How to View Your IP Address on Any Device

Every device connected to the internet has an IP address — a unique numerical label that identifies it on a network. Whether you're troubleshooting a connection issue, setting up remote access, or just curious, knowing how to find your IP address is a fundamental networking skill. The tricky part is that "your IP address" can mean two different things depending on context, and finding it varies by device and operating system.

Public IP Address vs. Local IP Address 🌐

Before diving into the steps, it's worth understanding the distinction — because these are genuinely different numbers that serve different purposes.

Your public IP address is assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and is what the outside world sees when your device communicates over the internet. Every device on your home or office network shares the same public IP.

Your local (private) IP address is assigned by your router and identifies your specific device within your local network. Devices on the same Wi-Fi or Ethernet network each have their own local IP — typically in ranges like 192.168.x.x or 10.0.x.x.

Knowing which one you need determines where to look.

How to Find Your Public IP Address

This is the simplest method regardless of device or operating system.

Open any web browser and search for "what is my IP" or visit any IP lookup site. The page will immediately display your current public IP address. This works on phones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs — anything with a browser and internet access.

Your public IP address can change over time unless your ISP has assigned you a static IP. Most residential connections use dynamic IPs, meaning the address can change when your router reconnects or after a set lease period.

How to Find Your Local IP Address by Operating System

Windows

Method 1 — Settings:

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet
2. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
3. Click Properties and scroll to the IPv4 address field

Method 2 — Command Prompt:

1. Press Windows + R, type cmd, hit Enter
2. Type ipconfig and press Enter
3. Look for IPv4 Address under your active adapter

macOS

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions)
2. Go to Network
3. Select your active connection and the IP address appears in the details panel

Alternatively, open Terminal and type ifconfig | grep "inet " to see all active addresses.

iPhone and iPad (iOS/iPadOS)

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

Note: iOS only displays the local IP for Wi-Fi connections this way. Cellular connections don't expose a traditional local IP through the Settings menu.

Android

Steps vary slightly by manufacturer and Android version, but the general path is:

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet (or Connections)
2. Tap Wi-Fi, then tap your connected network
3. Look for IP address in the network details

Some Android skins (Samsung One UI, for example) show this under Advanced within the network details screen.

Linux

Open a terminal and run:

• ip addr show — displays all network interfaces and their assigned addresses
• hostname -I — returns just the IP addresses in a simple format

The output includes both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses for each interface.

IPv4 vs. IPv6: A Quick Note 🔢

You may notice two types of addresses listed on modern systems. IPv4 addresses look like 192.168.1.5 — four groups of numbers separated by dots. IPv6 addresses are longer, using hexadecimal notation like fe80::1a2b:3c4d:5e6f:7g8h.

IPv6 was developed because the world was running out of IPv4 addresses. Many networks now use both simultaneously (called dual-stack), which is why your device might display multiple IP entries. For most everyday tasks — like troubleshooting or setting up a local server — the IPv4 address is what you'll typically reference.

Factors That Affect Which Address You See

Several variables determine what you find when you look up your IP:

• Connection type: Wired (Ethernet) and wireless (Wi-Fi) adapters each get their own local IP. A laptop connected to both simultaneously will have two local addresses.
• VPN usage: If a VPN is active, your public IP will reflect the VPN server's address, not your ISP's. Your local IP stays the same.
• Network configuration: Corporate and enterprise networks often use more complex subnetting, so local IP ranges may look different from a typical home setup.
• DHCP vs. static assignment: Most home routers assign local IPs automatically via DHCP. Some users configure static local IPs to keep the address consistent — useful for home servers or networked printers.
• Mobile data vs. Wi-Fi: On a cellular connection, your device sits behind your carrier's network infrastructure, and local IP exposure works differently than on a traditional Wi-Fi network.

When You Need the IP Address Matters Too

Someone checking their IP to verify a VPN is working needs the public address. Someone setting up port forwarding on their router needs the local address. Someone configuring a networked printer needs the printer's local IP. Someone accessing their home computer remotely might need both.

The method that's most useful depends entirely on what you're trying to accomplish and how your network is structured — which isn't always obvious until you're already in the middle of diagnosing something.