How to find your IP address on Windows or Mac

Your PC's IP address is a number your router assigns to identify your computer on the network. You need it when you're troubleshooting a connection problem, setting up a printer on your home network, or checking which devices are connected to your WiFi. The steps differ slightly between Windows and Mac, but both take less than a minute.

On Windows 10 or 11: Open Settings, select Network & Internet, then WiFi (or Ethernet if you're plugged in). Scroll down and click "View your network properties." Your IP address appears next to "IPv4 address" — it will look like 192.168.1.50 or similar. On Mac: Open System Settings, click Network on the left, select your connection (WiFi or Ethernet), and your IP address appears in the details panel on the right.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users find their IP address in Settings > Network & Internet, then in the network properties for their active connection.
  • Mac users find their IP address in System Settings > Network, displayed next to the connection name.
  • Your IP address usually starts with 192.168 or 10.0 on a home network, and changes only when you restart your router or computer.
  • Write down your IP address if you need it for printer setup or network troubleshooting, since it may change the next time your device restarts.

Using the command line if the settings menu doesn't work

If you can't reach the settings menu or prefer typing commands, both Windows and Mac have a faster route through the command line. On Windows, press the Windows key and R together, type cmd, and press Enter. In the black window that opens, type ipconfig and press Enter. Look for "IPv4 Address" in the list — that's your IP address.

On Mac, open Terminal (search for it in Spotlight by pressing Command and Space). Type ifconfig and press Enter. Look for the section labeled with your connection type (en0 for WiFi, en5 for Ethernet). Your IP address appears next to "inet" — skip any address that starts with 127, as that's your computer talking to itself.

What your IP address tells you about your network

A home IP address usually starts with 192.168 or 10.0, followed by four numbers separated by dots. The first three numbers (like 192.168.1) identify your home network, and the last number identifies your specific computer. If your address starts with something else — like 169.254 — your computer didn't receive an address from your router, which means your connection is broken.

Your IP address changes only when your router restarts, when your computer restarts, or when your router's lease on that address expires (usually after several days or weeks). If you need a device to stay at the same address — for a printer, a security camera, or port forwarding — you can set a static IP in your router's settings, but that's a separate step from finding the address itself.

Why you might need your IP address

The most common reason to find your IP address is to set up a printer or other device on your network. Many printers ask you to enter the IP address of the computer you want to print from, or they display their own IP address so you can configure them through a web browser. Knowing your computer's IP address lets you tell the printer exactly where to send the job.

You also need your IP address if you're troubleshooting a network problem with your internet provider or a tech support person. They may ask you to ping another device (send a test signal) or to check whether your computer is on the same network as another device. Your IP address is also useful if you want to check which devices are connected to your WiFi — your router's admin page shows a list of all active IP addresses.

Finding your router's IP address (the gateway)

Your router also has an IP address, usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. This is called the gateway address, and you need it if you want to log into your router to change WiFi settings, restart it, or see which devices are connected. You can find your router's IP address in the same place you found your computer's: in Windows Settings or Mac System Settings, it's listed as "Default gateway."

You can also find it by looking at the back or bottom of your router — many routers print the gateway address and login instructions on a sticker. If you've never changed your router's password, the default username and password are usually printed there too. Type the gateway address into any web browser's address bar to reach your router's login page.

Static vs. dynamic IP addresses at home

By default, your router assigns your computer a dynamic IP address, which means it can change. This is fine for most people — your computer works the same whether it's 192.168.1.50 or 192.168.1.51. But if you're setting up a device that needs to stay reachable at the same address (like a home server or a networked printer), you can assign a static IP address instead.

To set a static IP, you log into your router's admin page using the gateway address, find the DHCP settings or device list, and either reserve an address for your computer's MAC address (a unique identifier) or manually assign one in your computer's network settings. The exact steps depend on your router brand, but most routers have a "reserve IP" or "static DHCP" option that's simpler than manual assignment. Check your router's manual or support page for the specific steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my IP address start with 169.254?

That means your computer didn't receive an address from your router. Restart your computer and your router, then check again. If it still shows 169.254, your WiFi or Ethernet connection is broken — try unplugging the Ethernet cable and plugging it back in, or forgetting and rejoining your WiFi network.

Can someone see my IP address and find out where I live?

Your home IP address is visible to websites you visit and to other devices on your network, but it doesn't show your street address — it shows your internet provider's general service area, usually a city or region. Your router and computer are protected by a firewall, so knowing the IP address alone doesn't let someone access your files or devices.

Is my IP address the same on WiFi and Ethernet?

No. If you connect to both WiFi and Ethernet at the same time, your computer gets a separate IP address on each connection. Most computers use only one at a time, so you'll have one active address. Check Settings or System Settings to see which connection is active.

What if I need my IP address but can't access Settings?

Use the command line instead: on Windows, press Windows key + R, type cmd, and run ipconfig. On Mac, open Terminal and run ifconfig. Both show your IP address without needing the settings menu.