How to Find Your System's IP Address on Any Device
Your IP address is one of the most fundamental pieces of information about your network connection — yet most people have no idea where to find it. Whether you're troubleshooting connectivity issues, setting up a home network, or configuring remote access, knowing how to locate your system's IP address is a core skill.
The catch: there's more than one kind of IP address, and they live in different places depending on your device and operating system.
What Is an IP Address, Actually?
An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a numerical label assigned to every device connected to a network. It works like a mailing address — it tells other devices and servers where to send data so it reaches the right destination.
There are two distinct types you'll regularly encounter:
- Private (local) IP address — This is the address your device has within your home or office network. Assigned by your router, it typically looks like 192.168.x.x, 10.0.x.x, or 172.16.x.x. Other devices on the same network use this to communicate with yours.
- Public (external) IP address — This is the address your entire network shows to the outside internet. Assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), it's what websites and remote services see when you connect.
Both are legitimate answers to "what's my IP address" — they just answer different questions.
How to Find Your IP Address on Windows 🖥️
Method 1: Command Prompt (fastest)
- Press Windows + R, type cmd, and hit Enter
- In the Command Prompt window, type ipconfig and press Enter
- Look for IPv4 Address under your active network adapter (usually labeled "Ethernet adapter" or "Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi")
Method 2: Settings (no command line needed)
- Open Settings → Network & Internet
- Click on your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
- Scroll to the Properties section — your IP address is listed there
The address shown here is your local/private IP address.
How to Find Your IP Address on macOS
- Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions)
- Click Network
- Select your active connection from the left panel
- Your IP address appears in the detail view on the right
Alternatively, open Terminal and run:
(Use en1 for Ethernet if Wi-Fi isn't your primary adapter.)
How to Find Your IP Address on Linux
Open a terminal and run:
or the older command:
Look for the inet value under your active interface — commonly labeled eth0 (Ethernet) or wlan0 (Wi-Fi). The number following inet is your local IP address.
How to Find Your IP Address on iPhone or Android 📱
iPhone (iOS):
- Go to Settings → Wi-Fi
- Tap the ⓘ icon next to your connected network
- Your IP address appears under the IPv4 Address section
Android: Steps vary slightly by manufacturer, but generally:
- Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi
- Tap your connected network name
- Expand Advanced or tap the network details — your IP address will be listed
Note: Mobile devices on cellular data use a carrier-assigned IP address that isn't visible through these menus.
How to Find Your Public IP Address (What the Internet Sees)
Your router's external IP address is not shown in any of the device menus above. To find it:
- Visit any IP lookup site in a browser (search "what is my IP address" — Google shows it directly at the top of results)
- Check your router's admin interface, usually accessible at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in a browser — the WAN/internet section displays your public IP
| IP Type | What It Identifies | Assigned By | Visible In |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private/Local | Your device on the local network | Your router | Device network settings |
| Public/External | Your network on the internet | Your ISP | Router admin panel, IP lookup sites |
IPv4 vs. IPv6 — Which One Are You Looking At?
You may see two IP addresses listed: one labeled IPv4 and one labeled IPv6.
- IPv4 addresses look like 192.168.1.45 — four groups of numbers separated by dots
- IPv6 addresses look like fe80::1a2b:3c4d:5e6f:7g8h — longer, with colons, designed to support far more devices
Most home networks use IPv4 for local addressing. IPv6 is increasingly used for public internet routing, but both can be active simultaneously on the same device.
Variables That Affect What You'll See
How your IP address appears — and which one matters for your task — depends on several factors:
- Network type: Home networks, corporate networks, VPNs, and mobile hotspots each assign addresses differently
- DHCP vs. static configuration: Most devices receive a dynamic IP that can change; servers and some networked devices are manually assigned a static IP
- Multiple network adapters: Laptops with both Wi-Fi and Ethernet may show different IPs for each adapter
- VPN software: If a VPN is active, your listed IP address and your visible public IP may belong to the VPN provider, not your actual network
- Operating system version: Menu locations for network settings shift between OS versions
Whether you need your local IP, your public IP, or a specific adapter's address depends entirely on what you're trying to do — and that shapes which method and which result is actually relevant to you.