How to Find Your IP Address on Any Device

Every device connected to the internet has an IP address — a numerical label that identifies it on a network. Whether you're troubleshooting a connection issue, setting up a home server, configuring a firewall, or just curious, knowing how to find your IP address is a fundamental networking skill. The process varies depending on your device, operating system, and whether you need your public or private IP address.

Public IP vs. Private IP: The Key Distinction

Before hunting for your IP address, it helps to understand which one you actually need.

Public IP address — This is the address your internet service provider (ISP) assigns to your network. It's visible to the outside world and shared across all devices in your home or office that use the same router. Websites, online services, and remote servers see this address when you connect to them.

Private IP address — This is the address your router assigns to each individual device on your local network. It's only visible within your network and typically follows ranges like 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, or 172.16.x.x to 172.31.x.x.

Most everyday tasks — like checking why a streaming service is geo-restricted — require your public IP. Tasks like configuring devices on your home network, setting up printers, or managing local servers require your private IP.

How to Find Your Public IP Address 🌐

The simplest method works on any device with a browser: search "what is my IP" in Google, or visit a service like ipinfo.io or similar tools. Your public IP will be displayed immediately at the top of the results.

This method requires no technical knowledge and works on phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops regardless of operating system.

How to Find Your Private IP Address by Device

Windows

1. Open the Start menu and search for Command Prompt
2. Type ipconfig and press Enter
3. Look for IPv4 Address under your active network adapter (Ethernet or Wi-Fi)

Alternatively, go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) → Properties and scroll down to find your IPv4 address listed there.

macOS

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions)
2. Click Network
3. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
4. Your IP address is displayed directly on that panel

Or open Terminal and type ifconfig | grep inet for a more detailed output.

iPhone / iPad (iOS)

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Wi-Fi
3. Tap the ℹ️ icon next to your connected network
4. Your IP address appears under the IPv4 Address section

Android

Steps vary slightly by manufacturer, but generally:

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Network & Internet → Wi-Fi
3. Tap your connected network name
4. Scroll down to see your IP address (you may need to tap Advanced depending on the Android version)

Linux

Open a terminal and type:

ip addr show 

or the older command:

ifconfig 

Look for the inet value under your active interface (commonly eth0 for Ethernet or wlan0 for Wi-Fi).

Routers and Network Admin Panels

If you're managing multiple devices, logging into your router's admin panel (typically accessed by entering 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in a browser) gives you a full map of all connected devices and their assigned private IPs. This is particularly useful for static IP assignment or identifying unknown devices on your network.

IPv4 vs. IPv6: Which One Are You Looking At?

You may notice two types of addresses when checking your IP:

Most home networking tasks still reference IPv4 addresses. IPv6 is gradually being adopted more widely as the pool of available IPv4 addresses has been exhausted globally, but for typical troubleshooting purposes, IPv4 is usually the one you need.

Factors That Affect Which IP Address You See

Not all IP-finding situations are the same. A few variables change what you'll find and how to interpret it:

• Using a VPN — A VPN masks your real public IP and replaces it with one from the VPN server's location. If you're connected to a VPN, any "what is my IP" tool will show the VPN's IP, not your ISP's.
• Dynamic vs. static IPs — Most home users have a dynamic public IP, meaning it can change periodically. Businesses often pay for static IPs that don't change — relevant if you're hosting anything externally.
• CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT) — Some ISPs, particularly mobile carriers, place multiple customers behind a single public IP. In this case, your "public" IP may be shared with other users, which affects certain use cases like port forwarding.
• Cellular vs. Wi-Fi — A phone on mobile data will have a completely different public IP than the same phone connected to home Wi-Fi.

When You Need Your IP Address Most

Common scenarios where finding your IP matters:

• Remote access setup — Connecting to your home computer or NAS drive from outside your network
• Gaming and port forwarding — Some multiplayer games or self-hosted game servers require specific ports opened on your router for your device's private IP
• Network security audits — Checking which devices are on your network and what addresses they hold
• Geolocation troubleshooting — Verifying why a service thinks you're in a different region
• Technical support — ISPs and IT teams often ask for your IP when diagnosing connection issues

The right method, and which IP address matters most, depends on what you're actually trying to accomplish — and whether the issue lives inside your local network or somewhere out on the wider internet.