Open Command Prompt and run one command to see your IP address

The fastest way to find your IP address is to open Command Prompt on your Windows computer and type a single command. Command Prompt is a text-based tool built into Windows that lets you run commands directly. Within seconds, you'll see your IP address displayed on the screen.

You don't need any special software or technical knowledge — just a few keystrokes. This method works on any Windows computer, whether you're running Windows 10, Windows 11, or an older version.

Key Takeaways

  • Press the Windows key, type "cmd", and press Enter to open Command Prompt quickly.
  • Type ipconfig and press Enter to see your IP address along with other network information.
  • Look for "IPv4 Address" in the results — this is the number your device uses on your network.
  • If you see multiple network adapters listed, find the one labeled "Ethernet" or "Wireless LAN Adapter" that matches how you're connected.

Step-by-step: Finding your IP address in Command Prompt

Step 1: Open Command Prompt. Press the Windows key on your keyboard (the key with the Windows logo). Type "cmd" without quotes. You'll see "Command Prompt" appear in the search results. Press Enter or click on it to open the black Command Prompt window.

Step 2: Type the command. In the Command Prompt window, type ipconfig exactly as shown (lowercase or uppercase both work). Press Enter. The window will fill with network information about your computer.

Step 3: Find your IP address. Look through the text for a line that says "IPv4 Address" followed by a colon and a number. That number is your IP address. It will look something like 192.168.1.5 or 10.0.0.15 — four groups of numbers separated by periods.

Understanding what ipconfig shows you

When you run the ipconfig command, Command Prompt displays information about every network connection on your computer. Most people have at least two: one for Ethernet (a wired connection) and one for Wi-Fi (wireless). You might see sections labeled "Ethernet adapter" or "Wireless LAN adapter" or similar names depending on your setup.

Each section shows several pieces of information. The "IPv4 Address" is what you're looking for — this is the address your device uses to communicate on your local network. Below that you'll see other details like "Subnet Mask" and "Default Gateway," which are useful for network troubleshooting but not needed just to find your IP address.

If you're connected by Wi-Fi, look for the wireless adapter section. If you're plugged in with an Ethernet cable, look for the Ethernet section. The IP address you need is in whichever section matches how you're actually connected to the network.

Finding your public IP address instead

The ipconfig command shows your local IP address — the number your device uses inside your home or office network. This is different from your public IP address, which is what websites see when you visit them. Your public IP address is assigned by your internet service provider.

To find your public IP address using Command Prompt, type nslookup myip.opendns.com resolver1.opendns.com and press Enter. Look for a line that says "Address:" followed by a number. That's your public IP address. It will also look like four groups of numbers separated by periods, but it's usually different from your local IP address.

Most people need their local IP address (from ipconfig) when they're setting up a printer, connecting to a device on their home network, or troubleshooting a connection problem. You need your public IP address less often — usually only when you're setting up remote access or checking your location online.

What to do if you see multiple IP addresses

If you run ipconfig and see several different sections with different IP addresses, don't worry. This is normal on most computers. You might have an Ethernet connection, a Wi-Fi connection, and a virtual network adapter all listed at once. You only need the IP address for the connection you're actually using right now.

If you're connected by Wi-Fi, scroll down until you find the section that says "Wireless LAN adapter" or "Wi-Fi" and use the IPv4 Address from that section. If you're plugged in with a cable, use the IPv4 Address from the "Ethernet adapter" section. Ignore the others — they're either inactive or used by software running in the background.

Troubleshooting if the command doesn't work

If you type ipconfig and nothing happens, make sure you pressed Enter after typing the command. Command Prompt won't run the command until you press Enter. If you see an error message like "ipconfig is not recognized," you may have opened a different program by mistake — close it and open Command Prompt again by pressing Windows key, typing "cmd", and pressing Enter.

If Command Prompt opens and closes immediately, or if you can't see the results clearly, try right-clicking on Command Prompt in the search results and selecting "Run as administrator." This opens Command Prompt with higher permissions and sometimes fixes display issues. Type ipconfig again and the results should appear.

If you're still not seeing an IPv4 Address listed, your computer may not be connected to a network. Check that your Wi-Fi is turned on or that your Ethernet cable is plugged in. Wait a few seconds for the connection to establish, then run ipconfig again.

Other Command Prompt commands for network information

Once you know how to use Command Prompt, a few other commands can give you more network details. Type ipconfig /all (with a space and /all) to see extended information including your MAC address and DNS servers. Type ping google.com to test whether your internet connection is working — if you see responses, your connection is active.

Type tracert google.com to see the path your data takes to reach a website, which is useful if a website is slow or unreachable. These commands all work the same way: type them in Command Prompt, press Enter, and read the results. None of them change anything on your computer — they just show you information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my local IP address the same as my public IP address?

No. Your local IP address (from ipconfig) is used only inside your home or office network. Your public IP address is assigned by your internet provider and is what websites see. They're usually completely different numbers. You need the local one for devices on your network; you need the public one for remote access or checking your location online.

Will running ipconfig change anything on my computer?

No. The ipconfig command only reads and displays information — it doesn't change any settings or configurations. You can run it as many times as you want without any risk to your computer or network.

Why do I need to know my IP address?

You might need your local IP address to set up a printer on your network, connect to a security camera, or troubleshoot a connection problem. You might need your public IP address to set up remote access to your computer or to check your location online. Most of the time you don't need either one, but when you do, Command Prompt is the quickest way to find it.

Can I find my IP address on a Mac or Linux computer?

Yes, but the command is different. On a Mac, open Terminal and type ifconfig (without the "p"). On Linux, open a terminal and type ip addr. The information displayed is similar to Windows — look for "inet" or "inet addr" followed by your IP address.

What if my IP address keeps changing?

Most home networks assign IP addresses automatically using DHCP, which means your local IP address can change when you restart your computer or router. This is normal and not a problem. If you need a device to always have the same IP address, you can set a static IP address in your network settings, but that's a separate process beyond just finding your current address.