Your Mac has two IP addresses you might need to find

Your Mac shows its local IP address (the one on your home network) in System Settings under Network. This is the address you use to connect to your printer, security camera, or other devices at home. You can find it in under a minute without any special tools.

Your Mac also has a public IP address (the one your internet provider assigns), but that belongs to your whole network, not just your Mac. If you need your public IP for something like port forwarding or remote access, you'll look it up differently — usually on a website rather than in your Mac's settings.

Most of the time, you need the local address. That's what this guide covers.

Key Takeaways

  • Open System Settings, click Network on the left, and your local IP address appears next to "IPv4 Address" on the right side of the screen.
  • Your local IP address usually starts with 192.168 or 10.0 and changes only when you restart your Mac or your router.
  • If you see "Not Connected" or no IP address listed, your Mac is not connected to your network — check your Wi-Fi or ethernet cable first.
  • Write down your local IP address if you plan to use it for printer setup, remote access, or troubleshooting your home network.

Finding your local IP address through System Settings

On any recent Mac, the fastest way is through System Settings. Click the Apple menu in the top left corner, then select System Settings. On the left sidebar, click Network. You'll see your active connection listed — either Wi-Fi or Ethernet, depending on how you're connected.

Click the connection you're using. On the right side of the screen, you'll see "IPv4 Address" followed by a series of numbers separated by dots — something like 192.168.1.105. That's your local IP address. Write it down if you need it for printer setup, remote access, or network troubleshooting.

If you don't see an IP address listed, or if it says "Not Connected," your Mac isn't on the network. Check that Wi-Fi is turned on, or if you're using ethernet, make sure the cable is plugged in on both ends.

What your local IP address tells you

Your local IP address always starts with certain numbers that depend on your router's setup. Most home routers use addresses starting with 192.168 or 10.0. The last one or two numbers (like the 105 in 192.168.1.105) are unique to your Mac on that network.

This address only matters inside your home network. It's how your printer, smart speakers, and other devices find your Mac. If you move to a different network — a coffee shop, a friend's house, or your office — your Mac gets a completely different local IP address from that network's router.

Your local IP address usually stays the same as long as your Mac and router stay on. If you restart either one, the router might assign your Mac a different address the next time it connects. For devices you access regularly (like a home server or shared drive), some people set a "static" IP address so it never changes — but that's a router setting, not a Mac setting.

Finding your public IP address if you need it

Your public IP address is assigned by your internet provider to your whole home network, not to your Mac specifically. You can't find it in System Settings because it's not stored on your Mac — it lives at your router, which faces the internet.

To find your public IP, open any web browser and search for "what is my IP" or "my IP address." The first result will show you a number like 203.0.113.42. That's your public IP. It's the address that websites see when you visit them, and it's what you'd use for things like port forwarding or remote access from outside your home.

Your public IP can change without warning — sometimes daily, sometimes monthly, depending on your internet provider's setup. If you need a stable public IP for remote access, you'd need to contact your provider about a static IP, which usually costs extra.

Using your IP address for common tasks

Once you have your local IP address, you can use it to connect to your Mac from another device on the same network. If you're setting up file sharing or remote access, you'll enter this address into the other device's connection settings.

For printer setup, you might need your Mac's IP address if the printer asks for it during installation. Some printers can find your Mac automatically, but others require you to type the address in manually.

If you're troubleshooting network problems, your IT support person or router manufacturer might ask for your local IP address to help diagnose the issue. Having it written down saves time.

What to do if your IP address keeps changing

If you notice your Mac's local IP address is different every time you restart, that's normal — your router assigns addresses dynamically. Most home networks work this way.

If you need the address to stay the same (for example, if you're setting up a home server or network printer that other devices need to find), you can set a static IP address. This is done in your router's settings, not on your Mac. You log into your router's admin page (usually by typing its IP address into a browser), find the DHCP or IP reservation section, and tell it to always give your Mac the same address.

The exact steps depend on your router model, so check your router's manual or manufacturer's website for instructions. Most routers have this option, but the menu names vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Mac show two different IP addresses?

You might see both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses in System Settings. IPv4 is the older, more common format (like 192.168.1.105). IPv6 is the newer format (a longer string with colons and letters). Most home devices still use IPv4. Both are normal — your Mac uses whichever one the network supports.

Is my IP address private or can anyone see it?

Your local IP address is private — only devices on your home network can see it. Your public IP address is visible to websites you visit, but it doesn't reveal your home address or personal information by itself. Your router's firewall protects devices behind it.

Can I change my IP address myself?

You can't change your local IP address directly on your Mac — your router assigns it. You can change it indirectly by restarting your Mac or router, which forces a new assignment. To lock in a specific address, set a static IP in your router's settings instead.

What if System Settings shows "Self-Assigned IP"?

A self-assigned IP (usually starting with 169.254) means your Mac couldn't reach the router to get a real address. Check that Wi-Fi is on and the network is in range, or restart your Mac and router. If the problem continues, restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds.