How to Find Your IP Address on a Mac
Every device connected to a network has an IP address — a numerical label that identifies it on that network. On a Mac, you might actually have more than one IP address worth knowing about, and the method you use to find it depends on which one you need and why. Here's a clear breakdown of how it all works.
Understanding the Two Types of IP Addresses on a Mac
Before diving into the steps, it helps to understand what you're actually looking for:
- Local (private) IP address — This is the address your Mac has on your home or office network, assigned by your router. It typically looks like 192.168.x.x or 10.0.x.x. It's only meaningful within your local network.
- Public (external) IP address — This is the address the wider internet sees when your Mac makes a request. It's assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and is shared by all devices on the same network connection.
Which one you need matters. Troubleshooting a printer connection? You need the local IP. Checking what IP a server sees when you connect? You need the public one.
How to Find Your Local IP Address on a Mac
Method 1: System Settings (macOS Ventura and Later)
Apple redesigned the settings interface in macOS Ventura, so the path changed slightly:
- Click the Apple menu (🍎) in the top-left corner
- Open System Settings
- Click Network in the sidebar
- Select your active connection — Wi-Fi or Ethernet
- Click Details next to your connected network
- Your IP address appears under the TCP/IP tab
Method 2: System Preferences (macOS Monterey and Earlier)
- Click the Apple menu → System Preferences
- Open Network
- Select your active connection from the left panel
- Your IP address is displayed in the main panel — often right on the summary screen
- For more detail, click Advanced → TCP/IP
Method 3: Terminal (Any macOS Version)
If you're comfortable with the command line, this is fast and precise:
- Open Terminal (found in Applications → Utilities, or via Spotlight with Cmd + Space)
- For Wi-Fi, type:
ipconfig getifaddr en0
- For Ethernet, type:
ipconfig getifaddr en1
- Press Enter — your local IP address prints immediately
The interface names (en0, en1) can vary depending on your Mac model and connected adapters. If you're unsure which interface is active, running ifconfig lists all of them with their current addresses.
Method 4: Hover Over the Wi-Fi Menu Bar Icon
This doesn't work on all macOS versions, but on some:
- Hold the Option key
- Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar
- A detailed dropdown appears showing your IP address, router address, and more
This is the quickest route when you just need a fast glance.
How to Find Your Public IP Address on a Mac
Your public IP isn't stored in your Mac's network settings — it's assigned upstream by your router and ISP. To find it:
- Open any browser and search "what is my IP" — Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo all show it directly in the results
- Visit a service like ipinfo.io or whatismyip.com in your browser
- In Terminal, run:
curl ifconfig.me
This returns your public IP address in plain text
Keep in mind: if you're using a VPN, the public IP you see will belong to the VPN server, not your actual ISP address.
Key Variables That Affect Which IP You See
| Factor | What Changes |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi vs. Ethernet | Different interface, potentially different local IP |
| Router DHCP settings | Your local IP may change if not set as static |
| VPN active | Public IP reflects VPN server location |
| Shared vs. dedicated connection | Public IP may be shared with many users (common with ISPs) |
| IPv4 vs. IPv6 | Your Mac may have both; most lookups default to IPv4 |
IPv4 addresses are the familiar four-part format (192.168.1.5). IPv6 addresses are longer and hexadecimal (fe80::1). Most home networks still use IPv4 for local addressing, though IPv6 is increasingly common for public-facing connections.
When the IP Address You Find Doesn't Match What You Expected 🔍
A few situations can cause confusion:
- Dynamic vs. static IPs — By default, routers assign local IPs dynamically via DHCP, meaning your Mac's local address can change after a restart or reconnection. If you need a consistent local IP — for port forwarding or hosting a local server — you'd set a static IP in your network settings or reserve one in your router's DHCP table.
- Multiple network interfaces — Macs with both Wi-Fi and Ethernet active at the same time will have two local IPs. The one that matters depends on which interface is handling your traffic.
- CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT) — Some ISPs place multiple customers behind a single public IP, which means the "public" IP you see may still not be fully unique to your connection.
Understanding which IP address you're looking at — and why it appears as it does — depends on how your network is configured, what your ISP provides, and what you're trying to accomplish with that information.