Finding your IP address takes less than a minute on any operating system

Your PC has an IP address right now — it's the number your router uses to send data to your computer instead of to your printer or phone. You may need it to troubleshoot a connection problem, set up a device on your network, or access your computer remotely. The steps differ slightly between Windows, Mac, and Linux, but all three show you the address in under a minute.

The fastest way depends on what you're running. Windows users open Settings or Command Prompt. Mac users check System Settings or Terminal. Linux users open a terminal. Each method shows the same information: your local IP address (the one your router assigned) and sometimes your public IP address (the one your internet provider assigned).

Key Takeaways

  • Your local IP address starts with 192.168 or 10.0 and is assigned by your router to devices on your home network.
  • Windows users can find it fastest through Settings > Network & Internet > WiFi or Ethernet, or by typing ipconfig in Command Prompt.
  • Mac users open System Settings > General > About and look for the IP address listed under network connection details.
  • Linux users open a terminal and type ip addr or ifconfig to see all network addresses on the system.
  • Your public IP address (the one websites see) is different from your local IP and can be found through a web search for "my IP".

Finding your IP address in Windows 10 and 11

The easiest route in Windows is through Settings. Click the Start button, type "Settings," and open it. Go to Network & Internet on the left side. If you're connected by WiFi, click WiFi; if you're using an ethernet cable, click Ethernet. Under the connection name, you'll see "IP address" followed by a number like 192.168.1.105. That's your local IP address.

If Settings doesn't show what you need, open Command Prompt instead. Click Start, type "cmd," and open Command Prompt. Type ipconfig and press Enter. You'll see a list of all network connections. Look for "IPv4 Address" under the connection you're using — that's your local IP. If you see multiple entries, find the one that starts with 192.168 or 10.0; that's the address your router assigned.

Finding your IP address on Mac

Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs). Click General on the left, then click About. Look for "IP Address" in the window that opens — it appears next to your network connection type. If you don't see it there, go back to System Settings, click Network on the left, select your active connection (WiFi or Ethernet), and click Details. The IP address is listed at the top.

If you prefer the terminal, click the Spotlight icon (magnifying glass) in the top right, type "Terminal," and open it. Type ifconfig and press Enter. Look for the section labeled with your connection type (en0 for WiFi, en1 for Ethernet). Find the line that starts with "inet" — the number after it is your local IP address.

Finding your IP address in Linux

Open a terminal window. The fastest command is ip addr, which shows all network interfaces and their addresses. Look for the section labeled with your connection name (often eth0 for ethernet or wlan0 for WiFi). The IP address appears after "inet" and before the forward slash.

If ip addr doesn't work on your system, try the older command ifconfig. It shows the same information in a slightly different format. Again, find your connection name and look for the line starting with "inet" — the number there is your local IP address. Both commands show only your local address; to find your public IP, use a web search or type curl ifconfig.me in the terminal.

Understanding what your IP address means

The address you just found is your local IP address — the one your router uses to identify your PC on your home network. It usually starts with 192.168 or 10.0 and never changes unless you restart your router or your PC doesn't reconnect properly. This is the address you use when you're setting up a device on your network or troubleshooting a connection problem.

Your public IP address is different. It's assigned by your internet provider and is what websites see when you visit them. You won't find it on your PC — it lives at your router. To see your public IP, search "what is my IP" in any browser, and the first result will show it. Your public IP can change if your router restarts or if your provider reassigns it, which is normal.

When you need your IP address and what to do with it

You need your local IP address when you're setting up a new device on your network and need to connect it to your PC, or when you're troubleshooting why a device can't reach your computer. If someone asks you to "ping" your PC or access it remotely, they'll ask for this address. You also need it if you're changing your router settings and want to reserve a specific address for your PC so it doesn't change.

You need your public IP address much less often — mainly if you're setting up a service that lets you access your home network from outside your house, or if you're reporting a problem to your internet provider. Never share your public IP with someone you don't trust, because it can be used to identify your location roughly and attempt connections to your network. Your local IP is safe to share within your home network.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my IP address keep changing?

Your router assigns local IP addresses automatically, and they can change if your PC disconnects and reconnects or if your router restarts. If you need the same address every time, you can reserve it in your router settings — look for "DHCP reservation" or "static IP" in your router's admin page. Your public IP can also change when your router restarts, which is normal and expected.

Is my IP address the same as my MAC address?

No. Your MAC address is a hardware identifier that never changes; your IP address is assigned by your network and can change. They serve different purposes on your network. Your MAC address identifies which physical device you are; your IP address is where data gets sent to reach you.

Can I use my IP address to access my PC from another computer?

Your local IP address only works on your home network — you can't use it to reach your PC from outside your house. To access your PC remotely, you need your public IP address and remote access software set up on your router. This is more complex and requires careful security setup, so research the method before you try it.

What if I see multiple IP addresses when I run ipconfig or ifconfig?

Your PC may have multiple network connections active at once — WiFi and ethernet, or a VPN connection alongside your regular one. Find the address for the connection you're actually using. If you're connected by WiFi, look for the WiFi adapter; if you're using ethernet, look for the ethernet adapter. Ignore addresses for virtual adapters or VPN connections unless you specifically need one of those.