How to Find Your IP Settings on Any Device

Your IP settings control how your device connects to a network — whether that's your home Wi-Fi, a corporate LAN, or a mobile data connection. Knowing where to find them, and what they mean, is useful any time you're troubleshooting connectivity, setting up a new router, or trying to understand how your network is configured.

What Are IP Settings, Exactly?

IP settings are a collection of network configuration values assigned to your device. The key ones you'll typically encounter include:

• IP address — the unique numerical label identifying your device on the network (e.g., 192.168.1.45)
• Subnet mask — defines which part of the IP address refers to the network vs. your specific device
• Default gateway — usually your router's IP address; the exit point for traffic leaving your local network
• DNS servers — translate domain names (like google.com) into IP addresses your device can route to

These settings can be assigned automatically via DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) — the most common setup — or configured manually as a static IP.

How to Find IP Settings on Windows 🖥️

Method 1: Settings App

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet
2. Click your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
3. Scroll to the Properties section — your IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS are listed here

Method 2: Command Prompt

1. Press Windows + R, type cmd, hit Enter
2. Type ipconfig /all and press Enter
3. This returns full details for every network adapter, including IPv4 address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS servers

The ipconfig /all method is particularly useful because it shows settings for all adapters simultaneously — including virtual adapters from VPNs or virtualization software.

How to Find IP Settings on macOS

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions) → Network
2. Select your active connection from the left sidebar
3. Click Details (or Advanced on older macOS)
4. The TCP/IP tab displays your IPv4 address, subnet mask, router (gateway), and configuration method

Alternatively, open Terminal and run ifconfig for a more technical readout covering all interfaces.

How to Find IP Settings on iPhone or iPad

1. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi
2. Tap the ℹ️ icon next to your connected network
3. Scroll down to the IPv4 Address section — you'll see your IP address, subnet mask, and router (gateway)
4. The DNS field is also listed on this screen

Note: iOS only shows settings for Wi-Fi connections here. Mobile data IP information is managed by your carrier and isn't displayed in the same way.

How to Find IP Settings on Android

The exact path varies by manufacturer and Android version, but the general route is:

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet (or Connections on Samsung devices)
2. Tap Wi-Fi, then tap the name of your connected network
3. Look for a gear icon or pencil/edit option to expand details
4. On some devices, you'll need to tap Advanced to see the IP address, gateway, and DNS values

Some Android versions show a simplified view by default — if IP details aren't visible, check for an Advanced or Manage network settings option.

IPv4 vs. IPv6: What You Might See

Most home networks use IPv4 addresses (formatted as four sets of numbers: 192.168.x.x). Many devices also now receive an IPv6 address simultaneously — a longer alphanumeric string designed to accommodate the growing number of internet-connected devices.

For most home troubleshooting purposes, IPv4 is the address you'll reference.

Local IP vs. Public IP: An Important Distinction

What you find in your device's network settings is your local (private) IP address — the address your router assigned to your device within your home or office network. This is different from your public IP address, which is what websites and external services see when you connect to the internet.

Your public IP is assigned by your ISP and is shared across all devices on your connection. To find it, you'd search "what is my IP" in a browser, and a number of lookup tools will display it. Your device settings won't show this value directly.

Factors That Affect What You See 🔧

The IP settings on your device depend on several variables:

• DHCP vs. static configuration — DHCP-assigned IPs can change; static IPs are fixed
• Network type — home, corporate, public Wi-Fi, and mobile data all use different addressing schemes
• VPN status — an active VPN adds virtual network adapters with their own IP settings, which can appear alongside or instead of your standard connection details
• IPv4/IPv6 dual-stack — many modern networks assign both types simultaneously
• OS version — the location of these settings has shifted across Windows 10/11, macOS Ventura/Sonoma, and various Android skins

Understanding which IP setting matters for your situation — and whether you need the local or public address, IPv4 or IPv6, or a specific adapter's config — depends entirely on what you're trying to do with that information.