How to Find Your Internet Address (Public IP, Local IP, and More)

Your "internet address" isn't a single thing — and that's where most of the confusion starts. Depending on what you actually need, you might be looking for your public IP address, your local (private) IP address, or even your IPv6 address. Each one lives in a different place and serves a different purpose.

Here's how to find all of them, and what they actually mean.

What Is an Internet Address?

An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a numerical label assigned to a device on a network. It's how devices identify and communicate with each other — think of it like a mailing address for data.

There are two types that most people need to know about:

These are not the same number, and they're found in completely different ways.

How to Find Your Public IP Address 🌐

Your public IP address is what the internet sees. Every device on your home network shares the same public IP — it belongs to your router, assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

The fastest method: Open any browser and search:

"what is my IP address"

Google, Bing, and most search engines will display it immediately at the top of results. Sites like whatismyip.com or ipinfo.io work the same way.

This address typically looks like:

• 203.0.113.47 (IPv4 format — four numbers separated by dots)
• 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334 (IPv6 format — longer, with colons)

Important: Your public IP can change. Most residential ISPs assign dynamic IP addresses, which means your public IP may be different today than it was last month. Businesses or users who need a stable address can request a static IP from their ISP, usually at an additional cost.

How to Find Your Local IP Address

Your local IP address identifies your specific device within your home or office network. This matters when you're setting up printers, smart home devices, port forwarding, or network troubleshooting.

On Windows

1. Open Command Prompt (search "cmd" in the Start menu)
2. Type ipconfig and press Enter
3. Look for IPv4 Address under your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)

Your local IP will typically start with 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x — these are private IP ranges reserved for internal networks.

On macOS

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions)
2. Go to Network
3. Select your active connection — the IP address is listed directly

Or open Terminal and type: ipconfig getifaddr en0 (Wi-Fi) or en1 (Ethernet).

On iPhone or iPad

1. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi
2. Tap the ℹ️ icon next to your connected network
3. Your IP address appears under the IPv4 Address section

On Android

Steps vary by manufacturer, but generally:

1. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi (or Connections)
2. Tap your connected network
3. Look for IP Address under network details — you may need to tap "Advanced"

On Linux

Open a terminal and run: hostname -I or ip addr show

IPv4 vs. IPv6 — Does It Matter?

Most home networks still use IPv4 addresses (the familiar four-number format). But IPv6 — a longer format designed to solve the address shortage — is increasingly supported by ISPs and devices.

When it matters:

• If you're troubleshooting connectivity, knowing which protocol your network prefers can be relevant
• Some services and devices behave differently over IPv6
• VPNs may expose an IPv6 address even when masking your IPv4 address — a potential IPv6 leak

For most everyday users, IPv4 is what comes up by default, and IPv6 stays invisible in the background unless you specifically look for it.

Why Your IP Address Might Look "Wrong"

A few situations that cause confusion:

• VPN or proxy active: Your public IP will show the VPN server's address, not your real one — that's intentional
• Mobile data vs. Wi-Fi: Switching networks gives your device a different public IP entirely
• Shared networks: On a workplace or public Wi-Fi, your public IP belongs to that network's router, not your device personally
• CGNAT: Some ISPs use Carrier-Grade NAT, meaning multiple customers share one public IP — you may not have a unique public address at all

What Your IP Address Reveals (and What It Doesn't)

Your public IP address can reveal your approximate geographic region — typically city-level accuracy at best. It does not reveal your precise street address, name, or personal identity in any direct way.

That said, your ISP can link your IP to your account, and websites log IP addresses as part of standard traffic data. If privacy is a concern — especially when traveling or using public networks — how much your IP address exposes depends heavily on your network setup, what services you use, and whether tools like a VPN are in the picture.

The right answer for your situation depends on exactly that: your setup, your use case, and what you're actually trying to protect or configure.