How to Get Your IP Address in Windows

Whether you're troubleshooting a network issue, setting up remote access, or configuring a router, knowing how to find your IP address in Windows is a fundamental skill. The process sounds straightforward — and often is — but there are a few layers worth understanding before you dig into the steps.

What Is an IP Address, Exactly?

An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a numerical label assigned to every device on a network. It's how devices identify and communicate with each other. In a typical home or office setup, you'll encounter two distinct types:

• Private IP address — the address assigned to your Windows PC within your local network (assigned by your router). This is what devices on the same Wi-Fi or Ethernet network use to talk to each other.
• Public IP address — the address your entire network presents to the outside internet. Assigned by your ISP, this is shared across all devices in your home unless you're using a VPN or mobile data.

Most network tasks — file sharing, local server setup, printer configuration — require your private IP. Accessing your machine remotely over the internet typically requires your public IP.

Method 1: Find Your IP Address Using Settings ⚙️

This is the most accessible route for everyday users on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

1. Open Settings (Windows key + I)
2. Go to Network & Internet
3. Click on Wi-Fi or Ethernet, depending on your connection type
4. Select your active network connection
5. Scroll down to the Properties section

You'll see your IPv4 address listed here, along with your subnet mask and default gateway. No command knowledge required.

Method 2: Find Your IP Address via Command Prompt

For faster results — or if you prefer working with text — the Command Prompt method is reliable across virtually all Windows versions.

1. Press Windows key + R, type cmd, and hit Enter
2. In the Command Prompt window, type:

3. Press Enter

The output will list all active network adapters on your system. Look for your relevant adapter (usually labeled Ethernet adapter or Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi) and find the line reading IPv4 Address.

What the ipconfig Output Tells You

If you want more detail — including DNS servers and lease information — run ipconfig /all instead.

Method 3: Find Your IP Address via PowerShell

PowerShell offers a cleaner, more structured output than Command Prompt and is particularly useful when scripting or working in enterprise environments.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (or Terminal on Windows 11)
2. Type the following command and press Enter:

This displays all IPv4 addresses associated with active interfaces. You can filter results further by interface name or address family if your machine has multiple network adapters.

Method 4: Find Your Public IP Address 🌐

The methods above return your private IP address. To find your public IP, you have two quick options:

• Via browser — Search "what is my IP" in any browser. Google, DuckDuckGo, and similar engines display it directly in the results.
• Via PowerShell or Command Prompt — Run:

This sends a request to an external service and returns your public-facing IP. Note that this requires internet access and may not work in all corporate environments due to firewall restrictions.

Variables That Affect Which Method Works for You

Not every method suits every situation, and a few factors determine what you'll actually see:

Number of network adapters — Machines with both Wi-Fi and Ethernet, or those running virtual machines (like Hyper-V or VirtualBox), will have multiple adapters listed in ipconfig. Identifying the right IP requires knowing which adapter is actively handling your traffic.

Static vs. dynamic IP — Most home networks use DHCP, meaning your router assigns your private IP automatically and it can change. If you've manually configured a static IP for a server or printer, that address is fixed until you change it.

VPN usage — When connected to a VPN, your network adapter list grows. A VPN creates a virtual adapter with its own IP, and your public IP will reflect the VPN server's location rather than your actual one.

Windows version — The Settings path varies slightly between Windows 10 and Windows 11, but ipconfig works identically across both, as well as older versions like Windows 7 and 8.

IPv4 vs. IPv6 — Both protocols may be active simultaneously. Most local network tasks still rely on IPv4, but some modern networks and services increasingly use IPv6. Knowing which one you need depends on what you're configuring.

When the Right Answer Depends on Your Setup

Finding an IP address in Windows is rarely a single-answer task. Someone configuring a home media server needs their private IPv4 from the correct adapter. A remote worker troubleshooting a VPN connection needs to distinguish between their virtual adapter IP and their physical one. A developer testing a local web service might be looking at a loopback address entirely.

The commands and menus are consistent — what varies is interpreting the output correctly based on what your specific network looks like, how many adapters are active, and what you're actually trying to accomplish with the address once you have it.