How to Find the IP Address of Your Router

Every device on your home or office network communicates through your router, and at the center of that communication is an IP address. Whether you're troubleshooting a connection issue, setting up port forwarding, or accessing your router's admin panel, knowing how to find that address is a fundamental networking skill. The good news: it's straightforward once you know where to look — though the exact steps vary depending on your operating system and setup.

What Is a Router IP Address?

Your router has two IP addresses, and it's worth understanding the difference before you go looking.

• Local IP address (default gateway): This is the address your router uses on your internal network. Devices on your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection use this address to communicate with the router. It typically looks like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, though it can vary.
• Public IP address: This is the address your internet service provider (ISP) assigns to your router. It's what the outside internet sees. Finding this is a different process entirely.

When most people ask how to find their router's IP address, they mean the local IP address — sometimes called the default gateway. That's what this article focuses on.

How to Find Your Router's IP Address on Windows

The fastest method on Windows uses the Command Prompt.

1. Press Windows + R, type cmd, and hit Enter.
2. In the Command Prompt window, type ipconfig and press Enter.
3. Look for the section labeled "Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi" (if on Wi-Fi) or "Ethernet adapter" (if wired).
4. Find the line that reads "Default Gateway" — the number next to it is your router's local IP address.

You can also find it through the Settings app:

• Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) → click your connected network → scroll down to see the Default Gateway listed under network details.

How to Find Your Router's IP Address on macOS

On a Mac, the Network settings panel gives you direct access.

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
2. Go to Network → select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
3. Click Details (or Advanced on older versions) → navigate to the TCP/IP tab.
4. The Router field shows your router's IP address.

Alternatively, use Terminal:

• Open Terminal and type netstat -nr | grep default and press Enter.
• The address next to "default" in the output is your router's IP.

How to Find Your Router's IP Address on iPhone or iPad 📱

1. Open Settings → Wi-Fi.
2. Tap the ⓘ info icon next to your connected network.
3. Scroll down to the Router field — the IP address is listed there.

This only works when you're actively connected to the network. If you're not connected, the field won't populate.

How to Find Your Router's IP Address on Android

Android handles this slightly differently depending on the manufacturer and OS version.

1. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi.
2. Tap your connected network name or the gear/settings icon next to it.
3. Look for Gateway, Router, or Advanced options — the router IP is typically listed under network details.

Some Android versions require you to tap "Advanced" within the network settings to expose the full TCP/IP information, including the gateway address.

How to Find Your Router's IP Address on Linux

Open a terminal and run:

ip route | grep default 

The address following "via" is your router's IP. Alternatively, ifconfig (if installed) and checking the gateway line works on many distributions.

What If Your Router Uses a Non-Standard IP Address?

Most home routers default to 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, but this isn't universal. ISP-provided routers, mesh network systems, and enterprise-grade hardware sometimes use different address ranges — such as 10.0.0.1 or 192.168.100.1. The Default Gateway method above always reflects the actual address your router is using, regardless of what the default might be.

If your network has been reconfigured — say, by an IT administrator or a previous setup — the address could fall anywhere within a private IP range.

Finding Your Router's Public IP Address 🌐

Your public IP is assigned by your ISP and isn't visible through local network settings. To find it, you can simply search "what is my IP address" in a browser — any number of web tools will display it immediately. Keep in mind that public IPs are often dynamic, meaning your ISP can change them periodically unless you've arranged a static IP.

Comparing Methods at a Glance

Variables That Affect What You'll Find

A few factors shape the experience of finding — and using — your router's IP address:

• Router brand and firmware: Some manufacturers use custom interfaces and non-standard default IPs. Knowing your router brand can help if you're trying to access the admin panel afterward.
• Network segmentation: In more complex setups (like those with separate access points or VLANs), what your device reports as the default gateway might be an access point address, not the primary router.
• Operating system version: The exact navigation path in Settings differs between Windows 10 and Windows 11, or between older and newer macOS releases. The underlying data is the same — just the UI path changes.
• Multiple network adapters: On laptops with both Wi-Fi and Ethernet active, ipconfig or ip route may show multiple gateways. Make sure you're reading the one associated with your active connection.

Whether you're trying to log into your router's admin panel, set up a static IP for a local device, or diagnose a connectivity problem, the right starting point is always checking your specific device and connection type — because the path to that address looks a little different for everyone.