Open Command Prompt and run ipconfig to see your IP address

The fastest way to find your IP address is to open Command Prompt on Windows and type a single command. Command Prompt is a text-based tool built into Windows that lets you run system commands directly. The command ipconfig displays all the network settings for your computer, including the IP address your router assigned to it.

To open Command Prompt, press the Windows key and type cmd, then press Enter. A black window will open. Type ipconfig and press Enter. Your screen will fill with network information. Look for the section labeled Ethernet adapter or Wireless LAN adapter depending on how your computer connects to the network. Next to "IPv4 Address" you will see a number like 192.168.1.5 or 10.0.0.3 — that is your IP address.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Command Prompt by pressing Windows key + R, typing cmd, and pressing Enter.
  • Type ipconfig and press Enter to display your network settings including your IP address.
  • Look for "IPv4 Address" under either Ethernet adapter or Wireless LAN adapter depending on your connection type.
  • The ipconfig command also shows your gateway address (usually your router) and DNS servers your computer uses.

Understanding what ipconfig shows you

When you run ipconfig, you see several pieces of information for each network connection. The IPv4 Address is the address your router gave your computer on your home network. The Subnet Mask (usually 255.255.255.0) defines which other devices on your network your computer can talk to directly. The Default Gateway is your router's address — the device that sends your traffic to the internet.

You will also see DNS Servers listed. These are the servers your computer uses to translate website names like google.com into IP addresses. Your router usually provides these automatically, but they may be from your internet provider or from a public service like Google DNS (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1).

If your computer is connected by ethernet cable, look under "Ethernet adapter". If you are using WiFi, look under "Wireless LAN adapter" or "WiFi". Some computers show both if they have both types of connection available.

Finding your public IP address instead

The IP address ipconfig shows you is your private 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 address belongs to your internet provider, and your router translates between the two.

Command Prompt cannot show your public IP address directly because that information lives on the internet, not on your computer. To find your public IP address, you need to visit a website that displays it, such as whatismyipaddress.com or ipchicken.com. These sites show you the address your internet provider assigned to your home connection.

Using ipconfig /all for more detailed information

If you type ipconfig /all instead of just ipconfig, you get additional details about each network connection. This includes your computer's MAC address (a unique identifier for your network card), the DHCP server that assigned your IP address, and when that assignment expires and will be renewed.

The /all version is useful if you need to troubleshoot network problems or if you are setting up port forwarding on your router and need your computer's exact MAC address. For most purposes, the basic ipconfig command gives you everything you need.

Renewing or releasing your IP address

Sometimes your computer's IP address stops working correctly, or you want to force your router to assign you a different one. You can do this from Command Prompt using two commands. Type ipconfig /release to tell your router you no longer want your current IP address. Then type ipconfig /renew to ask your router for a new one.

Your router will usually assign you a similar address — often the same one you had before — but this process can fix connection problems caused by a stale or conflicting IP address. After running these commands, wait a few seconds and run ipconfig again to see your new address.

Finding a specific device's IP address on your network

If you need to find the IP address of another device on your network — like a printer, smart TV, or another computer — you can use the arp -a command in Command Prompt. This shows all the devices your computer has recently communicated with and their IP addresses. Type arp -a and press Enter to see the list.

This list may be long and include devices you do not recognize. Look for the device name or MAC address if you know it. If you are not sure which address belongs to which device, you can also check your router's settings by opening a web browser and typing your router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). Most routers have a page showing all connected devices with their names and addresses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my IP address start with 192.168 or 10.0?

These are private IP address ranges reserved for home and office networks. Your router uses these addresses for devices on your local network. They never appear on the internet — your router translates them to your public IP address when you send traffic outside your home.

Can I change my IP address from Command Prompt?

You can release and renew it using ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew, but your router will usually assign you a similar address. To set a specific static IP address, you need to change your network settings in Windows Settings or configure your router to always give your computer the same address.

What if ipconfig shows no IPv4 address?

This usually means your computer is not connected to the network or your router is not assigning addresses. Check that your ethernet cable is plugged in or your WiFi is connected. Restart your router and wait 30 seconds, then run ipconfig again.

Is my private IP address visible to websites I visit?

No. Websites only see your public IP address, which belongs to your internet provider. Your private IP address is only used on your home network and never leaves your router.