How to Find the IP Address of Your Printer

Whether you're troubleshooting a connection issue, setting up a static address, or adding your printer to a new device, knowing your printer's IP address is a fundamental networking task. The good news: there are several reliable ways to find it, and most don't require any special tools.

Why Your Printer Has an IP Address

When a printer connects to a network — either via Wi-Fi or Ethernet — your router assigns it an IP address using DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). This address identifies the printer on your local network, allowing computers, phones, and tablets to send print jobs to the right device.

Most home and office printers receive a dynamic IP address, meaning it can change each time the printer reconnects to the network. That's worth knowing upfront, because an IP address you find today may not be the same one next week unless you configure a static address.

Method 1: Print a Configuration Page Directly From the Printer 🖨️

The fastest and most reliable method — regardless of your operating system — is printing a network configuration page or network status sheet directly from the printer itself.

Most printers support this through the control panel:

• On printers with a display screen, navigate to Settings → Network or Wireless Settings → Network Status
• On basic printers with few buttons, holding the Wi-Fi or Resume button for several seconds often triggers a test page
• The printed page will list the printer's IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and MAC address

Check your printer's manual or the manufacturer's support page if you're not sure which button combination applies to your model.

Method 2: Check Through Windows Settings

On a Windows PC that's already connected to the printer:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners
2. Click your printer's name
3. Select Printer properties
4. Navigate to the Ports tab
5. Look for a port with an IP address format (e.g., 192.168.1.x) — that's the printer's current IP

Alternatively, open the Control Panel → Devices and Printers, right-click your printer, and select Printer properties to find the same port information.

Method 3: Check Through macOS

On a Mac:

1. Open System Settings → Printers & Scanners
2. Select your printer from the list
3. The printer's IP address may appear under the printer name, or you can click Options & Supplies to see the connection details

For network printers, macOS often shows the address in the format IP_x.x.x.x or lists the full address in the Location or Address field.

Method 4: Use Your Router's Admin Interface

Your router keeps a list of every device connected to the network. To access it:

1. Open a browser and type your router's gateway address (commonly 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into the address bar
2. Log in with your router credentials
3. Look for a section labeled Connected Devices, DHCP Client List, or Device List
4. Find your printer by its name or MAC address — the IP address will be listed alongside it

This method is especially useful when you can't interact with the printer directly, or when the printer has no display.

Method 5: Use the Printer's Built-In Web Interface

Many modern network printers host a small embedded web server (EWS). If you already have a rough idea of the IP range your network uses, you can sometimes access the printer's web interface by typing its IP directly into a browser.

Once you're inside the EWS, it confirms the IP and gives you access to network configuration settings — including the option to assign a static IP address so it doesn't change in the future.

Method 6: Check on a Mobile Device or Printer App

Most major printer manufacturers offer companion apps — tools like HP Smart, Epson iPrint, or Canon PRINT — that display the printer's IP address within the app's device details or settings section. If you've already set up your printer through one of these apps, this can be one of the quickest lookup methods available. 📱

Variables That Affect Which Method Works Best

Static vs. Dynamic IP: A Distinction Worth Understanding

If you're finding the printer's IP address because you want to add it manually to another device or keep the connection stable, it's worth understanding the static vs. dynamic distinction.

A dynamic IP (the default) is assigned automatically and can change. A static IP is manually configured — either on the printer itself or reserved in the router's DHCP settings — and stays the same. Many network troubleshooting guides recommend setting a static IP for network printers to avoid broken connections after router reboots or network changes.

How you'd configure that depends on your router model, your printer's firmware interface, and whether you have admin access to both devices — and those specifics vary quite a bit from setup to setup.