Where Is My IP Address on My Computer? How to Find It on Any Device

Every device connected to a network has an IP address — a numerical label that identifies it and allows data to travel to the right place. But "finding your IP address" isn't always straightforward, because there are actually two different IP addresses at play, and locating either one depends heavily on your operating system and setup.

The Two IP Addresses You Need to Know About

Before you go looking, it's worth understanding what you're actually looking for.

Your local (private) IP address is the address your router assigns to your device within your home or office network. It typically looks like 192.168.x.x or 10.0.x.x. This address is only visible inside your network — no one on the internet sees it.

Your public IP address is the address the rest of the internet sees. It's assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to your router, and every device on your network shares it externally. If you're troubleshooting remote access, setting up a server, or checking whether a VPN is working, this is usually the number you need.

Most "where is my IP address" questions are asking about one or the other — and the answer looks completely different depending on which one you mean.

How to Find Your Local IP Address

On Windows

The fastest method is through the Command Prompt:

1. Press Windows Key + R, type cmd, and hit Enter
2. Type ipconfig and press Enter
3. Look for IPv4 Address under your active connection (Ethernet or Wi-Fi)

You can also navigate to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) → click your connection → Properties and scroll to find the IPv4 address listed there.

On macOS

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions)
2. Click Network
3. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
4. Your IP address appears directly on that screen

Alternatively, open Terminal and type ifconfig | grep inet — your local address will appear next to inet on the relevant interface line.

On Linux

Open a terminal and run:

or the older command:

Look for inet followed by a number in the 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x range under your active network interface (often labeled eth0 for Ethernet or wlan0 for Wi-Fi).

On iPhone or iPad

Go to Settings → Wi-Fi → tap the (i) icon next to your connected network. Your IP address appears under the IPv4 Address section.

On Android

Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → tap your connected network. Depending on your Android version and manufacturer, the IP address may appear under "Advanced" or directly on the network detail screen.

How to Find Your Public IP Address 🌐

This one's much simpler regardless of what device you're on. Open any browser and search:

Google will display it directly at the top of the results. Alternatively, sites like ipinfo.io or ifconfig.me show your public IP immediately on load.

You can also find it via the command line:

• Windows/macOS/Linux: curl ifconfig.me in a terminal or command prompt returns your public IP as plain text

Note that if you're using a VPN, both your public IP and potentially your apparent location will reflect the VPN server, not your actual ISP connection.

IPv4 vs. IPv6: Which One Are You Seeing?

Modern networks often assign both an IPv4 address (e.g., 192.168.1.5) and an IPv6 address (e.g., fe80::1a2b:3c4d:5e6f:7g8h) to the same device. IPv6 is the newer standard designed to handle the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses globally.

For most everyday purposes — sharing your IP for remote desktop, gaming, or network troubleshooting — IPv4 is typically what's being asked for.

Factors That Affect What You Find

Not every IP address lookup produces a clean, obvious result. Several variables shape what you'll see:

• DHCP vs. static assignment: Most home networks use Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), meaning your router assigns a local IP automatically — and it can change. Businesses or servers often use static IPs that never change.
• Multiple network interfaces: Laptops with both Wi-Fi and Ethernet adapters will show a different IP for each. Virtual machine software (like VMware or VirtualBox) can add additional virtual interfaces, making ipconfig or ifconfig output longer and harder to read.
• VPN software: A VPN creates a virtual network adapter, which may appear as a separate IP entirely — and may route your traffic so that your "public" IP reflects the VPN endpoint, not your home connection.
• Mobile hotspots and tethering: If your laptop is connected through a phone's hotspot, the IP structure may differ from a typical home router setup.
• Carrier-grade NAT: Some ISPs — particularly mobile carriers — place many customers behind a single public IP using carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT). In this case, even your "public" IP may not be uniquely yours.

What Your IP Address Actually Tells Someone

Your public IP address can reveal your approximate geographic region and your ISP — but not your exact address, name, or identity without additional legal steps. It's a network identifier, not a personal profile. That said, it's still worth being mindful of where and why you share it, particularly in peer-to-peer gaming or file-sharing contexts where your IP becomes visible to other participants.

How meaningful your IP address is — and which one you actually need — depends entirely on what you're trying to accomplish with it.