Where Is the IP Address Located on Your Computer? How to Find It on Any OS

Every device connected to a network has an IP address — a numerical label that identifies it on that network. But where exactly do you find it? The answer depends on your operating system, whether you're looking for a local (private) IP or your public IP, and how comfortable you are navigating system settings.

Here's a clear breakdown of what an IP address actually is, where it lives, and how to locate it across different setups.

What Is an IP Address, and Why Does It Have Two Versions?

An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a string of numbers — like 192.168.1.5 or 203.0.113.42 — that tells networks where to send data. Think of it like a mailing address for your device.

There are two distinct IP addresses most computers have at any time:

• Local (private) IP address — assigned by your router, used within your home or office network. This is what other devices on your network use to communicate with your computer.
• Public IP address — assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), visible to the broader internet. All devices on your network typically share one public IP.

These two addresses are found in very different places.

🖥️ How to Find Your Local IP Address on Windows

Your local IP address is stored in your network adapter settings. There are several ways to reach it:

Using Command Prompt

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

This is the fastest method and works across virtually all Windows versions.

Using Settings (Windows 10/11)

1. Go to Settings ��� Network & Internet
2. Click on your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
3. Scroll to Properties — your IP address is listed under IPv4 address

Using the Control Panel

1. Open Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center
2. Click your active connection name
3. Click Details — your IPv4 address appears in the list

🍎 How to Find Your Local IP Address on macOS

Using System Settings / System Preferences

1. Go to System Settings (macOS Ventura and later) or System Preferences (older versions)
2. Click Network
3. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) on the left
4. Your IP address is displayed directly on this screen

Using the Terminal

1. Open Terminal (found in Applications → Utilities)
2. Type ifconfig | grep inet and press Enter
3. Look for the inet line associated with en0 (Wi-Fi) or en1 (Ethernet)

🐧 How to Find Your Local IP Address on Linux

Linux users typically use the terminal:

• Type ip addr show or the older ifconfig command
• Your IP address appears next to inet under the active interface — often eth0, ens33, or wlan0 depending on your distribution and setup

Some Linux distributions with desktop environments (like Ubuntu) also display the IP in Settings → Network.

Where to Find Your Public IP Address

Your public IP isn't stored locally in your network settings the same way — it's assigned externally by your ISP and visible from outside your network. The easiest way to find it:

• Open any browser and search "what is my IP" — Google and most search engines display it immediately at the top of results
• Visit a site like ipinfo.io or whatismyip.com in your browser

Your public IP is the same regardless of which device on your network you use to check it (unless you're using a VPN, in which case the displayed IP will reflect the VPN server's address).

IPv4 vs. IPv6: What You Might See

Modern computers often show two types of IP addresses:

If you're troubleshooting or configuring a network connection, you'll almost always need the IPv4 address. IPv6 is increasingly used but not yet universal in all local network configurations.

Factors That Affect What You See

The IP address you find isn't static — several variables determine what it looks like and where it appears:

• DHCP vs. static assignment — most home networks use DHCP, meaning your router assigns a new IP each time you connect (though it often stays the same). Businesses frequently assign static IPs manually.
• Wired vs. wireless — your computer may have separate IP addresses for its Ethernet and Wi-Fi adapters, and both can be active at the same time
• VPN software — when a VPN is running, network commands like ipconfig may show a virtual adapter with the VPN's assigned IP rather than your true local address
• Multiple network adapters — laptops, in particular, often show several adapters (including virtual ones from software like Hyper-V or VirtualBox), which can make the output of ipconfig look more crowded than expected
• OS version — the exact menu path in Windows or macOS settings changes between versions, so the labels you see may differ slightly from what's described in online guides

The Piece That Depends on Your Setup

Finding an IP address is straightforward in principle, but what you're actually looking for — and which method gets you there cleanest — comes down to your operating system, whether you're on a home or managed corporate network, and what you need the address for. A developer debugging a local server has a different goal than someone troubleshooting a slow connection or setting up a printer. The address itself is easy to locate once you know where to look; what matters is knowing which address you actually need for the task in front of you.