How to Look Up Your IP Address on Windows

Knowing your IP address is one of those basic networking tasks that comes up more often than you'd expect — whether you're setting up a home server, troubleshooting a connection issue, configuring a router, or giving remote access to a tech support contact. Windows gives you several ways to find it, and which method works best depends on how comfortable you are with the operating system and exactly what kind of IP address you need.

What Kind of IP Address Are You Looking For?

Before diving into the steps, it's worth understanding that "IP address" on Windows can mean two different things, and mixing them up leads to confusion.

• Local (Private) IP address — This is the address your router assigns to your Windows PC on your home or office network. It typically looks like 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x. Other devices on the same network use this to communicate with your computer.
• Public (External) IP address — This is the address your internet service provider (ISP) assigns to your network. Websites and services on the internet see this address, not your local one.

Most Windows-based lookup methods return your local IP address. Finding your public IP requires a different approach entirely.

Method 1: Using Settings (No Command Line Needed) 🖥️

This is the most straightforward route for everyday users on Windows 10 or Windows 11.

1. Open Settings (press Windows key + I)
2. Go to Network & Internet
3. Click on Wi-Fi or Ethernet, depending on your connection type
4. Select your active network connection
5. Scroll down to the Properties section

You'll see your IPv4 address listed there, along with your subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS servers.

On Windows 11, the path is slightly more direct — click the network name shown at the top of the Network & Internet page, and the details appear immediately.

Method 2: Using the Command Prompt with ipconfig

ipconfig is a classic Windows networking command that's been around for decades and still works perfectly on modern systems.

1. Press Windows key + R, type cmd, and press Enter
2. In the Command Prompt window, type:

ipconfig 

3. Press Enter

You'll see output broken into sections for each network adapter (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, virtual adapters, etc.). Look for the adapter you're actively using and find the line labeled IPv4 Address.

For a more complete picture — including DNS servers, DHCP status, and lease information — use:

ipconfig /all 

This is especially useful when troubleshooting, as it shows whether your IP was assigned automatically via DHCP or set manually as a static IP.

Understanding the Output

Method 3: Using PowerShell

PowerShell offers a cleaner, more scriptable alternative to ipconfig for users comfortable with it.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (or Terminal on Windows 11)
2. Type the following and press Enter:

Get-NetIPAddress -AddressFamily IPv4 

This returns a formatted list of all active IPv4 addresses on your machine. You can filter it further if you want only your primary adapter's address.

Method 4: Through the Control Panel (Older Approach)

On systems where the Settings app feels unfamiliar or for users on Windows 7 or Windows 8, the Control Panel route still works:

1. Open Control Panel
2. Go to Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center
3. Click on your active connection (shown next to "Connections:")
4. In the status window, click Details

Your IPv4 address appears in the Network Connection Details panel.

Finding Your Public IP Address on Windows 🌐

None of the above methods reveal your public IP address — the one the wider internet sees. For that, your options are:

• Open a browser and search "what is my IP" — search engines like Google display it directly at the top of results
• Visit a site like whatismyipaddress.com or ipinfo.io — these show your public IP alongside location and ISP details
• Use PowerShell with a web request:

(Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://api.ipify.org").Content 

This fetches your public IP directly in the terminal without opening a browser.

IPv4 vs. IPv6 — Which One Do You Need?

Most home networking tasks and troubleshooting scenarios involve IPv4, the familiar four-part numeric format. IPv6 is the newer standard using longer alphanumeric addresses, and Windows supports both simultaneously through a system called dual-stack networking.

If someone asks for your IP address in a networking or remote access context and doesn't specify, they almost always mean IPv4.

Variables That Affect What You See

The IP address Windows reports will differ based on several factors:

• Wired vs. wireless connection — your Ethernet and Wi-Fi adapters may each have different local IPs
• VPN usage — an active VPN creates a virtual adapter with its own IP, and may change your public IP entirely
• DHCP vs. static configuration — DHCP-assigned addresses can change when your lease renews; static addresses don't
• Multiple network adapters — laptops with Bluetooth, docking station ports, or virtual machine software may show several adapters in ipconfig output
• Windows version — the Settings path and available tools vary slightly between Windows 7, 10, and 11

A machine that's connected to a corporate VPN, running a virtual machine, and using both Wi-Fi and Ethernet simultaneously can show half a dozen IP addresses at once — each technically correct for its own adapter and context. Knowing which one you actually need comes down to understanding what you're trying to accomplish with it.