How to Find an IP Address on a Computer (Windows, Mac & More)

Every device connected to a network has an IP address — a numerical label that identifies it and enables communication across the internet or a local network. Whether you're troubleshooting a connection issue, setting up a printer, configuring remote access, or just curious, knowing how to locate your IP address is a fundamental networking skill.

The tricky part: there's more than one IP address to find, and the method depends heavily on your operating system and what you're actually trying to accomplish.

What Kind of IP Address Are You Looking For?

Before diving into steps, it helps to understand the difference between two distinct types:

• Private (local) IP address — the address assigned to your device within your home or office network by your router. This is what other devices on the same network use to communicate with yours.
• Public IP address — the address your internet service provider (ISP) assigns to your network as a whole. This is what websites and external services see when you connect to the internet.

These are different numbers, and finding one won't tell you the other.

How to Find Your IP Address on Windows 🖥️

Method 1: Using Settings (Windows 10 and 11)

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet
2. Click Wi-Fi or Ethernet, depending on your connection type
3. Select your active network
4. Scroll down to the Properties section
5. Look for IPv4 address

Method 2: Using the Command Prompt

This method works across most Windows versions and gives you detailed network information quickly.

1. Press Windows key + R, type cmd, and hit Enter
2. In the Command Prompt window, type ipconfig and press Enter
3. Look for your active adapter (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
4. Your IPv4 Address is your local IP address

You'll also see your Subnet Mask and Default Gateway (the router's IP address) in the same output — useful if you're doing any network configuration.

How to Find Your IP Address on macOS

Using System Settings (macOS Ventura and later)

1. Open System Settings → Network
2. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
3. Your IP address appears directly in the details panel

Using System Preferences (older macOS versions)

1. Open System Preferences → Network
2. Select your active connection on the left
3. The IP address displays on the right side of the window

Using Terminal

1. Open Terminal (found in Applications → Utilities)
2. Type ipconfig getifaddr en0 for Wi-Fi, or ipconfig getifaddr en1 for Ethernet
3. Press Enter — your local IP address appears on the next line

How to Find Your IP Address on Linux

Open a terminal and run:

ip addr show 

or the older but still widely supported:

ifconfig 

Look for your active network interface (often labeled eth0 for Ethernet or wlan0 for Wi-Fi). Your IP address appears next to inet.

How to Find Your Public IP Address

Finding your public IP is simpler and works the same regardless of operating system:

• Open any web browser and search "what is my IP" — Google displays it immediately at the top of results
• Visit a dedicated service like ipinfo.io or whatismyip.com

Your public IP is assigned dynamically by most ISPs, meaning it can change periodically unless you've paid for a static IP address.

IPv4 vs. IPv6 — Which One Are You Seeing?

You may notice two different address formats in your results:

Most home networks still operate primarily on IPv4 for local addressing. IPv6 is increasingly used for public internet routing as IPv4 addresses have become exhausted globally. If you're troubleshooting a specific application or service, knowing which format it expects matters.

When Your IP Address Changes

Dynamic IP addresses are the default for most home users — your router assigns them automatically via DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), and they can change when your device reconnects or when the DHCP lease expires.

If you need a device to always have the same local IP — for a home server, network-attached storage, or a gaming setup — you can assign a static local IP either through your router's DHCP reservation settings or directly in your operating system's network configuration.

Factors That Affect Which Method Works for You 🔧

Not every method listed here will work identically in every situation. A few variables shape the experience:

• Operating system version — menu locations shift between major OS releases
• Network configuration — corporate or enterprise networks may show additional adapters, VPNs, or multiple IP assignments
• VPN usage — an active VPN changes both your visible public IP and can add virtual network adapters that appear in ipconfig or ip addr output
• Virtualization software — tools like VMware or VirtualBox add virtual network interfaces that can appear alongside your physical adapters
• IPv6 adoption — some networks assign only IPv6 publicly, which changes what you'll see when checking your public address

How you interpret the output — and which address actually matters for your task — depends entirely on what you're trying to do and how your specific network is set up.