How to Find Your IP Address on a Mac Computer

Every device connected to a network has an IP address — a numerical label that identifies it on that network. On a Mac, you might need this information for troubleshooting a slow connection, setting up a printer, configuring a VPN, enabling remote access, or just satisfying plain curiosity. The good news: macOS gives you several ways to find it, and which method makes the most sense depends on what you're actually trying to do.

What Kind of IP Address Are You Looking For?

Before diving into steps, it's worth understanding that your Mac likely has more than one IP address at any given time — and they serve different purposes.

• Local IP address (private): This is the address your router assigns to your Mac within your home or office network. It usually starts with 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, or 172.16.x.x. Other devices on the same network use this to communicate with your Mac.
• Public IP address (external): This is the address the wider internet sees — assigned by your ISP to your router, and shared by every device on your network. It's what websites log when you visit them.

Most troubleshooting scenarios on a home network involve the local IP. Situations like checking whether a website can see your real location involve the public IP.

Method 1: Find Your Local IP Address in System Settings 🖥️

This is the most straightforward method for everyday use.

On macOS Ventura or later:

1. Click the Apple menu (top-left corner) and select System Settings
2. Click Network in the sidebar
3. Select your active connection — Wi-Fi or Ethernet
4. Your IP address appears listed directly on that screen

On macOS Monterey or earlier:

1. Open System Preferences from the Apple menu
2. Click Network
3. Select your active connection from the left panel
4. Your IP address displays on the right side of the window

This method shows your IPv4 address (and sometimes your IPv6 address) for the selected network interface. If you're connected to both Wi-Fi and Ethernet simultaneously, each connection will have its own separate IP address.

Method 2: Use the Terminal for More Detail

If you're comfortable with the command line, Terminal gives you faster access and more information in one place.

1. Open Terminal (find it in Applications → Utilities, or search with Spotlight using ⌘ + Space)
2. Type the following command and press Return:

ifconfig | grep "inet " 

You'll see output listing IP addresses for all active network interfaces. Look for the line associated with en0 (typically Wi-Fi) or en1 (typically Ethernet). The number after inet is your local IP address. Ignore 127.0.0.1 — that's your loopback address, used internally by your Mac and not relevant to networking.

For a cleaner result focused on Wi-Fi specifically, you can run:

ipconfig getifaddr en0 

This prints just the IP address for your Wi-Fi interface, nothing else.

Method 3: Check Via the Wi-Fi Menu Bar Icon

For a quick glance without opening any settings:

1. Hold the Option (⌥) key and click the Wi-Fi icon in your menu bar
2. A detailed dropdown appears showing your IP address, router address, and other network details right there

This works well when you just need a fast reference and don't want to navigate through menus.

Method 4: Find Your Public IP Address

Your public IP is not visible inside macOS network settings — it's managed by your router and ISP. To find it, the simplest approach is to open any browser and search:

"what is my IP address"

Google and many other search engines display it directly at the top of results. Alternatively, websites like ipinfo.io or whatismyip.com show your public IP along with general location data associated with it.

Keep in mind: your public IP address can change. Most residential ISPs assign dynamic public IPs, meaning they can reassign a different address when your router restarts or after a certain time period. Businesses that need a consistent public address typically pay for a static IP.

The Variables That Affect Which IP You See

If you're using a VPN, your public IP will appear as the VPN server's address — not your ISP's. Your local IP remains unchanged. This distinction matters when diagnosing connectivity issues or verifying whether a VPN is functioning.

When Local vs. Public IP Matters

Setting up port forwarding, remote desktop access, or a local server typically requires your local IP. Checking whether streaming services see your actual location, or verifying your VPN is working, requires your public IP. Using the wrong one for the task is a common source of confusion — and usually the reason a configuration that "should work" doesn't.

The method that makes the most sense for your situation depends on what you're trying to accomplish, which interface your Mac is using, and whether your network involves a VPN or more complex routing setup. 🔍