Find your IP address through your network settings

Your computer has an IP address right now — it is assigned by your router when you connect. You do not need special software or permission to see it. The steps differ slightly between Windows and Mac, but both take less than a minute.

On Windows 10 or 11: Open Settings, select Network & Internet, then Wi-Fi or Ethernet depending on how you are connected. Click the network name you are using. Scroll down to "IP settings" and you will see "IPv4 address" — that is your computer's address on your home network. It usually starts with 192.168 or 10.0.

On Mac: Open System Settings, click Network on the left, then select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet). Click Details. You will see "IPv4 Address" in the window that opens. Like Windows, it typically begins with 192.168.

Key Takeaways

  • Your computer's IP address is visible in your network settings and changes only when you restart your router or reconnect to the network.
  • Windows shows the address under Settings > Network & Internet, while Mac shows it under System Settings > Network > Details.
  • The address you see in your settings is your local IP address — the one your router uses to talk to your computer, not the one the internet sees.
  • If you need your public IP address (the one websites see), you can find it by searching "what is my IP" in any web browser.

Why you might need to know your IP address

Knowing your computer's local IP address is useful for a few real situations. If you are setting up a printer or security camera on your home network, you may need to type your computer's address into a web browser to reach its settings. If your internet is slow and you want to check your router's settings, you might type your router's address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into a browser — and knowing your own address helps you understand whether you are on the same network.

Some people also write down their computer's IP address when troubleshooting network problems with their internet provider. The provider can use it to see what is happening on your connection. This is different from your public IP address, which is what websites and services see when you visit them.

The difference between local and public IP addresses

Your computer actually has two IP addresses, and they do different jobs. The local IP address is what your router assigns to your computer so devices inside your home network can find each other. This is the address you see in your settings. It never leaves your home — your router keeps it private.

Your public IP address is assigned to your router by your internet provider. Websites and online services see this address, not your computer's local one. Your router acts as a translator between the two. When you visit a website, your router sends the request using your public IP address, and the website responds to that address. Your router then forwards the response back to your computer using its local IP address.

This separation is one reason your home network is safer than it might seem. Websites cannot directly see or reach your computer — they can only reach your router, which decides what to do with incoming traffic. Your router's firewall blocks most unsolicited connections by default.

What to do if your IP address keeps changing

Your local IP address usually stays the same as long as your computer stays connected to the same router. If you restart your router or your computer disconnects and reconnects, your router may assign a new local address. This is normal and not a problem for most home uses.

If you want your computer to keep the same local IP address — for example, because you are setting up a printer or server — you can set a static IP address in your router's settings. This tells the router to always give your computer the same address. The steps vary by router model, but usually you log into your router's settings page (often 192.168.1.1), find the DHCP or IP reservation section, and add your computer's current address to the list of reserved addresses.

Your public IP address, assigned by your internet provider, changes less often — usually only when you restart your modem or after weeks of inactivity. You cannot control this directly, but most home internet users do not need to.

How to check your public IP address

If you need to know the IP address that websites see, open any web browser and search for "what is my IP" or "my public IP address." The first result will show your public IP address in large text. You can also visit websites like whatismyipaddress.com or ipinfo.io, which display your public address and sometimes additional information like your approximate location and internet provider.

Your public IP address is not secret — websites already know it every time you visit. Knowing it yourself is useful if you are setting up remote access to your home computer, troubleshooting connection problems with your provider, or checking whether your location appears correct to online services.

Security and privacy notes about IP addresses

Your local IP address is only visible to devices on your home network, so there is no privacy risk in knowing it or sharing it with someone helping you troubleshoot. Your public IP address is visible to every website you visit, but this is a normal part of how the internet works — websites need to know where to send their responses.

If you are concerned about websites tracking your location based on your public IP address, a VPN (virtual private network) can mask your real public IP by routing your traffic through another server. This is a trade-off: websites will see the VPN provider's IP address instead of yours, but the VPN provider will see your real address. Choose a VPN provider you trust, because they have access to your traffic in a way your internet provider does not.

For most home network tasks — setting up devices, troubleshooting, or understanding how your network works — you only need your local IP address. Your public address is already visible to the internet, and knowing it yourself does not change that.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone hack me if they know my IP address?

Knowing your IP address alone is not enough to hack your computer. Your router's firewall blocks unsolicited incoming connections by default. Someone would also need to find an open port and a vulnerability in software running on that port. Websites already know your public IP address every time you visit — it is not a secret. Your local IP address is only visible inside your home network.

Why does my IP address look like 192.168.1.5 instead of a real internet address?

That is your local IP address, assigned by your router for devices inside your home. It is not routable on the internet — routers worldwide are configured to ignore traffic sent to addresses starting with 192.168, 10.0, or 172.16. This is intentional, to keep home networks private. Your public IP address, assigned by your internet provider, is what the internet actually sees.

Do I need to change my IP address for privacy?

Changing your local IP address does not improve privacy — it is only visible inside your home. If you want to hide your public IP address from websites, a VPN can do that, but you are then trusting the VPN provider instead of your internet provider. For most people, the privacy benefit is small. A VPN is more useful if you are on public Wi-Fi or concerned about your internet provider seeing which websites you visit.

What if I cannot find my IP address in settings?

Make sure you are looking at the right network connection. If you are on Wi-Fi, click the Wi-Fi network name, not "Ethernet." On Windows, the address appears under "IP settings" after you click your network name. On Mac, click "Details" after selecting your connection. If the address field is blank, your computer may not be connected to the network yet.