The quickest way to find your IP address

Your PC has two IP addresses: 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 when you need to find your IP address, you want the local one — it's what you use to connect a printer, stream to a TV, or troubleshoot a router problem.

On Windows, the fastest route is to open the Command Prompt and type ipconfig, then look for the line that says "IPv4 Address" under your network connection. On Mac, open System Settings, click Network, select your connection, and the IP address appears in the details pane. Both take about 30 seconds.

Key Takeaways

  • Your local IP address (the one you usually need) starts with 192.168 or 10.0 and only works on your home network.
  • On Windows, open Command Prompt and type ipconfig to see your local IP address listed as "IPv4 Address".
  • On Mac, go to System Settings > Network, select your connection, and the IP address displays in the details section.
  • Your public IP address (what websites see) is different from your local one and can be found by searching "what is my IP" in any browser.

Finding your local IP address on Windows

Open the Start menu and type cmd or command prompt. Click the Command Prompt app when it appears. A black window will open.

Type ipconfig and press Enter. You'll see a list of network connections. Look for the one labeled with your current connection type — usually "Ethernet adapter" if you're plugged in with a cable, or "Wireless LAN adapter" if you're on Wi-Fi. Under that section, find the line that says "IPv4 Address". The number next to it (something like 192.168.1.105) is your local IP address.

If you have multiple network adapters listed, you only need the one you're actually using right now. The others can be ignored.

Finding your local IP address on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions). Click Network in the left sidebar.

Select the connection you're using — either Wi-Fi or Ethernet depending on how you're connected. On the right side of the window, you'll see connection details. Your local IP address appears in the main section, usually labeled as "IP Address" or "IPv4 Address". It will look something like 192.168.1.50.

Understanding what your local IP address means

Your local IP address is unique only within your home or office network. It's assigned by your router and changes occasionally (usually when you restart your PC or after a few weeks). This is the address you use when you're connecting devices on the same network — for example, if you're setting up a printer or accessing files on another computer in your house.

Local IP addresses always start with 192.168, 10.0, or 172.16. If you see a number that starts differently, something is misconfigured. The address is only useful on your own network; it won't work if you try to use it from outside your home.

Finding your public IP address

Your public IP address is what websites and internet services see when you connect to them. It's assigned by your internet provider and is different from your local IP address. To find it, open any web browser and search for "what is my IP" or "my IP address". Google and other search engines will display your public IP address at the top of the results.

You can also visit websites like whatismyipaddress.com or ipchicken.com, which show your public IP address when ready. Your public IP address changes less often than your local one — usually only when you restart your modem or after weeks or months of being connected.

Why you might need your IP address

You need your local IP address when you're setting up devices on your home network. If you're installing a network printer, you may need to enter the printer's local IP address into your computer. If you're troubleshooting a router or modem, your internet provider might ask for your local IP address to see what's connected. Some games and applications also ask for your local IP if you're hosting a connection for other players on your network.

You need your public IP address much less often. It's useful if you're setting up remote access to your PC from outside your home, or if you're troubleshooting an internet connection issue with your provider. Most of the time, you don't need either address — but when you do, knowing where to find them saves time.

What to do if you can't find your IP address

If the Command Prompt (Windows) or Network settings (Mac) show no IP address, or if it shows "No Internet connection", your PC is not connected to the network. Check that your Wi-Fi is turned on, or that your ethernet cable is plugged in firmly on both ends. Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. Wait two minutes for it to fully restart, then check your IP address again.

If you're still seeing no IP address after restarting, your router may not be assigning addresses correctly. Restart your PC as well. If the problem continues, you may need to restart your modem (the device your internet provider gave you) in the same way — unplug it for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait two minutes. If none of these steps work, contact your internet provider to confirm your connection is active.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my IP address the same as my MAC address?

No. Your MAC address is a hardware identifier that only works on your local network, while your IP address is a network address used for routing data. They serve different purposes. You rarely need your MAC address unless you're setting up advanced network features or your router requires it for a specific device.

Will my local IP address ever change?

Yes, it can change. Your router assigns local IP addresses automatically, and they can shift if you restart your PC, restart your router, or after a period of time (usually weeks). If you need a device to always have the same local IP address, you can set a static IP in your router settings, but this is only necessary for specialized setups.

Can someone use my IP address to hack me?

Your local IP address is only visible on your home network, so it's not a security risk by itself. Your public IP address is visible to websites, but it only tells someone your general location and internet provider — not your identity or passwords. Standard security practices (strong passwords, updated software, a firewall) protect you far more than hiding your IP address.

Why do I have multiple IP addresses listed in ipconfig?

You may have multiple network adapters — for example, both Wi-Fi and Ethernet, or virtual network adapters used by software. Only the one you're actually using right now matters. Look for the adapter that matches how you're connected, and ignore the others.