Where to Find Your IP Address on Your Computer

Your IP address is one of those pieces of information that you rarely think about — until you suddenly need it. Whether you're setting up a home network, troubleshooting a connection issue, configuring remote access, or just curious, knowing where to find it is a basic but genuinely useful skill. The slightly tricky part: there's more than one IP address to be aware of, and where you look depends on which one you actually need.

What Is an IP Address, Really?

An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a numerical label assigned to any device connected to a network. It works like a mailing address — it tells other devices and servers where to send data so it reaches the right destination.

There are two distinct types you'll encounter on any computer:

• Local IP address (also called a private IP address): This is the address your router assigns to your device on your home or office network. It's only meaningful within that network — no one on the internet can reach you directly using this address.
• Public IP address: This is the address your internet service provider (ISP) assigns to your entire network. When you visit a website, the site sees this address, not your local one.

Both are legitimately called "your IP address," but they serve different purposes. Knowing which one you need is the first step.

🖥️ How to Find Your Local IP Address on Windows

Windows gives you a few ways to locate your local IP address depending on how comfortable you are with system tools.

Using Settings (Windows 10/11):

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet
2. Click on Wi-Fi or Ethernet depending on your connection
3. Select the active network and look for IPv4 address

Using Command Prompt:

1. Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Enter
2. Type ipconfig and press Enter
3. Look for the IPv4 Address under your active adapter (Wireless or Ethernet)

The ipconfig method is fast and reliable. You'll also see the Subnet Mask and Default Gateway (your router's local address), which are useful in networking contexts.

🍎 How to Find Your Local IP Address on macOS

Using System Settings / System Preferences:

1. Click the Apple menu → System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS)
2. Go to Network
3. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) — your IP address is displayed directly

Using Terminal:

1. Open Terminal (found in Applications → Utilities)
2. Type ifconfig | grep "inet " and press Enter
3. The address starting with 192.168, 10., or 172.16–31 is your local IP

macOS also shows IP information in the Wi-Fi menu if you hold the Option key while clicking the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar — a quick shortcut worth knowing.

Finding Your Local IP on Linux

Linux users typically use the terminal. The command ip addr show or the older ifconfig will display all network interfaces and their assigned addresses. Look for the inet value under your active interface (eth0, wlan0, enp3s0, etc. — naming varies by distribution and hardware).

Desktop environments like GNOME and KDE also expose IP details in Network Settings, usually accessible from the system tray or settings panel.

How to Find Your Public IP Address

Your public IP address isn't stored in your computer's network settings in an obvious way — it's assigned at the router/ISP level. The most straightforward method is simply visiting a site that echoes it back to you:

• Search "what is my IP" in any browser — Google displays it instantly at the top of results
• Services like whatismyip.com or ipinfo.io show your public IP along with additional details like general location and ISP

Your public IP address can be dynamic (changes periodically, which is standard for most home connections) or static (fixed, typically a paid option through your ISP, used for servers and business applications).

IPv4 vs. IPv6 — Which One Are You Looking At?

When you find your IP address, you may see two formats:

Most home networks primarily operate on IPv4 for local addressing. IPv6 is being rolled out at the ISP and internet infrastructure level but may also appear on your local adapter. For most everyday tasks like network troubleshooting or device configuration, the IPv4 address is what people typically need.

Variables That Affect What You Find

Several factors shape the IP address situation on any given computer:

• Connection type — wired (Ethernet) and wireless (Wi-Fi) interfaces each get their own local IP, so a laptop connected to both simultaneously will have two local addresses
• Operating system and version — the exact steps and menu labels differ across Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS Ventura vs. Sonoma, and Linux distributions
• Router configuration — most routers use DHCP to auto-assign local IPs, but some networks use static assignments, meaning your device may always receive the same local address
• VPN usage — if a VPN is active, your apparent public IP address will reflect the VPN server's location, not your actual ISP-assigned address
• Network environment — corporate, university, and enterprise networks often use different IP ranges and may layer additional networking infrastructure that changes what addresses are visible to your device

How you interpret and use your IP address — whether you're port-forwarding, setting up a NAS, diagnosing connectivity problems, or just checking for a security reason — depends entirely on what kind of network you're on and what you're actually trying to accomplish.