How to Look Up Your IP Address on Any Computer

Every device connected to a network has an IP address — a numerical label that identifies it and allows data to be routed to and from it correctly. Whether you're troubleshooting a connection issue, configuring a router, setting up remote access, or just curious, knowing how to find your IP address is a fundamental networking skill. The process differs depending on your operating system and which type of IP address you're looking for.

The Two Types of IP Addresses You Might Be Looking For

Before diving into the steps, it's important to distinguish between two very different addresses — because looking up the wrong one won't solve your problem.

Local (Private) IP Address — This is the address assigned to your computer by your router within your home or office network. It's only visible to devices on the same network. Typical formats look like 192.168.x.x or 10.0.x.x.

Public (External) IP Address — This is the address your internet service provider (ISP) assigns to your network. It's what the outside world sees when your computer communicates with websites, servers, or remote systems. All devices on your home network usually share one public IP.

Most network troubleshooting tasks — like setting up port forwarding, connecting devices on the same Wi-Fi, or configuring a local server — require your local IP. Verifying your VPN, checking geo-restrictions, or helping someone access your network remotely requires your public IP.

How to Find Your IP Address on Windows 🖥️

Method 1: Settings App (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 the Properties section
5. Your local IP address appears next to IPv4 address

Method 2: Command Prompt

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

The ipconfig method also shows your subnet mask and default gateway (your router's local IP), which are useful for deeper network diagnostics.

How to Find Your IP Address on macOS

Method 1: System Settings / System Preferences

1. Click the Apple menu → System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions)
2. Navigate to Network
3. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) from the left panel
4. Your IP address is displayed directly in the connection details

Method 2: Terminal

1. Open Terminal (found in Applications → Utilities)
2. Type ipconfig getifaddr en0 for Wi-Fi, or ipconfig getifaddr en1 for Ethernet, then press Enter
3. Your local IP address prints directly to the screen

For a broader view of all network interfaces, the command ifconfig lists everything, though the output is more detailed and requires some familiarity to parse.

How to Find Your IP Address on Linux

Linux users typically work with the terminal. The most reliable command on modern distributions is:

ip addr show 

Look for your active interface (often labeled eth0 for Ethernet or wlan0 for Wi-Fi) and find the line starting with inet — that's your local IPv4 address. The older ifconfig command works on some distributions but may not be installed by default.

How to Find Your Public IP Address

Regardless of operating system, the simplest way to find your public IP is to visit a website that reflects it back to you. Searching "what is my IP" in any browser will display it immediately in the search results. Dedicated tools and network utilities also expose this, including the curl command in Terminal or Command Prompt:

curl ifconfig.me 

This returns just the public IP as plain text — useful in scripts or when working headlessly.

Understanding IPv4 vs. IPv6

You may notice two address formats when looking up your IP. IPv4 addresses use the familiar four-number format (e.g., 192.168.1.5). IPv6 addresses are longer hexadecimal strings (e.g., fe80::1a2b:3c4d:5e6f:7g8h) and represent the newer, expanded addressing standard designed to replace IPv4 as the internet runs out of available addresses.

Many networks now run both simultaneously — a configuration called dual-stack. Which version matters to you depends on what you're configuring and whether the service or device you're working with supports IPv6.

Variables That Change the Process

If a VPN is running when you check your public IP, you'll see the VPN provider's address, not your ISP's. If you're connected to multiple networks (e.g., Ethernet and Wi-Fi simultaneously), each adapter has its own local IP, and knowing which one is actively routing traffic matters for accurate results.

Static vs. Dynamic IP Addresses

Most home computers receive a dynamic local IP from the router via DHCP — meaning it can change after a reboot or lease renewal. If you're setting up something that depends on a consistent local address (like port forwarding or a local server), you may need to assign a static IP either in your router's DHCP settings or directly in your operating system's network configuration.

Your public IP is almost always dynamic unless you've specifically paid for a static public IP through your ISP — a feature more common in business plans.

The right method and the address that matters most depends entirely on what you're trying to accomplish and how your network is configured. 🔍