Where to Find the IP Address of a Computer
Every device connected to a network has an IP address — a numerical label that identifies it on that network and allows data to travel to the right destination. Knowing where to find this address is one of those fundamental networking skills that comes up more often than most people expect: troubleshooting a connection, setting up remote access, configuring a router, or sharing files between devices on the same network.
The slightly tricky part is that "your IP address" isn't one single thing. There are two distinct types you might be looking for, and they live in completely different places.
The Two Types of IP Address You Need to Know About
Local IP address (private IP): This is the address your router assigns to your computer within your home or office network. It's only meaningful inside that network. Typical local addresses look like 192.168.x.x or 10.0.x.x.
Public IP address (external IP): This is the address your Internet Service Provider assigns to your network as a whole. It's what the wider internet sees when your computer sends or receives data. Every device on your home network shares this single public address outward.
Which one you need depends entirely on what you're trying to do. Configuring a local server or sharing files between two laptops on the same Wi-Fi? You want the local IP. Allowing a friend to connect to your computer remotely over the internet? You want the public IP.
How to Find Your Local IP Address
On Windows
The fastest method is through Command Prompt:
- Press
Windows + R, typecmd, and press Enter - Type
ipconfigand press Enter - Look for the entry labeled IPv4 Address under your active network adapter (usually listed under "Ethernet adapter" or "Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi")
Alternatively, go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) → Properties. Scroll down to find your IPv4 address listed there.
On macOS
- Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions)
- Go to Network
- Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
- Your IP address is displayed directly on that screen
You can also use Terminal: type ifconfig | grep "inet " and press Enter. Look for the address that isn't 127.0.0.1 — that one is the loopback address, not your actual network address.
On Linux 🖥️
Open a terminal and run:
ip addr show or the older command:
ifconfig Find your active network interface (typically eth0 for wired or wlan0 for wireless) and look for the inet value.
On iPhone or iPad
Go to Settings → Wi-Fi, tap the (i) icon next to your connected network, and find the IP Address field under the IPv4 Address section.
On Android
Path varies slightly by manufacturer, but generally: Settings → Wi-Fi → tap your connected network (or tap the gear/info icon). The IP address appears under network details.
How to Find Your Public IP Address
This one is straightforward regardless of your device or operating system. Your public IP is assigned to your router, not your computer directly — so your computer can't show it through the same system settings.
The simplest method: open any web browser and search for "what is my IP address". Search engines like Google will display it directly at the top of the results. You can also visit dedicated tools that show your public IP, your general location, and sometimes your ISP name.
From the command line on Windows, you can run:
nslookup myip.opendns.com resolver1.opendns.com This queries a public DNS resolver that returns your external IP.
IPv4 vs. IPv6 — Which One Matters?
Most systems now display both an IPv4 address (the familiar four-number format like 192.168.1.5) and an IPv6 address (a longer alphanumeric string like fe80::1a2b:3c4d:5e6f:7g8h). IPv6 exists because the world ran low on available IPv4 addresses. For most everyday tasks — local file sharing, basic troubleshooting — IPv4 is what you'll reference. IPv6 matters more in contexts involving ISPs, enterprise networking, or future-facing configurations.
Factors That Affect Which Address You See
| Variable | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Wired vs. wireless connection | Your device may have different local IPs for each adapter |
| DHCP vs. static assignment | Most home networks assign IPs dynamically — they can change when you reconnect |
| VPN active | A VPN replaces your public IP and may alter visible local routing |
| Multiple network adapters | Laptops with both Wi-Fi and Ethernet show separate IPs for each |
| NAT and carrier-grade NAT | Some ISPs add extra layers that affect what your "public" IP actually is |
When Your IP Address Changes
Local IPs assigned by DHCP (the default on nearly all home routers) are not permanent. Your router hands out addresses from a pool, and the same device might get a different address after reconnecting or after the router restarts. This matters if you're setting up something that needs to reach your computer consistently — like a local server or a network printer. In those cases, you'd configure a static IP either on the device itself or as a DHCP reservation in your router settings. 🔧
Public IPs are similarly dynamic for most residential internet plans. ISPs typically reassign them periodically, which is why services requiring a stable public address often use dynamic DNS (DDNS) to track changes automatically.
The Gap That Remains
Finding an IP address is a simple lookup — but knowing which IP you need, understanding whether it needs to be static, and deciding how to handle cases where it changes over time all depend on your specific setup: what operating system you're running, how your router is configured, whether a VPN is in the picture, and what you're ultimately trying to accomplish. The technical steps above are consistent across most systems, but the right approach for your situation is something only your own network configuration can answer.