How to Find Out Your IP Address (On Any Device or Network)
Your IP address is one of the most fundamental pieces of information about your device's presence on a network — and yet most people have no idea what theirs is until they suddenly need it. Whether you're troubleshooting a connection issue, setting up remote access, or configuring a router, knowing how to find your IP address is a basic but essential skill.
The catch: there isn't just one IP address to find. Understanding which one you need — and where to look for it — depends on your device, your network setup, and what you're actually trying to do.
Public IP vs. Private IP: The Distinction That Matters
Before you go looking, it helps to understand that you have more than one IP address in play at any given time.
Public IP address — This is the address your internet service provider (ISP) assigns to your network. It's what the outside world sees when you browse the web, send an email, or connect to a remote server. Every device on your home or office network shares this single public IP.
Private IP address — This is the address your router assigns to each individual device on your local network. Your laptop, phone, smart TV, and printer each get their own private IP. These typically fall in ranges like
192.168.x.x,10.x.x.x, or172.16.x.x.
Which one you need depends entirely on the task at hand. Troubleshooting local network connectivity? You want the private IP. Whitelisting your address with a remote server or VPN? You want the public IP.
How to Find Your Public IP Address 🌐
This is the easiest of the two to find, regardless of what device you're on.
Option 1: Use a browser search Type any of the following directly into your browser's address bar or search engine:
what is my IPmy IP address
Google, Bing, and most major search engines will display your public IP address directly in the results — no need to click through.
Option 2: Use a dedicated lookup tool Sites like ipinfo.io, whatismyipaddress.com, or icanhazip.com display your public IP instantly. These tools often show additional details like approximate location and ISP name.
Option 3: Use the command line On most systems, you can run a quick curl command:
curl ifconfig.me This returns your public IP in plain text — useful for developers or anyone working in a terminal.
How to Find Your Private IP Address
This varies by operating system and device type.
On Windows
- Open Command Prompt (search "cmd" in the Start menu)
- Type
ipconfigand press Enter - Look for IPv4 Address under your active network adapter (Ethernet or Wi-Fi)
On macOS
- Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions)
- Go to Network, then select your active connection
- Your IP address is displayed directly on that screen
Alternatively, open Terminal and type:
ipconfig getifaddr en0 (Use en1 for Ethernet if on Wi-Fi shows nothing)
On Linux
Open a terminal and run:
ip addr show or
hostname -I Your private IP appears next to your active network interface (commonly eth0 or wlan0).
On iPhone or iPad
Go to Settings → Wi-Fi, tap the (i) icon next to your connected network, and your IP address is listed under the IPv4 Address section.
On Android
Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi, tap your connected network, and expand the details. Your IP address will appear — though the exact path varies slightly between Android versions and manufacturers.
On a Router Admin Page
If you need to see IP addresses for all devices on your network, log into your router's admin interface (typically accessed at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in a browser). The connected devices list will show each device's assigned private IP.
IPv4 vs. IPv6: What You Might See
You may notice two types of IP addresses listed on your device:
| Type | Example Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IPv4 | 192.168.1.45 | The traditional format; most commonly used |
| IPv6 | fe80::1a2b:3c4d:5e6f:7g8h | Newer standard; longer, supports far more addresses |
Most everyday tasks still reference IPv4. IPv6 is increasingly supported, but when someone asks for "your IP address" in a troubleshooting context, they usually mean the IPv4 version.
When Your IP Address Changes — And When It Doesn't
Public IP addresses are typically dynamic — meaning your ISP can (and does) change them periodically. If you need a stable public IP that doesn't change, that's called a static IP, and it usually requires a specific arrangement with your ISP, often at an added cost.
Private IP addresses are also usually dynamic, assigned by your router via DHCP. A device can get a different private IP each time it reconnects. If you're setting up port forwarding, a local server, or network-dependent software, you may need to assign a static local IP through your router's settings or your device's network configuration.
The Variables That Affect Which Method Works for You 🔧
Finding your IP address sounds like one simple task, but the right method shifts based on:
- Your operating system and version — menu paths and command syntax differ across Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS Ventura, older macOS, Android 12 vs. 14, etc.
- Whether you're on Wi-Fi or Ethernet — some command-line tools return results per interface
- Whether you're using a VPN — a VPN masks your real public IP and replaces it with the VPN server's address; what you see in a browser lookup will reflect the VPN, not your actual ISP-assigned IP
- Network configuration at work or school — corporate and institutional networks often use network address translation (NAT) at multiple layers, meaning the IP your device holds may be several hops away from the public-facing address
Each of those variables changes what you're actually looking at — and whether the IP you found is the one that actually matters for your specific situation.