How to Find Your IP Address on Any Device or Network

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 router, configuring remote access, or just curious, knowing how to find your IP address is a fundamental networking skill. The process varies depending on what device you're using and which type of IP address you're looking for.

Public IP Address vs. Local IP Address: The Key Distinction

Before diving into the steps, it's worth understanding that there are two very different IP addresses most people have at any given time.

• Public IP address — This is the address your internet service provider (ISP) assigns to your network. It's what the outside internet sees when you visit websites or send data. Every device on your home or office network typically shares one public IP.
• Local (private) IP address — This is the address your router assigns to each individual device inside your network. Your laptop, phone, smart TV, and printer all get their own local IP addresses, usually in ranges like 192.168.x.x or 10.0.x.x.

Knowing which one you need matters enormously. A web server needs your public IP. Your printer setup needs your local IP. Confusing the two is one of the most common stumbling blocks in basic networking.

How to Find Your Public IP Address 🌐

This is the simplest lookup you can do, and it works on any device with a browser.

Using a browser: Navigate to any IP lookup service — search engines will often show your public IP directly if you type "what is my IP" into the search bar. Dedicated sites like those that display IP information will show your IPv4 and sometimes your IPv6 address.

Things that affect your public IP:

• If you're behind a VPN, the IP shown will belong to the VPN server, not your actual ISP
• Many ISPs assign dynamic public IPs, meaning yours may change periodically
• Some ISPs offer static public IPs, usually for an additional cost or on business plans

How to Find Your Local IP Address by Device

Windows

1. Open Command Prompt (search for cmd)
2. Type ipconfig and press Enter
3. Look for IPv4 Address under your active adapter — either "Ethernet adapter" or "Wi-Fi"

The result will look something like 192.168.1.104. You'll also see your subnet mask and default gateway (your router's local IP address).

macOS

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

Alternatively, open Terminal and type ifconfig | grep "inet " — this lists active IP addresses for all network interfaces.

Linux

Open a terminal and run ip addr show or the older ifconfig command. Look for your active network interface (often eth0 for Ethernet or wlan0 for Wi-Fi) and find the inet value beside it.

iPhone / 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 and Android version, but the general path is:

1. Open Settings
2. Go to Network & Internet → Wi-Fi
3. Tap your connected network
4. Expand Advanced or tap the network details icon
5. Your IP address is listed there

Router Admin Panel

If you want to see the local IP addresses of all devices on your network, log into your router's admin interface. This is typically accessed by entering your router's gateway address (commonly 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into a browser. Most routers have a connected devices or DHCP client list section that shows every device's name and assigned local IP.

IPv4 vs. IPv6: What You Might See

You'll often encounter two IP address formats:

Most home networks still operate primarily on IPv4 for local addressing. Your public-facing connection may show both, depending on your ISP's infrastructure.

Factors That Affect Which IP You Find

Several variables shape what you'll see when you look up an IP address:

• DHCP vs. static assignment — Most home networks use DHCP, which means your router automatically assigns local IPs that can change. Devices like printers or home servers are often given static local IPs to keep them consistent.
• VPN or proxy use — These tools mask or replace your public IP entirely
• Network type — Corporate networks, mobile data connections, and home broadband all handle IP assignment differently
• Multiple network interfaces — Laptops with both Ethernet and Wi-Fi active will have separate IPs for each; this is a common source of confusion when diagnosing issues
• Carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT) — Some ISPs, particularly mobile carriers, place many customers behind a shared public IP at the carrier level, meaning the "public" IP your router receives is still a private address in a larger NAT layer

When the Steps Above Produce Unexpected Results

Some users run ipconfig and see multiple IP addresses. Others look up their public IP and it doesn't match what their router shows. Both are normal — and expected — depending on how your network is structured, whether you use a VPN, and how your ISP handles addressing.

Understanding which IP address you actually need, and which network layer you're looking at, is where simple lookups become more nuanced. The right answer looks different for someone configuring a home media server, a remote desktop connection, a gaming port forward, or a workplace VPN — and each of those scenarios points to a different address in a different place.