How to find your IP address in Windows
Your IP address is printed in Windows through the Command Prompt or Settings app — both take less than a minute. The Command Prompt method is faster if you know where to look; the Settings method is easier to navigate if you prefer clicking through menus.
Windows stores your IP address in two places: your local network settings (what your computer is called on your home network) and your internet-facing address (what your internet service provider assigns). Most of the time, you need the local one — that is the address other devices on your network use to find your computer.
Key Takeaways
- Open Command Prompt and type ipconfig to see your local IP address listed as "IPv4 Address" in seconds.
- Your local IP address usually starts with 192.168 or 10.0 and changes only when you restart your router or your computer reconnects to the network.
- Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) > Properties shows the same information in a graphical menu if you prefer not to use Command Prompt.
- If you need your internet-facing IP address instead, search "what is my IP" in any browser — that shows what the outside world sees.
Finding your IP address using Command Prompt
Open Command Prompt by pressing the Windows key, typing cmd, and pressing Enter. A black window will open. Type ipconfig and press Enter.
Look for the line that says IPv4 Address. The number next to it — something like 192.168.1.105 — is your local IP address. If you are connected by Ethernet cable, look under "Ethernet adapter". If you are on Wi-Fi, look under "Wireless LAN adapter". You can close Command Prompt after you have written down the address.
This method works the same way on Windows 10, Windows 11, and earlier versions. The address you see is only valid on your home network; devices outside your network cannot reach you at this address.
Finding your IP address through Settings
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing Settings, then press Enter. Click Network & Internet in the left menu.
If you are on Wi-Fi, click Wi-Fi, then click the name of your network. Scroll down to find IPv4 address. If you are connected by Ethernet cable, click Ethernet instead, then click your connection name, and scroll to find IPv4 address.
The address shown here is the same one Command Prompt displays. This route takes a few more clicks but does not require typing commands.
What your IP address tells you about your network
Your local IP address follows a pattern that tells you how your router is set up. Most home routers assign addresses starting with 192.168.1 or 192.168.0. Some use 10.0.0. The last number (called the host) is what changes from device to device — your computer might be 192.168.1.105, your phone might be 192.168.1.42, your printer might be 192.168.1.200.
The first three numbers stay the same for every device on your network. If your computer shows 192.168.1.105 but another device shows 10.0.0.50, that device is on a different network — either a guest network your router created, or it is not connected to your router at all.
Your IP address changes when you restart your router or when your computer disconnects and reconnects to the network. It does not change just because you restart your computer while staying connected to the same router.
When you need your internet-facing IP address instead
The address you see in Command Prompt or Settings is only useful inside your home. If you need to know what address the internet sees when you connect — the one your internet service provider assigns — search what is my IP in any web browser. The first result will show your internet-facing address.
This address is different from your local address. It changes when your router restarts or when your internet service provider reassigns it (which can happen days or weeks apart, depending on your provider). You need this address if you are setting up remote access to your computer or if you are troubleshooting a connection problem with your internet service provider.
Reasons you might need to know your IP address
You usually need your local IP address to connect a printer, a smart home device, or a security camera to your network — the setup instructions often ask for the device's IP address so you can find it on your computer. You might also need it to log into your router's settings, which typically live at an address like 192.168.1.1.
You need your internet-facing address if you are setting up a security camera or computer to be accessible from outside your home, or if you are troubleshooting why a service is not reaching you. Your internet service provider may also ask for it when you call about a connection problem.
In most cases, you do not need either address. They are only useful when you are connecting new devices, changing network settings, or diagnosing a problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my IP address have two parts, like 192.168.1.105/24?
The /24 is the subnet mask written in shorthand. It tells your computer which part of the address identifies your network (192.168.1) and which part identifies your device (105). You can ignore it for most purposes — your local address is 192.168.1.105.
Is it dangerous to share my local IP address?
No. Your local IP address only works inside your home network. Someone outside your home cannot use it to reach your computer. Your internet-facing address is more sensitive, but even that alone does not let someone access your computer — they would also need to know what ports you have open and what is running on them.
My IP address starts with 169.254. What does that mean?
That means your computer could not reach your router and assigned itself a temporary address instead. Restart your router and your computer, then check again. If the address still starts with 169.254, your network cable may be unplugged or your Wi-Fi connection may have failed.
Can I change my local IP address?
Yes, but you usually should not. You can assign a static IP address through your router's settings or through Windows itself, but this can break things if you do not know what you are doing. Most home networks work better when the router assigns addresses automatically.
What if Command Prompt shows multiple IPv4 addresses?
You may have multiple network adapters — for example, both Ethernet and Wi-Fi. Use the address under whichever connection you are actually using. If both are listed under the same adapter, the first one is the active address.