The quickest way depends on what you're looking for

Finding an IP address on your own computer takes seconds. Finding one on someone else's computer on your network takes a bit more work, but it's still straightforward. The method you use depends on whether you're looking at your own machine, a device you own but aren't sitting at, or something else on your home network.

On Windows, Mac, or Linux, you can find your own IP address in your network settings in under a minute. If you need to find another device's IP address — a printer, a phone, a family member's laptop — your router's admin page shows all connected devices and their addresses. This is the most reliable place to look because your router sees every device that connects to it.

Key Takeaways

  • Your own computer's IP address appears in network settings on Windows (Settings > Network > Status), Mac (System Settings > Network), or Linux (terminal command ip addr).
  • Your router's admin page lists every device connected to your network and its IP address, accessible by typing your router's address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into a browser.
  • You need your router's username and password to access the admin page, which often defaults to "admin" and "admin" or "admin" and the router's serial number.
  • Command-line tools like arp -a on Windows or arp -e on Mac show IP addresses of devices that have recently communicated with your computer.
  • If you forget your router password, you can reset it by holding the reset button for 10 to 15 seconds, but this erases all your custom settings.

Finding your own computer's IP address on Windows

Open Settings and go to Network & Internet, then Status. Scroll down to "Advanced network settings" and click it. You'll see a section called "IP settings" with your IPv4 address listed — that's the one you're looking for. It usually looks like 192.168.1.100 or 10.0.0.50.

If you prefer the command line, open Command Prompt (search for "cmd" in the Start menu) and type ipconfig, then press Enter. Look for "IPv4 Address" in the output. This method is faster once you know the command, and it shows you more detail about your network setup.

Finding your own computer's IP address on Mac

Open System Settings and click Network on the left side. Select your active connection (usually Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and look for the IP address listed on the right panel. It appears next to "IP Address" in the connection details.

From the terminal, type ifconfig and press Enter. Look for the line that says "inet" followed by a number — that's your IP address. The terminal method shows you information about all your network connections at once, which is useful if you're troubleshooting.

Finding your own computer's IP address on Linux

Open a terminal and type ip addr, then press Enter. Your IP address appears next to "inet" in the output. On some older Linux systems, ifconfig works the same way it does on Mac.

If you're using a graphical desktop environment like GNOME or KDE, you can also find it in your network settings menu, usually under System Settings or Control Center. Look for the active connection and click it to see the IP address details.

Finding another device's IP address through your router

Your router keeps a list of every device connected to your network, along with each device's IP address. This is the most reliable way to find the address of a printer, phone, laptop, or any other device you own.

Open a web browser and type your router's address into the address bar. Most home routers use 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. If neither works, check the sticker on the back or bottom of your router — it usually lists the address there. You'll be asked to log in. The default username is often "admin" and the password is either "admin", "password", or the serial number printed on the router itself.

Once you're logged in, look for a section called "Connected Devices", "Device List", "DHCP Clients", or "LAN Devices" — the exact name varies by router brand. This page shows the name of each device and its IP address. Write down the address you need, then log out.

Using command-line tools to find other devices

If you can't access your router's admin page, you can see IP addresses of devices that have recently talked to your computer using the ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) table.

On Windows, open Command Prompt and type arp -a, then press Enter. You'll see a list of IP addresses and their associated MAC addresses (a unique identifier for each device). The catch is that you only see devices that have communicated with your computer recently — a device that's been idle won't appear.

On Mac or Linux, open a terminal and type arp -e (Mac) or arp -a (Linux), then press Enter. The output works the same way: you see devices that have recently been active on your network. This method is less complete than checking your router, but it's useful if you need a quick answer and you're already at the command line.

What to do if you can't remember your router password

If you've forgotten the password to your router's admin page, you can reset the router to its factory defaults. Find the small reset button on the back or bottom of the router — it's usually recessed so you can't press it by accident. Use a paperclip or the tip of a pen to hold it down for 10 to 15 seconds while the router is powered on. The lights will blink and the router will restart.

After the reset, the router will use its default username and password again (usually "admin" and "admin"). Keep in mind that resetting erases all your custom settings — your Wi-Fi password, port forwarding rules, and any other changes you've made. You'll need to set those up again from scratch. If you have a record of your Wi-Fi password written down somewhere, gather that before you reset.

Why you might need to know an IP address

The most common reason to find an IP address is to access a device remotely or to troubleshoot a connection problem. If a printer isn't working, you might need its IP address to open its settings page in a browser. If you're setting up remote access to another computer, you need its IP address. If your internet is slow and you want to see which devices are connected, the router's device list shows you everything.

Knowing your own IP address is also useful for security awareness — it helps you understand what information is visible to websites and services you use. Your IP address is one of the pieces of information that identifies your location and your internet connection, so it's worth knowing what it is and where it appears.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my IP address the same as my MAC address?

No. Your IP address is like your mailing address — it tells data where to go on the internet. Your MAC address is like your driver's license number — it identifies your specific device on your local network. Every device has both, and they serve different purposes.

Will finding an IP address on my network let me see what someone else is doing online?

No. An IP address only tells you that a device exists and is connected. It doesn't let you see what websites someone visits, what they're typing, or what files they're accessing. To do that, you'd need to be running special monitoring software on that device or on your network, which is illegal without consent.

What's the difference between a private IP address and a public IP address?

A private IP address (like 192.168.1.100) only works on your home network. A public IP address is assigned by your internet service provider and identifies your entire home network to the outside internet. You can find your public IP by searching "what is my IP" in a browser.

Can I change my computer's IP address?

Yes, but usually you shouldn't. Your router assigns IP addresses automatically using DHCP. If you need a device to always have the same address, you can set a static IP in your router's admin page or in your computer's network settings, but this requires some technical knowledge and can cause conflicts if done wrong.

Why does my IP address sometimes change?

Your router assigns IP addresses from a pool, and when a device disconnects, its address goes back into the pool. The next time that device connects, it might get a different address. This is normal and expected. Your public IP address (the one your internet provider assigns) changes less often, usually only when you restart your modem or after several days of inactivity.