How to Find Your IP Address on Any Device

Every device connected to the internet has an IP address — a numerical label that identifies it on a network. Whether you're troubleshooting a connection issue, setting up remote access, or configuring a router, knowing how to find your IP address is a fundamental networking skill. The process varies depending on your device, operating system, and whether you need your local (private) or public IP address.

Public IP vs. Local IP: Understanding the Difference 🌐

Before diving into steps, it's worth knowing there are two distinct types of IP addresses you might be looking for:

• Public IP address — This is the address your internet service provider (ISP) assigns to your network. It's visible to websites and services you connect to online. Every device on your home network shares the same public IP.
• Local (private) IP address — This is the address your router assigns to each individual device inside your network. It's only visible within your home or office network and typically follows formats like 192.168.x.x or 10.0.x.x.

Which one you need depends entirely on your task. Configuring a home server or printer? You likely need the local IP. Whitelisting your address with a remote service or VPN? You need the public one.

How to Find Your Public IP Address

The simplest method works on any device with a browser. Open any web browser and search for "what is my IP" in Google, or visit a site like whatismyip.com or ipinfo.io. Your public IP address will display at the top of the results.

This method is platform-agnostic — it works identically on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and smart TVs with browsers.

Keep in mind: If you're using a VPN, the public IP shown will belong to the VPN server, not your actual ISP-assigned address.

How to Find Your Local IP Address by Device

Windows

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

Alternatively, go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) → Properties and scroll to find the IPv4 address listed there.

macOS

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions)
2. Click Network
3. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
4. Your IP address appears directly in the panel

For a faster route, hold Option and click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar — your IP address appears in the dropdown without opening any settings.

Linux

Open a terminal and run:

ip addr show 

Look for the inet entry under your active network interface (commonly eth0 for Ethernet or wlan0 for Wi-Fi). The number before the / is your local IP address.

iPhone and iPad (iOS/iPadOS)

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

Android

Steps vary slightly by manufacturer and Android version, but generally:

1. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi
2. Tap your connected network name
3. Expand Advanced or tap the gear/edit icon
4. Your IP address is listed under network details

Some Android skins (Samsung One UI, for example) place this under Connections → Wi-Fi → [Network name] → View More.

Router Admin Page

If you need the local IP of a device that doesn't have a screen — like a smart home hub, printer, or game console — log into your router's admin interface (typically accessed at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in a browser). Most routers display a connected device list with assigned IP addresses under a section labeled DHCP clients, Connected devices, or similar.

IPv4 vs. IPv6: A Quick Note 🔢

You may notice two IP addresses listed on modern devices — one labeled IPv4 (e.g., 192.168.1.5) and one labeled IPv6 (a longer alphanumeric string like fe80::1a2b:3c4d:5e6f).

IPv4 is the traditional 32-bit format still widely used for most networking tasks. IPv6 is the newer 128-bit standard designed to handle the growing number of internet-connected devices. For most everyday purposes — like troubleshooting or local network configuration — IPv4 is what you'll reference. Some services and configurations, however, increasingly require or prefer IPv6 awareness.

Factors That Affect Which IP You See

Finding an IP address sounds straightforward, but a few variables can produce unexpected results:

Dynamic IPs — assigned automatically by DHCP — are the default for most home networks. This means your local IP address isn't permanently fixed and can change when a device reconnects or the router reboots. If your use case requires a consistent address (running a local server, for example), your router likely has a DHCP reservation feature that locks a specific IP to a specific device's MAC address.

When the Method That Works Depends on Your Setup

The steps above cover the most common scenarios, but the right approach shifts depending on your operating system version, network configuration, and what you're actually trying to accomplish. A user troubleshooting a home printer on Windows 11 is working with a different set of variables than someone setting up remote SSH access on a Linux server — even if both are technically "finding an IP address." What you need the address for shapes which type matters, where to look, and whether a dynamic address is even sufficient for your purpose.