What Your IP Address Is and Why You Might Need It

Your PC has an IP address — a unique number that identifies it on your home network or the internet. It looks like four numbers separated by dots, such as 192.168.1.5 or 8.8.8.8. You may need to find it to troubleshoot a network problem, set up a printer or camera on your home network, connect to your PC remotely, or give it to technical support.

There are two types of IP addresses you might be looking for: your local IP address (the one your PC uses on your home or office network) and your public IP address (the one your internet provider assigns to your whole network, visible to websites you visit). Most of the time, you need the local one.

Key Takeaways

  • Your local IP address appears in Settings under Network & Internet, or by typing ipconfig in Command Prompt — both take under one minute.
  • Look for the number next to "IPv4 Address" in Command Prompt, or "IPv4 address" in Settings — that is your local address on your home network.
  • Your public IP address (the one websites see) is different from your local one and shows up on websites like whatismyipaddress.com.
  • If you see 169.254.x.x or no address at all, your PC is not connected to the network — restart your router and try again.

Finding Your Local IP Address in Windows Settings

The fastest way for most people is through the Settings app. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings," then click the Settings app. Go to Network & Internet on the left side, then click Wi-Fi (if you are on wireless) or Ethernet (if you are plugged in with a cable).

Click the name of your network. Scroll down until you see IPv4 address — the number next to it is your local IP address. Write it down or take a screenshot if you need it for later. This method works on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Finding Your Local IP Address Using Command Prompt

If you prefer typing commands, this method is just as fast. Press the Windows key, type "cmd," and open Command Prompt. Type the word ipconfig and press Enter. A list of information will appear.

Look for the section labeled with your network connection name (usually "Ethernet adapter" or "Wireless LAN adapter"). Find the line that says IPv4 Address — the number next to it is your local IP address. Ignore any address that starts with 169.254; that means your PC lost its connection to the network.

Finding Your Public IP Address

Your public IP address is what websites see when you visit them. It is different from your local address and is assigned by your internet provider to your whole home network. To find it, open any web browser and go to a site like whatismyipaddress.com or straightforward search "what is my IP" in Google — the answer appears at the top of the results.

You only need your public IP address if you are setting up remote access to your PC from outside your home, or if a website or service asks for it. Most home network tasks use your local IP address instead.

What to Do If You Cannot Find Your IP Address

If Command Prompt shows no IPv4 address, or shows one starting with 169.254, your PC is not connected to the network. First, check that your Wi-Fi is turned on or that your ethernet cable is plugged in firmly on both ends. Then restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it back in.

Wait two minutes for the router to fully restart, then run ipconfig again. If you still see no address or a 169.254 address, right-click the network icon in your system tray (bottom right corner) and select "Troubleshoot problems." Windows will walk you through checking your connection. If that does not work, restart your PC itself — sometimes a reboot clears network connection issues.

Using Your IP Address for Common Tasks

Once you have your local IP address, you can use it to reach your PC on the network. To connect to a printer or camera, you may need to type the IP address into your browser's address bar (for example, 192.168.1.100) to reach its settings page. To set up remote access to your PC from another computer, you will give someone your public IP address, not your local one.

If you are troubleshooting with technical support, have both your local and public IP addresses ready. Write down your local address and take a screenshot of the Settings page showing it — that way you have proof of what it was if it changes later (though local addresses usually stay the same unless you restart your router).

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my IP address change?

Your local IP address usually stays the same unless you restart your router or your PC sits unused for a long time. Your public IP address may change when your internet provider updates it, which can happen weeks or months apart. If you need a permanent address, ask your internet provider about a static IP.

Is it safe to share my IP address?

Sharing your public IP address is generally safe — websites already see it when you visit them. Your local IP address is only useful to people on your home network, so sharing it with someone outside your home does not help them. Never share your full network information (like your router password) with anyone you do not trust.

What if I have multiple IP addresses listed?

If you see several addresses in ipconfig, look for the one next to your active connection (the network you are currently using). Ignore addresses for connections you are not using. If you are connected to both Wi-Fi and ethernet at the same time, you will see two addresses — use the one for whichever connection you need.

Can I change my IP address?

Your local IP address is assigned by your router and can be changed through your router's settings, but most people do not need to. Your public IP address is assigned by your internet provider and cannot be changed by you — contact them if you need a static one. For most home uses, your current addresses work fine.