How to Find the IP Address of Your Laptop

Every device connected to a network has an IP address — a numerical label that identifies it and allows it to communicate with other devices and services. Whether you're troubleshooting a connection, setting up a printer, configuring remote access, or just curious, knowing how to find your laptop's IP address is a fundamental networking skill. The process varies depending on your operating system and which type of IP address you're looking for.

Two Types of IP Addresses: Local vs. Public

Before diving into steps, it's important to understand that your laptop actually has two different IP addresses at any given time:

• Local IP address (Private IP): Assigned by your router. This identifies your laptop within your home or office network. Other devices on the same Wi-Fi can see this address.
• Public IP address: Assigned by your Internet Service Provider. This is how your entire network appears to the outside internet. Every device on your home network shares the same public IP.

Most troubleshooting tasks — like setting up a local server, connecting a printer, or configuring remote desktop — require your local IP. Checking your public IP is useful for things like VPN verification or accessing your home network remotely.

How to Find Your IP Address on Windows 💻

Method 1: Using Settings

1. Open Settings (Windows key + I)
2. Go to Network & Internet
3. Click Wi-Fi (or Ethernet if wired)
4. Select your active connection
5. Scroll down to find IPv4 address

Method 2: Using Command Prompt

1. Press Windows key + R, type cmd, and hit Enter
2. Type ipconfig and press Enter
3. Look for IPv4 Address under your active adapter (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)

The ipconfig command also shows your subnet mask and default gateway, which are useful for more advanced network configuration.

Method 3: Via Network & Sharing Center

Right-click the network icon in the taskbar → Open Network & Internet settings → Change adapter options → Double-click your active connection → Details. Your IPv4 address appears in the list.

How to Find Your IP Address on macOS

Using System Preferences / System Settings

1. Click the Apple menu → System Preferences (or System Settings on macOS Ventura and later)
2. Go to Network
3. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) on the left
4. Your IP address is displayed directly on the right panel

Using Terminal

1. Open Terminal (found in Applications → Utilities)
2. Type ifconfig | grep "inet " and press Enter
3. Look for the IP starting with 192.168, 10., or 172.16–31 — these are your private/local IP ranges

How to Find Your IP Address on Linux

Open a terminal and run:

ip addr show 

or the older command:

ifconfig 

Your local IP appears next to inet under your active interface — typically labeled eth0 (Ethernet) or wlan0 (Wi-Fi).

How to Find Your Public IP Address (Any OS) 🌐

The simplest method works on any operating system and any browser:

• Open a browser and search "what is my IP" in Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo — your public IP displays at the top of results
• Or visit a dedicated site like whatismyipaddress.com or ipinfo.io

This reflects the IP your ISP assigned to your router, not the laptop specifically.

IPv4 vs. IPv6: What You Might See

Modern networks often assign both an IPv4 and an IPv6 address to a device:

For most everyday tasks — printing, file sharing, remote desktop — you'll use the IPv4 address. IPv6 is increasingly relevant for public internet traffic but rarely needed for local configuration work.

Why Your IP Address Changes

Your local IP address is typically assigned dynamically via DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). This means your router hands out IP addresses automatically, and they can change — especially after a router restart or when a device reconnects. If you need your laptop to always have the same local IP (for running a local server or port forwarding), you'd configure a static IP either through your laptop's network settings or by setting up a DHCP reservation in your router's admin panel.

Your public IP can also change unless your ISP provides a static IP (usually a business-tier service).

Factors That Affect Which Method Works Best

Not all methods are equally accessible depending on your situation:

• OS version matters — the exact menu paths in Windows 10 vs. Windows 11 vs. macOS Sonoma differ slightly
• Connection type matters — Wi-Fi and Ethernet adapters are listed separately; make sure you're checking the active one
• Network configuration matters — VPNs add a virtual network adapter with its own IP, which can complicate what you see in ipconfig or ifconfig
• Technical comfort level — command-line methods are faster for experienced users; Settings menus are more straightforward for everyone else

A laptop connected to a VPN, for example, will show multiple IP addresses — one for the physical adapter, one for the VPN tunnel — and which one matters depends entirely on what you're trying to accomplish.