The fastest way to find your IP address

Your PC has two IP addresses you might need: a local IP address (the one your home or office network assigns to it) and a public IP address (the one the internet sees). The local address is what you use to connect devices on your own network. The public address is what websites and online services see when you browse.

On Windows, the quickest route to your local IP is the Command Prompt. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and open Command Prompt. Type ipconfig and press Enter. Look for "IPv4 Address" under your active network connection — that is your local IP, usually starting with 192.168 or 10.0.

If you need your public IP instead, open any web browser and search "what is my IP" or visit a site like whatismyipaddress.com. The first result will show the address the outside world sees.

Key Takeaways

  • Your local IP address appears in Command Prompt after typing ipconfig — look for the IPv4 Address line under your network adapter.
  • Your public IP address is visible when ready by searching "what is my IP" in any web browser.
  • Local IP addresses usually begin with 192.168 or 10.0 and change only when you restart your router or change networks.
  • If you have multiple network adapters (Ethernet and Wi-Fi), each one will show a separate local IP address in the ipconfig results.

Finding your local IP through Settings

If you prefer not to use Command Prompt, Windows Settings offers a graphical route. Open Settings, go to Network & Internet, then select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet). Scroll down to "Properties" and look for "IPv4 address" — that is your local IP.

This method works the same way as ipconfig but does not require typing commands. The address you see here is the one other devices on your network use to reach your PC, so it is what you need if you are setting up a printer, accessing files from another computer, or configuring network hardware.

Understanding what the numbers mean

A local IP address has four numbers separated by periods, like 192.168.1.105. The first three numbers identify your network, and the last number identifies your specific device. If you see 192.168.1.x, you are on a standard home network. If you see 10.0.x.x, you are on a larger corporate or institutional network.

Your public IP address follows the same format but is assigned by your internet service provider. It changes whenever you restart your modem or router, or when your ISP reassigns it — usually every few days or weeks. Your local IP is more stable; it stays the same until you restart your router or manually change your network settings.

Why you might need your IP address

You need your local IP when you are troubleshooting network problems, setting up a printer on your network, or accessing your PC remotely from another device. Some applications also ask for your local IP to communicate with other machines on the same network.

Your public IP matters when you are diagnosing internet connectivity issues, checking whether your location is being blocked by a website, or reporting a problem to your internet service provider. It is also what services use to track your general geographic location — though not your exact address.

Checking your IP on a Mac instead

If you are using macOS, open System Preferences, click Network, select your active connection, and your local IP appears in the window. You can also open Terminal, type ifconfig, and look for "inet" under your active adapter — the address listed there is your local IP.

For your public IP on a Mac, the same web search method works: open Safari or any browser, search "what is my IP", and the result appears when ready.

What to do if your IP address keeps changing

Your local IP can change if your router restarts or if your PC has been offline for a while. If you need a stable local IP — for example, to always reach a printer or network drive at the same address — you can set a static IP in your router settings or in Windows Network Settings.

Most home users do not need to do this. If your IP changes and you lose connection to a device, straightforward restart your router and reconnect. If you are setting up something that requires a fixed address, your router's manual or support page will walk you through assigning a static IP to your PC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my IP address the same as my MAC address?

No. Your IP address is a network address that changes when you move to a different network or restart your router. Your MAC address is a hardware identifier that stays the same no matter where you go. Both appear in ipconfig output, but they serve different purposes.

Can someone find my home address from my public IP?

Not your exact address, but your general location (usually city or region). Your ISP knows which address the IP is assigned to, but they do not share that information publicly. Websites and services see only the city-level location, not your street address.

Why do I see multiple IP addresses in ipconfig?

If you have both Ethernet and Wi-Fi connected, or if you are using a virtual network adapter, each one gets its own local IP. Look for the one under the adapter you are actually using — usually labeled "Ethernet" or "Wireless LAN adapter".

What if ipconfig does not show an IP address?

Your network adapter may not be connected or may not have received an address from your router. Restart your router, wait 30 seconds, and run ipconfig again. If it still shows no address, check that your Ethernet cable is plugged in or that you are connected to the correct Wi-Fi network.