How to Find the IP Address of Your PC

Every device connected to a network has an IP address — a numerical label that identifies it on that network. Whether you're troubleshooting a connection issue, setting up remote access, configuring a router, or just curious, knowing how to find your PC's IP address is a fundamental networking skill. The process differs depending on your operating system, the type of IP address you need, and where that address is being used.

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

An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique identifier assigned to a device on a network. Think of it like a mailing address — without one, other devices wouldn't know where to send data.

There are two types you'll encounter on a typical PC:

• Private IP address — the address your PC has within your local network (home, office, etc.), assigned by your router. This is what other devices on the same Wi-Fi or Ethernet network use to talk to your PC.
• Public IP address — the address your entire network uses when communicating with the internet. This is assigned by your ISP and is shared across all devices on your connection.

These two addresses serve very different purposes, which is why finding the right one matters depending on your goal. 🎯

How to Find Your Private IP Address on Windows

Your private (local) IP address is the one most often needed for tasks like setting up a printer, configuring a game server, or accessing a shared folder.

Method 1: Using Settings (Windows 10 and 11)

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet
2. Click on Wi-Fi or Ethernet, depending on your connection
3. Select your active network connection
4. Scroll down to find the IPv4 address

Method 2: Using the Command Prompt

This method works across most versions of Windows:

1. Press Windows + R, type cmd, and hit Enter
2. In the command prompt, type ipconfig and press Enter
3. Look for the section labeled with your active adapter (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
4. Your IPv4 Address is listed there — typically starting with 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x

The ipconfig output also shows your subnet mask and default gateway (your router's address), which are useful for network configuration tasks.

Method 3: Through the Network & Sharing Center (Control Panel)

1. Open Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center
2. Click on your active connection name
3. Click Details to see the IPv4 address

How to Find Your Private IP Address on macOS

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions) → Network
2. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) from the sidebar
3. Your IP address is displayed on the right — or click Details for the full breakdown

Alternatively, open Terminal and type:

ifconfig | grep "inet " 

Look for an address starting with 192.168, 10., or 172.16–31 — these are private IP ranges.

How to Find Your Public IP Address 🌐

Your public IP address isn't visible through system settings — it lives at the network level, not the device level. The simplest way to find it:

• Open a browser and search "what is my IP" — Google will display it directly in the results
• Visit a site like whatismyip.com or ipinfo.io

Your public IP is what remote services, websites, and anyone outside your local network sees when your PC communicates online.

IPv4 vs. IPv6: Which One Are You Looking At?

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

For most everyday tasks — setting up port forwarding, connecting devices locally, or troubleshooting — you'll be working with the IPv4 address. IPv6 becomes more relevant when your ISP or network infrastructure is configured to prioritize it.

Factors That Affect Which IP Address You See

Not all IP address lookups return the same result, and several variables influence what you find:

• Connection type — Wi-Fi and Ethernet adapters each get their own IP address. If your PC uses both, ipconfig will show multiple adapters
• DHCP vs. static assignment — Most home networks use DHCP, which means your router automatically assigns an IP that can change. A static IP is manually set and stays fixed — common in business environments or when running a local server
• VPN usage — If a VPN is active, your public IP will reflect the VPN server's location, not your actual ISP-assigned address. Your private IP remains local
• Network configuration — Corporate networks, university networks, or networks behind multiple routers can add complexity, sometimes layering private address ranges
• Virtual machines or containers — If you run virtualization software like VMware or Hyper-V, those environments create their own virtual network adapters with separate IP addresses

When the Same Method Returns Different Results

It's common to run ipconfig and see several entries — especially on laptops with Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth adapters, and virtual network interfaces all listed. The active adapter connected to your network is the one that matters. Look for an IPv4 address that isn't in the 169.254.x.x range — that range indicates a link-local address, which means the device failed to get an address from a DHCP server.

Your situation — whether you're on a home network, a managed corporate environment, running a VPN, or using virtualization — determines which IP address is relevant and how straightforward the lookup actually is.