Where to Find Your IP Address on a Computer (Windows, Mac & More)

Your IP address is one of the most fundamental pieces of your network identity — and yet most people have no idea where to find it until they suddenly need it. Whether you're troubleshooting a connection, setting up a printer, configuring remote access, or just curious, knowing how to locate your IP address is a genuinely useful skill.

The slightly tricky part: there's more than one kind of IP address, and which one you actually need depends on what you're trying to do.

Two Types of IP Address: Local vs. Public

Before you go digging through settings, it helps to understand the difference between your local (private) IP address and your public IP address — because they're found in completely different places.

• Your local IP address is assigned by your router. It's only visible within your home or office network. Typical formats look like 192.168.x.x or 10.0.x.x. This is what you use for things like accessing your router settings, connecting devices on the same network, or configuring local servers.

• Your public IP address is assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). It's the address that websites and external servers see when your computer connects to the internet. Every device on your home network shares the same public IP.

Knowing which one you need narrows down exactly where to look. 🔍

How to Find Your Local IP Address on Windows

Windows gives you several ways to locate your local IP address, depending on how comfortable you are with settings menus versus command-line tools.

Using the Settings App (Windows 10 and 11)

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet
2. Click on Wi-Fi or Ethernet, depending on your connection type
3. Click on the connected network name
4. Scroll down to the Properties section — your IP address is listed next to IPv4 address

Using the Command Prompt

This method works on all modern Windows versions and is often faster once you know it:

1. Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Enter
2. In the Command Prompt, type ipconfig and press Enter
3. Look for your active network adapter (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and find the IPv4 Address line

The ipconfig command also shows your subnet mask and default gateway (your router's local address), which can be useful for network troubleshooting.

Using the Control Panel (Older Method)

Navigate to Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → click on your active connection → click Details. The IPv4 Address field contains your local IP.

How to Find Your Local IP Address on macOS

Mac users can locate their IP address through System Settings or Terminal.

Using System Settings (macOS Ventura and Later)

1. Click the Apple menu → System Settings
2. Go to Network
3. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
4. Your IP address appears directly in the connection details panel

Using System Preferences (macOS Monterey and Earlier)

1. Apple menu → System Preferences → Network
2. Select your active connection on the left
3. Your IP address is displayed on the right side of the window

Using Terminal

Open Terminal and type ifconfig | grep "inet ". Your local IP address will appear next to inet — typically on the en0 (Wi-Fi) or en1 (Ethernet) line.

How to Find Your Public IP Address 🌐

Your public IP address isn't stored in your computer's settings in any obvious way — your router manages it, not your individual machine. The quickest ways to find it:

• Search the web: Type "what is my IP address" into any search engine. Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo all display your public IP directly in the search results.
• Visit a lookup site: Sites like whatismyipaddress.com or ipinfo.io show your public IP, plus details like your ISP and general location.

Keep in mind that your public IP address can change over time unless your ISP has assigned you a static IP — most residential connections use dynamic IPs that periodically update.

IPv4 vs. IPv6: Why You Might See Two Addresses

Modern computers often display both an IPv4 address (the familiar four-number format like 192.168.1.5) and an IPv6 address (a longer alphanumeric string like fe80::1a2b:3c4d:5e6f).

IPv6 is the newer protocol designed to replace IPv4 as the internet runs out of available address space. Most home networks still rely primarily on IPv4 for local communication, but IPv6 is increasingly active — especially for public internet traffic.

If you're following instructions that ask for an IP address and don't specify which version, IPv4 is usually what's expected for typical local network tasks.

Variables That Affect What You See

Not every setup produces the same results, and a few factors shape what you'll find:

If you're running a VPN, be aware that both your local adapter list and your public IP will look different than they would without it — a detail that matters depending on why you're looking up the address in the first place.

When the Local IP Address Isn't Enough

For certain tasks — configuring port forwarding, setting up a remote desktop connection, or accessing your home network from outside — knowing your local IP address isn't the whole picture. You may also need to understand how your router assigns addresses (via DHCP), whether your device holds a reserved or static IP on your local network, and what your current public IP is.

Each of those needs a slightly different approach, and the right path depends entirely on your specific router, operating system, and what you're ultimately trying to accomplish.