How to Find the IP Address on Your Printer

Whether you're troubleshooting a connection issue, setting up a static IP, or configuring your printer on a new network, knowing your printer's IP address is a fundamental networking task. The good news: there are several reliable ways to find it, and most take less than two minutes once you know where to look.

Why Your Printer Has an IP Address

Every device connected to a network — including your printer — gets assigned an IP address so other devices know where to send data. When you print wirelessly or over a local network, your computer routes the print job to that specific address.

Printers typically receive their IP address in one of two ways:

• Dynamic IP (DHCP): Your router automatically assigns an address each time the printer connects. This is the default for most home setups, but the address can change over time.
• Static IP: The address is manually set and stays fixed. Common in office environments where printers are shared across multiple computers.

Knowing which type your printer uses affects how you'll track down the address — and whether you'll need to check it again in the future.

Method 1: Print a Network Configuration Page 🖨️

The most universal method works across nearly every networked printer brand — print a configuration or status page directly from the printer itself.

The steps vary slightly by manufacturer, but generally:

1. On the printer's control panel, navigate to Settings, Setup, or Network Settings
2. Look for an option labeled Network Configuration, Print Info Sheet, or Wireless Summary
3. Select Print

The printed page will list the printer's IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and MAC address. This works even if the printer isn't connected to your computer — as long as it's connected to the network.

For printers without a display screen, manufacturers often build in a shortcut. On many HP models, for example, holding down the Wireless and Cancel buttons simultaneously triggers a configuration page to print.

Method 2: Check the Printer's Control Panel Display

If your printer has a touchscreen or LCD display, the IP address is usually accessible without printing anything:

1. Press the Home or Menu button
2. Navigate to Network, Wi-Fi, or Wireless Settings
3. Select Network Status or TCP/IP Settings

The current IP address will be displayed on screen. This is the fastest method when your printer has a reasonably capable interface.

Method 3: Use Your Router's Admin Panel

Your router keeps a record of every device on the network, including its assigned IP address and hostname.

1. Open a browser and type your router's gateway address — typically 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1
2. Log in with your admin credentials
3. Look for a section labeled Connected Devices, DHCP Client List, or Device List
4. Find your printer by its hostname (often the brand name) or MAC address

This method is especially useful when you can't access the printer's panel directly, or when you're managing multiple devices and want a single view of all assigned addresses.

Method 4: Find It Through Your Computer's Settings

Your operating system often stores the IP address of configured printers.

On Windows:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth & Devices → Printers & Scanners
2. Click your printer, then select Printer Properties
3. Under the Ports tab, the IP address appears in the port name or description

On macOS:

1. Go to System Settings → Printers & Scanners
2. Click your printer and select Options & Supplies
3. The IP address or hostname is listed under the General tab

This only works if the printer was added to your computer using a network (TCP/IP) connection rather than USB.

Method 5: Use the Manufacturer's Software or App

Most major printer brands — HP, Canon, Epson, Brother — offer desktop software or mobile apps that display network details for connected printers. HP's Smart app, Epson's Connect software, and Brother's iPrint&Scan tool all surface IP information within the device or network status section.

These tools can be particularly helpful if you're less comfortable navigating router panels or printer menus.

What Affects Which Method Works for You

Static vs. Dynamic: A Practical Note

If you find the IP address today and write it down, that doesn't guarantee it will be the same address next week — especially on a DHCP setup. If you're configuring software, shared access, or port forwarding rules that depend on a consistent address, it's worth either reserving the IP in your router's DHCP settings (sometimes called a DHCP reservation or address binding) or setting a static IP on the printer itself through its network settings menu.

The right approach depends on your network setup, how the printer is shared, and whether your router supports DHCP reservations — which varies across consumer and enterprise equipment. 🔧

Each of these methods surfaces the same piece of information, but which one is practical for you comes down to the printer model you have, how it's connected, and what level of access you have to the devices on your network.