Finding Your IP Address on Windows

The fastest way to find your IP address on Windows is through the Command Prompt. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and open Command Prompt. Type ipconfig and press Enter. Look for the line that says "IPv4 Address" — that is your local IP address, the one your router assigned to your computer.

If you want to avoid the command line, you can also find it through Settings. Open Settings, go to Network & Internet, then select your connection type (Wi-Fi or Ethernet). Click on the connection name and scroll down to find "IPv4 address" listed under the connection details.

Both methods show you your local IP address — the address your router uses to talk to your computer. This is what you need if you are setting up a printer on your network, accessing your computer remotely from another device on the same network, or troubleshooting connection problems.

Finding Your IP Address on Mac

On a Mac, open System Settings and click Network on the left side. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and look for the IP address listed in the connection details. It appears as a string of four numbers separated by periods, like 192.168.1.105.

You can also use Terminal if you prefer the command line. Open Terminal (found in Applications > Utilities), type ifconfig, and press Enter. Look for the line starting with "inet" under your active connection — that is your local IP address.

The Mac method shows the same local IP address as Windows, just accessed through a different interface. Your router assigns this address to your Mac when it connects, and it may change if you restart your router or your computer loses and regains connection.

Finding Your IP Address on Linux

Linux users can find their IP address through the terminal using the ip addr command. Open a terminal window, type ip addr show, and press Enter. Look for the section labeled with your network interface name (often eth0 for Ethernet or wlan0 for Wi-Fi). The IP address appears on the line starting with "inet".

An older command that still works on most systems is ifconfig, the same command used on Mac. Type it and look for your active connection — the IP address is listed next to "inet addr" or just "inet".

Some Linux desktop environments also include a graphical network settings tool. The exact location depends on your distribution, but it is usually found in Settings or System Tools under a Network or Connections option.

Key Takeaways

  • Your local IP address is the four-number address your router assigns to your computer, found through Command Prompt on Windows or System Settings on Mac and Linux.
  • On Windows, type ipconfig in Command Prompt and look for "IPv4 Address" to see your local IP in seconds.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, select Network, and click your active connection to see the IP address listed in the details.
  • On Linux, use the terminal command ip addr show or ifconfig to display your local IP address.
  • Your local IP address may change when you restart your router or reconnect to your network, so check it again if you need it for a specific task.

The Difference Between Local and Public IP Addresses

The address you find using these methods is your local IP address — the one your router uses to identify your computer on your home network. This is different from your public IP address, which is what websites see when you visit them. Your public IP is assigned by your internet service provider and is shared by all devices on your network.

You need your local IP address when you are working with devices on your own network — setting up a printer, accessing a security camera, or connecting to your computer from another device in your home. You need your public IP address only if you are setting up remote access from outside your home network or troubleshooting issues with your internet service provider.

To find your public IP address, you can search "what is my IP" in any web browser, and the first result will show it. Your local IP address never leaves your home network, so it is safe to share if you need help troubleshooting a connection problem with someone on your network.

Why Your IP Address Changes and When It Stays the Same

Your router assigns your computer a local IP address each time it connects, usually from a range of addresses it has reserved for that purpose. Most home routers use DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) to hand out these addresses automatically. This means your computer might get a different address the next time you restart your router or reconnect to the network.

If you need your computer to always have the same local IP address — for example, if you are setting up a printer or security camera to connect to it — you can assign a static IP address. This is done in your router's settings, not on the computer itself. Most routers have an option to reserve an IP address for a specific device, which tells the router to always give that device the same address.

Your public IP address, assigned by your internet service provider, is more stable but can also change. It usually stays the same for weeks or months, but may change if your modem restarts or if your service provider updates its network. If you need a permanent public IP for remote access, you can contact your service provider about a static public IP, though this often costs extra.

Using Your IP Address for Common Tasks

Once you know your local IP address, you can use it to access your computer from another device on the same network. If you have set up file sharing or remote desktop access, you would type your IP address into the other device to connect. You can also use it to access a printer's settings page by typing the printer's IP address into a web browser.

If you are troubleshooting a network problem, your IP address tells you whether your computer is actually connected to the network and whether your router is assigning addresses correctly. If your computer shows an IP address starting with 169.254, that means it failed to get an address from your router and is using a fallback address instead — a sign that something is wrong with your connection.

Network administrators and people setting up home labs often need to know the IP addresses of all their devices so they can organize them and make sure nothing is conflicting. Writing down your computer's IP address when you first set it up can save time later if you need to find it again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my IP address change if I restart my computer?

Not usually. Your computer will keep the same local IP address after a restart as long as your router is still running. It will only get a new address if your router restarts, if you disconnect and reconnect to the network, or if your router's DHCP lease expires — which typically takes days or weeks.

Can I see the IP addresses of other devices on my network?

Yes. On Windows, you can type arp -a in Command Prompt to see a list of devices your computer has recently talked to and their IP addresses. On Mac and Linux, use arp -a or ip neigh in the terminal. Your router's settings page usually shows all connected devices and their IP addresses as well.

Is it safe to share my local IP address?

Yes. Your local IP address only works on your home network, so sharing it with someone trying to help you troubleshoot is safe. Your public IP address is also safe to share — websites see it every time you visit them. Never share your router's password or any credentials, but the IP address itself is not sensitive information.

What should I do if my computer does not have an IP address?

If you see no IP address or an address starting with 169.254, your computer is not getting an address from your router. Restart your router first, wait two minutes, and check again. If that does not work, restart your computer. If the problem continues, check that your network cable is plugged in (for Ethernet) or that you are connected to the correct Wi-Fi network.