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How to Find the IP Address of a Computer

Every device connected to a network has an IP address — a numerical label that identifies it and allows data to travel to the right destination. Whether you're troubleshooting a connection, setting up remote access, or configuring a router, knowing how to find your IP address is a fundamental networking skill.

The process varies depending on your operating system, and there's an important distinction to understand before you start looking.

Local IP Address vs. Public IP Address

These are two different things, and confusing them is the most common mistake people make.

  • Local IP address (also called a private IP address): This is the address assigned to your computer within your home or office network by your router. It typically looks like 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, or 172.16.x.x. Only devices on the same network can use this address to reach your machine.

  • Public IP address: This is the address your entire network presents to the internet. It's assigned by your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and is shared across all devices on your network. External servers and websites see this address — not your local one.

Which one you need depends entirely on what you're trying to do. Remote desktop within your home network? You need the local address. Letting someone connect from outside? You need the public one.

How to Find Your Local IP Address 🖥️

On Windows

Method 1 — Settings (easiest):

  1. Open Settings → Network & Internet
  2. Click your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
  3. Scroll down to find IPv4 address

Method 2 — Command Prompt:

  1. Press Windows + R, type cmd, hit Enter
  2. Type ipconfig and press Enter
  3. Look for IPv4 Address under your active adapter

The result will show both your IP address and your subnet mask, which defines the range of your local network.

On macOS

Method 1 — System Settings:

  1. Open System Settings → Network
  2. Select your active connection
  3. Your IP address appears in the details panel

Method 2 — Terminal:

  1. Open Terminal (find it in Applications → Utilities)
  2. Type ifconfig | grep "inet " and press Enter
  3. Look for an address that isn't 127.0.0.1 (that one is your loopback address, used internally by the OS — not your real network address)

On Linux

Open a terminal and run:

ip addr show

or the older command:

ifconfig

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

On Android

  1. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi
  2. Tap the network you're connected to
  3. Look for IP address in the network details

On iPhone / iPad

  1. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi
  2. Tap the (i) icon next to your connected network
  3. Your IP address is listed under the IPv4 Address section

How to Find Your Public IP Address 🌐

This is simpler. Any website or tool that reads your connection can show it to you. The fastest methods:

  • Search "what is my IP" in Google — it displays your public IP directly in the results
  • Visit a site like ipinfo.io or whatismyipaddress.com in any browser
  • Use the terminal: curl ifconfig.me (works on macOS and Linux)

Your public IP is controlled by your ISP, not your router, so you can't change it through local settings (though a VPN or proxy will replace it with a different one for outbound traffic).

Key Variables That Affect What You Find

Not every setup produces the same result, and a few factors are worth understanding:

VariableWhat It Affects
IPv4 vs. IPv6Most networks still use IPv4 (e.g., 192.168.1.5), but IPv6 addresses (longer, with colons) are increasingly common. Your device may have both.
Static vs. dynamic IPMost local IPs are DHCP-assigned (dynamic), meaning the router can change them. A static IP is manually fixed and won't change — useful for servers and printers.
Wi-Fi vs. EthernetYour machine may have a different local IP for each interface. Check the right adapter.
VPN activeA running VPN changes your visible public IP and may also add a virtual network adapter with its own local IP.
Multiple network adaptersLaptops with both Wi-Fi and Ethernet — or virtual machine software installed — may show several IP addresses in ipconfig or ifconfig.

When the IP Address Changes

Local IPs assigned by DHCP are leased, not permanent. Your router hands them out for a set period, and when the lease expires or your device reconnects, it may get a different address. This is normal behavior and generally not a problem for everyday use.

If you're setting up something that requires your computer to always be at the same local address — like a home server, a networked printer, or port forwarding rules — you'd need to configure a static IP or set a DHCP reservation in your router's admin panel.

Public IPs work similarly: most residential ISP connections use dynamic public IPs that can change when your router restarts or your lease renews. Static public IPs are typically a paid add-on from ISPs, aimed at business users.

The Part That Depends on Your Setup

Finding an IP address is a quick task once you know where to look — but which address matters, how permanent it needs to be, and whether dynamic assignment is a problem all depend on what you're actually trying to accomplish. A home user checking connectivity has very different requirements from someone configuring a local media server or setting up remote access from another country. Your network configuration, OS, and the specific task at hand are the missing pieces that determine which of these methods and considerations actually apply to you.