BrowsePopularContact UsAbout Us

How to Find the IP Address of Your Router (On Any Device)

Finding the IP address of your router is one of those small tech tasks that suddenly matters a lot when you want to change Wi‑Fi settings, set up port forwarding, or fix a network problem. The good news: your router’s IP is almost always easy to find once you know where to look.

This guide walks through what a router IP address is, how it works, and step‑by‑step ways to find it on Windows, macOS, Android, iPhone/iPad, and more.

What Is a Router IP Address, Exactly?

When people say “router IP address,” they’re almost always talking about the local (private) IP address your devices use to talk to the router on your home or office network.

A few key points:

  • Your router has at least two IP addresses

    • A local IP on your internal network (e.g., 192.168.0.1)
    • A public IP on the internet (assigned by your internet provider)

  • When you log into your router’s settings in a web browser (to change Wi‑Fi name, password, etc.), you use the local router IP.

  • On your devices, this local router IP is usually called the Default Gateway, Router, or Gateway address.

Common default local router IPs include:

Brand / TypeCommon Default Local IPs
Many home routers192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1
Some ISPs & mesh kits192.168.1.254 or 10.0.0.1
Older/odd setups192.168.100.1 or others

Even if your router often matches one of these, you shouldn’t assume. Networks can be changed, especially if someone tweaked settings or added another router.

How to Find Your Router IP Address on Windows

On Windows, the router’s IP shows up as the Default Gateway.

Method 1: Using Command Prompt

  1. Press Windows key + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
  2. In the Command Prompt window, type: 
    ipconfig
  3. Press Enter.
  4. Look for your active network connection:
    • For wired: Ethernet adapter
    • For Wi‑Fi: Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi
  5. In that section, find the line labeled Default Gateway.
    • The number next to it (e.g., 192.168.1.1) is your router’s IP address.

Method 2: Using Network Settings (No Commands)

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Network & Internet.
  3. Select Wi‑Fi (if wireless) or Ethernet (if wired).
  4. Click your current network name or Hardware properties / View additional properties (wording varies by version).
  5. Scroll until you see Default gateway or Gateway.
    • That is your router’s IP.

How to Find Your Router IP on macOS

On a Mac, the router’s IP is shown as Router in network settings.

Method 1: From System Settings

  1. Click the Apple menu and open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS).
  2. Go to Network.
  3. Select your active connection:
    • Wi‑Fi: select your current network
    • Ethernet: select the wired connection
  4. Look for a section like Details…, Advanced…, or information on the right side.
  5. Find the line labeled Router.
    • That number (e.g., 192.168.0.1) is your router’s IP address.

Method 2: Using Terminal

  1. Open Terminal (Applications → Utilities → Terminal).
  2. For Wi‑Fi, type: 
    netstat -nr | grep default

    or on some versions:

    route -n get default
  3. Press Enter.
  4. Look for default and note the IP address shown next to it.
    • That is the router’s local IP.

How to Find Your Router IP Address on Android

Android labels the router’s IP as Gateway or Router inside Wi‑Fi details. The exact names may vary slightly by phone brand and Android version.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap Network & internet or Connections.
  3. Tap Wi‑Fi.
  4. Tap the gear icon or info (i) next to your connected Wi‑Fi network.
  5. Look for Advanced, IP settings, or similar.
  6. Find the line named Gateway or Router.
    • That value is your router’s IP address.

Some customized Android skins (like those from Samsung, Xiaomi, etc.) may show it under Manage router, Advanced settings, or a similar section.

How to Find Your Router IP Address on iPhone or iPad (iOS/iPadOS)

On Apple mobile devices, the router IP is clearly labeled Router.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Wi‑Fi.
  3. Make sure you’re connected to your home/office network.
  4. Tap the (i) info icon next to your connected Wi‑Fi network.
  5. Under the IPv4 Address section, find Router.
    • That number is your router’s IP.

How to Find Your Router IP Address on Linux

Linux desktop environments differ, but the router’s IP is again the Default Gateway.

Method 1: Command Line

  1. Open a Terminal window.
  2. Run: 
    ip route | grep default
  3. Find the line starting with default via.
    • The IP after via (e.g., 192.168.1.1) is your router’s IP.

On some systems, you can also try:

route -n

and look under the Gateway column for the row labeled 0.0.0.0 or default.

Method 2: Network Manager (GUI)

  1. Click your network icon in the system tray.
  2. Open Network Settings or Wi‑Fi Settings.
  3. Choose your active connection and look for Details, IPv4, or Route info.
  4. Find Default Route, Gateway, or Router.
    • That’s the router’s IP.

Finding the Router IP When You’re Using a Browser

If you’re already half‑guessing the address, you can sometimes spot it in your browser history:

  • Typing common candidates like http://192.168.0.1 or http://192.168.1.1 in the address bar may auto‑complete to your router’s login page if you’ve used it before.
  • If a login page appears asking for router credentials (not a website login), you’ve reached the router using its correct local IP.

Even here, it’s safer to confirm via your device’s network settings rather than trial and error, especially if your network uses non‑standard ranges like 10.x.x.x.

How to Tell Your Router’s Local IP from Its Public IP

You might also encounter your public IP address, which is how the internet sees your network. That’s different from the local router IP.

  • Local router IP (what we’ve been finding here):

    • Looks like 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, or 172.16–31.x.x
    • Used only inside your home or office network
    • Shows up as Default Gateway, Router, or Gateway on your devices

  • Public IP:

    • Given by your internet provider
    • Seen by websites and online services
    • You can see it by searching “what is my IP” in a search engine

Many people confuse the two when setting up remote access, VPNs, or port forwarding. For router login and LAN configuration, it’s the local router IP that matters.

Why Your Router IP Might Be Different From “The Usual”

Most home networks use a simple layout: one router from your ISP or store, one Wi‑Fi network, one IP range. In that setup, both the method and the result are straightforward.

But in more complex or unusual setups, the router’s IP can vary:

  • Mesh Wi‑Fi systems
    The “main” mesh node usually acts as the router and keeps a standard local IP (like 192.168.1.1), while other nodes act as satellites. However, some mesh kits run in bridge mode and your ISP modem/router keeps its own IP.

  • ISP modem + separate router
    You may actually have two routers:

    • The ISP modem/router combo
    • Your own router connected to it
      Each one can have its own IP and login page on different subnets.

  • Advanced/enterprise networks
    Networks using VLANs, multiple subnets, or custom DHCP ranges can assign router IPs outside the usual 192.168.x.x range, such as 10.0.0.1 or 172.16.x.x.

  • Manual configuration changes
    If someone customized the router’s LAN IP:

    • The default printed on the device label may no longer be correct.
    • Only your devices’ gateway info (or router’s admin interface) will show the current IP.

This is why learning how to find the IP from your own device is more reliable than memorizing a default.

Key Variables That Change How You’ll Find Your Router IP

How you get to the router’s IP address depends mainly on:

  • Operating system and version
    Menu names and layouts differ between Windows 10 and Windows 11, or between older and newer macOS/iOS versions.

  • Type of device

    • Desktop/laptop vs. phone/tablet
    • Whether you have access to command‑line tools
    • Whether you’re allowed to install network apps

  • Network connection type

    • Wi‑Fi vs. Ethernet (wired)
    • Guest networks may hide or restrict access to router details.

  • Network complexity

    • Single home router vs. multiple routers/mesh nodes
    • Simple NAT vs. more advanced multi‑subnet environments

Each of these affects where the “Default Gateway” or “Router” label appears and whether it maps cleanly to the single box your Wi‑Fi comes from.

Different Network Setups, Different Outcomes

Once you know your router’s IP address, what you can do with it varies widely:

  • Basic home users

    • Use the router IP to log in and change Wi‑Fi name/password
    • Maybe adjust parental controls or guest Wi‑Fi

  • Power users / gamers

    • Use it to set up port forwarding, static IPs, or QoS (traffic priority)
    • Experiment with channel selection or advanced wireless modes

  • Small offices

    • May have multiple routers, access points, and a separate firewall
    • “The router IP” could be one of several gateway devices

  • Shared or rental connections

    • You may find the router IP but not have the credentials or permission to change anything
    • Network is managed by a landlord, building IT, or an ISP technician

The steps to find the IP are similar in all these cases, but what you see when you reach the login page—and what you should or shouldn’t change—depends on who owns and manages the network, and how it’s set up.

When you know that “router IP address” really means “the gateway address your device uses on your local network,” the process boils down to a single idea: look up the Default Gateway/Router entry on whatever device you’re using.

From there, what you do with that information depends entirely on your own network, your access level, and how comfortable you are adjusting those settings.