Open Command Prompt and type one command to see your IP address

The fastest way to find your IP address is to open Command Prompt and run a single command. On Windows, press the Windows key, type cmd, and press Enter. On Mac or Linux, open Terminal instead. Once the window is open, type ipconfig (Windows) or ifconfig (Mac and Linux) and press Enter.

Your computer will display a list of network adapters and their settings. Look for the line that says IPv4 Address on Windows, or inet on Mac and Linux. The number next to it — something like 192.168.1.5 or 10.0.0.3 — is your device's local IP address on your home network. This is the address other devices on your network use to find your computer.

If you see multiple adapters listed (Ethernet, Wi-Fi, virtual adapters), each one has its own IP address. The one you need depends on how your device connects to the network. If you are connected by Wi-Fi, look under the wireless adapter. If you are plugged in with an Ethernet cable, look under the Ethernet adapter.

Key Takeaways

  • Type ipconfig in Windows Command Prompt or ifconfig in Mac/Linux Terminal to display all network adapters and their IP addresses.
  • Your local IP address appears next to IPv4 Address on Windows or inet on Mac and Linux, and is the address devices use to reach you on your home network.
  • If multiple adapters are listed, find the one matching how you are connected — Wi-Fi or Ethernet — to get the correct IP address.
  • The local IP address (usually starting with 192.168 or 10.0) is different from your public IP address, which your internet provider assigns to your entire home network.

Understanding local IP versus public IP from the command output

The IP address you see in Command Prompt is your local IP address — the one your router assigns to your device for use inside your home network. It typically starts with 192.168, 10.0, or 172.16. This address is how your printer, smart TV, and other devices on the same network find your computer.

Your public IP address is different. It is assigned by your internet provider and is the address the outside internet sees when you visit a website or send an email. You cannot see your public IP in Command Prompt because it belongs to your router, not your individual device. If you need your public IP, you would have to visit a website like whatismyipaddress.com or use a different command.

For most home network tasks — like connecting a printer, streaming to a smart TV, or accessing a file on another computer at home — you need the local IP address from Command Prompt. For troubleshooting internet connection problems or checking if your provider has changed your address, you need the public IP.

How to read the full network information displayed

When you run ipconfig or ifconfig, the output shows more than just the IP address. Understanding what each line means helps you troubleshoot network problems or find information your router or internet provider asks for.

On Windows, the output groups information by adapter. Each adapter shows its name (like "Ethernet adapter Ethernet" or "Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi"), followed by several lines of details. The IPv4 Address is what you need most often. Below that, you will see the Subnet Mask (usually 255.255.255.0), which defines which other devices are on your local network, and the Default Gateway (usually 192.168.1.1 or 10.0.0.1), which is your router's address.

On Mac and Linux, the format is slightly different. Each adapter is listed with a name like "en0" or "wlan0". The inet line shows your local IP address. Below that you may see netmask and broadcast information, which serve the same purpose as the Windows output.

If an adapter shows "Media disconnected" on Windows or has no inet address on Mac and Linux, that adapter is not currently connected to the network. This is normal if you have both Ethernet and Wi-Fi but are only using one.

Finding your IP address on a specific network adapter

If you have multiple network adapters and want to see only one, you can narrow the command output. On Windows, type ipconfig /all to see detailed information about every adapter, including their physical addresses and DNS settings. This is useful if you need to give your IT support person or router manufacturer complete details about your setup.

To find the IP address of just your Wi-Fi adapter on Windows, run ipconfig and look for the section labeled "Wireless LAN adapter" or "Wi-Fi". To find just your Ethernet adapter, look for "Ethernet adapter". On Mac and Linux, you can type ifconfig en0 (for Wi-Fi) or ifconfig en1 (for Ethernet) to see only that adapter, though the exact names vary by device.

Virtual adapters — created by VPN software, virtual machines, or network tools — will also appear in the list. If you see adapters you do not recognize, they are usually safe to ignore unless you are actively using the software that created them.

Checking if your IP address changes and why it might

Your local IP address can change if you restart your router, if your device reconnects to the network, or if your router's DHCP settings are configured to reassign addresses. DHCP is the system that automatically hands out IP addresses to devices on your network. Most home routers use DHCP by default, which means your device's IP address may not be the same tomorrow.

If you run ipconfig twice in a row without restarting anything, your IP address should be the same both times. If you restart your router or your device, the address may change. Some people assign a static IP address to devices they need to reach consistently — like a printer or a home server — so the address never changes. This is done in your router's settings, not in Command Prompt.

To check if your address has changed, run ipconfig again after restarting your router or device and compare the IPv4 Address line to what you saw before. If it is different, your router reassigned it. If you need the address to stay the same, you can ask your router to reserve that address for your device, which is a simpler alternative to setting a static IP.

Using ipconfig commands for network troubleshooting

Beyond finding your IP address, Command Prompt has commands that help diagnose network problems. If you cannot reach another device on your network or the internet, ipconfig can show you whether your device is connected at all. If the IPv4 Address field is blank or shows 0.0.0.0, your device is not connected to the network.

If you suspect your router is not assigning addresses correctly, you can type ipconfig /release followed by ipconfig /renew on Windows to ask your router for a fresh IP address. This forces your device to disconnect and reconnect, which often fixes connection problems. On Mac and Linux, the process is different and usually requires terminal commands specific to your network adapter.

If you need to see your DNS settings (the servers that translate website names into IP addresses), type ipconfig /all on Windows and look for the "DNS Servers" line. On Mac and Linux, type cat /etc/resolv.conf to see your DNS configuration. These details are useful if your internet provider or a technician asks for them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if Command Prompt shows multiple IPv4 addresses for one adapter?

Some devices or network setups assign more than one IP address to a single adapter. The first one listed is usually the primary address your device uses. If you are not sure which one to use, try the first one. If that does not work, ask the person or system that needs your IP address which one they need.

Is my local IP address the same as my computer's name on the network?

No. Your computer has a name (like "James-Laptop") that you can set in your system settings, and a separate IP address that Command Prompt shows. Both can be used to find your device on the network, but they are different. Some devices prefer one or the other.

Can I change my IP address using Command Prompt?

You can release and renew your address using ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew, which may assign you a different one. To set a permanent static IP, you must use your router's settings or your device's network settings, not Command Prompt.

Why does my IP address start with 169.169 instead of 192.168?

An address starting with 169.169 means your device could not reach your router's DHCP server to get a proper address. This usually means your network cable is unplugged, your Wi-Fi is disconnected, or your router is not working. Reconnect to the network or restart your router.