and press Enter. Type ipconfig and press Enter. Look for "IPv4 Address" under your active connection — that is your local IP. The Command Prompt also shows your Default Gateway (usually your router) and Subnet Mask, which can be useful for network troubleshooting.

Finding your IP address on Mac

On Mac, open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions). Click Network in the sidebar. You will see a list of connections on the left — select the one you are using (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).

On the right side, you will see IP Address displayed near the top. That is your local IP address. If you need more details, click the Advanced button to see your subnet mask, router address, and DNS servers.

If you prefer the terminal, press Command + Space, type Terminal, and press Enter. Type ifconfig and press Enter. Look for the section labeled with your connection type (en0 for Ethernet, en1 for Wi-Fi). The line starting with "inet" (not "inet6") shows your local IP address.

Finding your IP address on Linux

Linux users have the quickest route. Open a terminal and type hostname -I (capital I), then press Enter. Your local IP address appears when ready. This works on Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and most other distributions.

If that does not work, try ip addr show instead. This displays more detail, including all network interfaces. Look for the line labeled "inet" under your active connection — the number after "inet" is your local IP address.

For a graphical view, open your system settings and look for Network or Connections. The exact location varies by desktop environment (GNOME, KDE, Xfce), but the IP address is always listed in the active connection details.

The difference between local and public IP addresses

Your local IP address is what your router assigns to your computer. It stays the same on your home or office network and is used only within that network. It usually starts with 192.168, 10.0, or 172.16. This is the address you use to set up printers, cameras, smart speakers, and other devices on your network.

Your public IP address is assigned by your internet service provider and is how websites and servers on the internet identify your connection. It changes periodically (sometimes daily, sometimes monthly, depending on your provider). To find your public IP, visit whatismyipaddress.com or ipchicken.com in any browser — they display it when ready. You rarely need this address unless you are setting up remote access or troubleshooting with your ISP.

What to do if your IP address looks wrong

If your local IP address starts with 169.254, your computer is not properly connected to the network. This is a self-assigned address that appears when your router is not responding. Restart your router (unplug it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in) and reconnect to your network. If the problem persists, restart your computer.

If you see no IP address at all, or if the Settings screen shows "Not connected," check that your Wi-Fi is turned on or your Ethernet cable is plugged in firmly. On Windows, you can also run the Network Troubleshooter: go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status, scroll down, and click "Network troubleshooter."

If you need your IP address to stay the same (for example, to always reach a printer at the same address), you can reserve a static IP in your router settings. This is a router function, not a computer setting — log into your router's admin panel (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and look for DHCP reservations or static IP assignment. Your router manual or manufacturer's website will have the exact steps.

Why you might need your IP address

The most common reason to look up your IP address is to set up a network printer or smart home device. These devices need to know your computer's local IP to communicate with it. You may also need it if IT support asks for it while troubleshooting a connection problem, or if you are setting up remote access to your computer from another device.

Knowing your IP address also helps you understand your network. If two devices have the same IP address, they will conflict and neither will work properly — this is rare but can happen if you manually assign addresses. If you are having trouble reaching a device, you can ping its IP address from the Command Prompt (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) by typing ping 192.168.1.100 (replace with the actual IP) to see if it is responding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my IP address the same as my MAC address?

No. Your IP address is a network number (like 192.168.1.5). Your MAC address is a hardware identifier unique to your network card (like 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E). They serve different purposes. You need the IP address to reach your computer over a network; the MAC address is used by your router to assign that IP in the first place.

Will my local IP address change?

Usually not, but it can. Your router assigns it using DHCP, which typically reserves the same address for your computer each time it connects. If you restart your router or do not connect for a long time, your computer may get a different address. If you need the address to stay constant, reserve a static IP in your router settings.

Can someone see my IP address?

Websites and services you visit can see your public IP address — that is how they send data back to you. Your local IP address is private to your home or office network and is not visible to the internet. If you want to hide your public IP, you can use a VPN (virtual private network), which routes your traffic through another server.

What if I forgot my router's IP address?

Your router's IP address (called the Default Gateway) is shown in the same place as your computer's IP. On Windows, run ipconfig in Command Prompt and look for "Default Gateway." On Mac, open System Settings > Network, select your connection, and click Advanced — the router IP is listed there. It is usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.

Do I need to write down my IP address?

You do not need to memorize it, but it is handy to write down if you are setting up multiple devices or troubleshooting with support. You can always look it up again in a few seconds using the steps above. If you need it frequently, bookmark a page like whatismyipaddress.com for your public IP, or keep a note of your local IP if you use it often for network devices.