How to Find Out Your IP Address on a Mac
Every device connected to a network gets assigned an IP address — a numerical label that identifies it on that network. On a Mac, you might need yours for troubleshooting connectivity issues, setting up a printer, configuring remote access, or sharing files with another device. The process is straightforward, but there's an important distinction to understand first: local IP address vs. public IP address. These are two different things, and which one you need depends entirely on what you're trying to do.
Local IP Address vs. Public IP Address
Your local IP address (also called a private IP address) is the address your router assigns to your Mac within your home or office network. It typically looks like 192.168.x.x or 10.0.x.x. This is the address other devices on your same Wi-Fi network use to communicate with your Mac.
Your public IP address is the address your internet service provider (ISP) assigns to your router. It's what the outside internet sees — websites, servers, and remote services all recognize your connection by this address. Every device on your home network shares the same public IP.
Knowing which one you need before you start saves confusion.
How to Find Your Local IP Address on a Mac
Method 1: System Settings (macOS Ventura and Later)
Apple redesigned the Settings interface in macOS Ventura (13.0), so if you're running a recent version of macOS:
- Click the Apple menu (🍎) in the top-left corner
- Select System Settings
- Click Network in the sidebar
- Select your active connection — Wi-Fi or Ethernet
- Click Details next to your connected network
- Your IP address appears under the TCP/IP tab
Method 2: System Preferences (macOS Monterey and Earlier)
On macOS Monterey (12) and older versions:
- Click the Apple menu
- Open System Preferences
- Click Network
- Select your active connection from the left panel
- Your IP address is displayed directly on the right side of the window — no extra clicks needed
Method 3: Using Terminal
If you're comfortable with the command line, Terminal gives you fast, detailed output:
- Open Terminal (found in Applications → Utilities, or via Spotlight)
- Type the following and press Enter:
ipconfig getifaddr en0 This returns your Wi-Fi IP address. If you're on Ethernet, replace en0 with en1. Not sure which interface your Mac is using? Run ifconfig for a full list of network interfaces and their assigned addresses.
Method 4: Hover Over the Wi-Fi Icon
A quick shortcut many people miss: hold the Option key and click the Wi-Fi icon in your menu bar. A dropdown appears with your IP address, router address, and other network details — no settings menu required.
How to Find Your Public IP Address on a Mac
Your Mac itself doesn't "know" its public IP — that information lives at the router level. The simplest way to find it:
- Open any browser and search "what is my IP" — search engines and services like whatismyipaddress.com display it immediately
- Or in Terminal, run:
curl ifconfig.me This returns your public IP address directly in the terminal window. 🖥️
Why Your IP Address Might Change
IP addresses on most home networks are dynamic, meaning your ISP and router assign them temporarily and can change them over time. Your local IP can change when your router reboots or when your Mac reconnects to the network. Your public IP can change based on your ISP's assignment cycles.
If you need a stable local IP — for example, to always access your Mac at the same address on your home network — you can assign a static local IP through your router's DHCP settings or through the TCP/IP tab in your Mac's Network settings by switching from DHCP to Manual.
Factors That Affect Which Method Works Best for You
| Factor | What It Changes |
|---|---|
| macOS version | System Settings vs. System Preferences layout |
| Connection type (Wi-Fi vs. Ethernet) | Which network interface to check |
| Router configuration | Whether your local IP is dynamic or static |
| Comfort with Terminal | Whether command-line methods are practical |
| Use case (local network vs. internet) | Local IP vs. public IP |
IPv4 vs. IPv6: What You Might See
Modern Macs and networks support both IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4 addresses look like 192.168.1.5 — four sets of numbers separated by dots. IPv6 addresses are longer and use hexadecimal notation, like 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334. Most local networking tasks still use IPv4, but both may appear in your network settings. If you see both listed, the relevant one depends on what the system or device you're connecting to expects. 🔍
When the IP Address You Find Doesn't Help
Finding your IP is easy — knowing which IP solves your specific problem is the harder part. Someone setting up screen sharing within a home network needs the local IP. Someone allowing a colleague to remote into their Mac from across the country needs the public IP, plus likely a static IP or a dynamic DNS service. Someone troubleshooting a failed network connection might need to check whether an IP was even successfully assigned (a result of 169.254.x.x indicates a failed DHCP lease, not a working connection).
The method and the address type that matter depend on your network setup, what you're configuring, and what the other end of the connection expects to receive.