How to Find the IP Address of Your iPhone
Every device connected to a network has an IP address — a numerical label that identifies it on that network. Your iPhone is no exception. Whether you're troubleshooting a connection, configuring a router, setting up a local server, or just curious, knowing how to find your iPhone's IP address is a practical skill worth having.
The slightly tricky part? Your iPhone doesn't have just one IP address. It has different addresses depending on the network it's on and how you're connected. Understanding which one you need — and where to find it — changes depending on your situation.
What Is an IP Address on an iPhone?
An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a string of numbers that identifies your device on a network. Think of it like a mailing address: without it, data packets wouldn't know where to go.
Your iPhone can have two types of IP addresses active at any given time:
- Local IP address (private): Assigned by your router when you connect to Wi-Fi. It's only visible within your home or office network. Typically looks like
192.168.x.xor10.x.x.x. - Public IP address (external): Assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). It's what the outside internet sees when your device makes a request. All devices on the same network usually share one public IP.
Most people searching for "my iPhone's IP address" are looking for the local IP — the one their router assigned. But the right answer really depends on what you're trying to do.
How to Find Your iPhone's Local IP Address (Wi-Fi) 📱
This is the most straightforward method and works on every iPhone running a modern version of iOS.
- Open Settings
- Tap Wi-Fi
- Tap the ⓘ (info) icon next to the network you're connected to
- Scroll down to the IPv4 Address section
- Your IP address is listed next to IP Address
You'll typically see something like 192.168.1.45. You may also see an IPv6 address listed separately — a longer alphanumeric string. Most home networks still rely primarily on IPv4, but IPv6 is increasingly used by carriers and modern networks.
What Those Other Fields Mean
While you're on that screen, you'll also see:
| Field | What It Is |
|---|---|
| Subnet Mask | Defines the range of the local network |
| Router | Your router's local IP (often 192.168.1.1) |
| DNS | The server that translates domain names to IPs |
| IPv6 Address | The newer IP format, longer and alphanumeric |
These fields matter if you're manually configuring a static IP or adjusting network settings.
How to Find Your iPhone's Public IP Address 🌐
Your public IP isn't stored in iOS settings — it's assigned externally by your ISP and can change (unless you have a static IP plan). The easiest way to find it:
- Open Safari or any browser on your iPhone
- Search: "what is my IP address"
- Google and most search engines will display it directly at the top of results
You can also visit sites like whatismyip.com or ipinfo.io. These show your public-facing IP — the one websites and servers see when you connect.
Keep in mind: if you're connected to Wi-Fi, your iPhone's public IP is the same as every other device on that network. If you're on cellular data, your public IP is assigned by your mobile carrier and may be shared across thousands of users through carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT).
Finding Your IP Address Over Cellular
When your iPhone is on cellular (LTE/5G) instead of Wi-Fi, the IP address situation is different:
- Go to Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data Options — iOS doesn't display a cellular IP address here in plain view
- The IP assigned by your carrier is a private address within their infrastructure, and a public-facing address is mapped via CGNAT
There's no native iOS screen that cleanly displays your cellular IP. Third-party network utility apps (available on the App Store) can surface this information if you specifically need it for a technical purpose.
When You Might Need Your iPhone's IP Address
Understanding why you need the IP address helps determine which IP you're looking for:
- Setting up port forwarding: You need the local IP, and likely want to assign a static local IP through your router so it doesn't change
- Accessing your iPhone on a local network: Local IP is what you need
- Troubleshooting network conflicts: Local IP helps identify duplicate address issues
- Checking if a VPN is working: Compare your public IP before and after connecting — they should differ
- Allowlisting your IP with a service: You need your public IP
Static vs. Dynamic Local IP Addresses
By default, your router assigns your iPhone a dynamic IP via DHCP — it can change each time you reconnect. This is fine for everyday use but can cause problems if you're running something that needs to consistently find your iPhone at the same address.
You can set a static local IP in one of two ways:
- On the iPhone itself: Settings → Wi-Fi → tap ⓘ → scroll to IPv4 → tap Configure IP → choose Manual → enter your desired IP
- Through your router: Assign a DHCP reservation based on your iPhone's MAC address — this keeps the address consistent without manual configuration on the device
The router-side reservation method is generally more reliable, as it doesn't require reconfiguring the device if it joins a different network.
The Part That Depends on Your Setup
Finding your iPhone's IP address is simple on the surface — a few taps gets you there. But what you do with that information, and which type of IP address actually matters to you, depends heavily on what you're trying to accomplish.
Someone troubleshooting a smart home device needs a stable local IP. Someone verifying VPN privacy is focused on the public IP. A developer testing a local server has entirely different requirements than someone who just noticed a connection warning. The address is easy to find — the setup behind it is where individual situations start to diverge.