How to Find Your IP Address on a PC (Every Method Explained)

Your IP address is one of the most fundamental pieces of information about your network connection — and yet most people have no idea where to find it. Whether you're troubleshooting a connection issue, setting up remote access, configuring a router, or just curious, knowing how to locate your IP address on a Windows PC is a genuinely useful skill. The tricky part? There's more than one IP address to think about, and the right one to look for depends entirely on what you're trying to do.

What Is an IP Address, and Why Does It Matter?

An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a numerical label assigned to any device connected to a network. It works like a mailing address — it tells other devices and servers where to send data.

On a typical home or office PC, you'll encounter two distinct types:

• Local IP address (Private IP): The address your router assigns to your PC within your home or office network. Usually starts with 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, or 172.16.x.x.
• Public IP address (External IP): The address your internet service provider (ISP) assigns to your entire network. This is what websites and online services see when you connect.

These are not the same number, and using the wrong one for the wrong task is one of the most common mistakes people make when following networking guides.

How to Find Your Local IP Address on Windows 🖥️

Method 1: Settings App (Windows 10 and 11)

This is the most beginner-friendly approach:

1. Open Settings (Windows key + I)
2. Go to Network & Internet
3. Click on your active connection — either Wi-Fi or Ethernet
4. Click on the network name or Hardware properties
5. Scroll down to find IPv4 address

Your local IP address will be listed there alongside your subnet mask and default gateway.

Method 2: Command Prompt with ipconfig

This is the fastest method and works on every version of Windows:

1. Press Windows key + R, type cmd, and hit Enter
2. In the Command Prompt window, type ipconfig and press Enter
3. Look for your active adapter (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
4. Find the line labeled IPv4 Address

The output also shows your Default Gateway (your router's local IP) and Subnet Mask, which are useful for more advanced networking tasks.

Method 3: Network & Sharing Center (Older Windows Versions)

For Windows 7 or earlier setups still in use:

1. Right-click the network icon in the system tray
2. Open Network and Sharing Center
3. Click on your active connection
4. Select Details
5. Your IPv4 address appears in the list

Method 4: PowerShell

PowerShell gives you more control and cleaner output for advanced users:

1. Right-click the Start button and open Windows PowerShell
2. Type Get-NetIPAddress -AddressFamily IPv4 and press Enter
3. Look for the IP under your active adapter name

How to Find Your Public IP Address

Your public IP is not accessible through Windows settings — it's assigned by your ISP and visible only from outside your network. The simplest methods:

• Search "what is my IP" in any browser — Google and most search engines display it instantly
• Visit a site like whatismyip.com or ipinfo.io — these show your public IP along with location data associated with it

Keep in mind: your public IP can change. Most residential ISPs assign dynamic IP addresses, meaning your public IP may be different after a router restart or after a set lease period. Business plans often offer static IP addresses that don't change — relevant if you're hosting a server or service.

IPv4 vs. IPv6 — Which One Do You Need?

Most guides and tools still reference IPv4. If you see both listed under ipconfig, use the IPv4 address unless specifically told otherwise.

Variables That Affect Which IP to Use 🔍

Finding the IP is straightforward. Knowing which IP applies to your situation is where things get more nuanced:

• Remote desktop or LAN gaming: You need the local IP of the target PC
• Port forwarding or server hosting: You need both — local IP for the router configuration, public IP for external access
• VPN users: Your apparent public IP will be the VPN server's IP, not your ISP's
• Multiple network adapters: Laptops with both Wi-Fi and Ethernet will show multiple IP addresses in ipconfig — one per active adapter
• DHCP vs. static local IP: If your router uses DHCP (the default for most), your PC's local IP may change over time unless you assign a static one

When Your IP Address Isn't What You Expect

A few situations that cause confusion:

• 169.254.x.x addresses: This is an APIPA address, meaning Windows couldn't reach a DHCP server. It usually signals a network configuration problem.
• Multiple IPv4 entries in ipconfig: Normal if you have virtual adapters (from VPNs, virtual machines, or VMware/Hyper-V installations)
• Public and local IPs look the same: Shouldn't happen on a standard home network — if they match, you may be on a network without NAT, which is unusual for residential setups

The method for finding your IP is consistent across Windows versions. What varies significantly is what to do with that IP once you have it — and that depends entirely on your network setup, what you're trying to accomplish, and whether you're working inside or outside your local network.