Finding your IP address on Windows, Mac, or Linux

Your IP address is a set of numbers assigned to your device so it can send and receive data on your network. You may need to find it to troubleshoot a connection problem, set up a printer, or configure your router. The steps differ slightly depending on what device you use.

On Windows 10 or 11, open Settings, select Network & Internet, then Wi-Fi or Ethernet depending on how you connect. Click the network you are currently using. Scroll down to find "IPv4 address" — that is the number you are looking for. It will look something like 192.168.1.105.

On Mac, open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click Network on the left side, select your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection, and look for "IP Address" in the window that appears. On Linux, open a terminal and type hostname -I to see your local IP address.

Key Takeaways

  • Your local IP address (the one on your home network) starts with 192.168 or 10.0 and appears in your device settings under Network or Wi-Fi.
  • Your public IP address (the one the internet sees) is different from your local one and can be found by searching "what is my IP" in any web browser.
  • You may need your local IP address to log into your router, set up a printer, or troubleshoot network problems.
  • Your IP address can change if you restart your router or if your internet provider reassigns it, so write it down only if you need it right away.

Finding your public IP address

Your public IP address is different from the one you see in your device settings. The number in your settings is your local IP address — it only works on your home network. Your public IP address is what websites and services on the internet see when you connect to them.

To find your public IP address, open any web browser and search for "what is my IP" or "my IP address". The first result will show you the number. You can also visit sites like whatismyipaddress.com or ipinfo.io, which display your public IP along with your general location and internet provider.

Your public IP address is assigned by your internet service provider and can change when you restart your modem or router. Most home users do not need to know this number, but it becomes useful if you are setting up remote access to your home computer or troubleshooting why a service is blocking your connection.

Understanding the difference between local and public IP addresses

A local IP address only works inside your home network. It is assigned by your router to each device that connects — your phone, laptop, printer, smart TV, and so on. These addresses always start with 192.168, 10.0, or 172.16. They let your devices talk to each other and to your router, but they are invisible to the outside internet.

A public IP address is assigned to your router by your internet service provider. It is the address that the rest of the internet uses to find your home network. When you visit a website, that website sees your public IP, not your local one. This is why websites can sometimes guess your general location — they are looking up your public IP address in a geographic database.

You need your local IP address when you want to log into your router's settings, set up a device on your home network, or troubleshoot why something is not connecting. You need your public IP address only if you are setting up remote access or if a service tells you it has blocked your connection.

Finding your router's IP address

Your router itself has a local IP address, and you may need it to log in and change your Wi-Fi password or network settings. On most home routers, the address is 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. You can find the exact address on a sticker on the back or bottom of your router — it is usually labeled "Default Gateway" or "Router Address".

To reach your router's login page, open a web browser and type the address into the address bar (for example, 192.168.1.1). You will be asked for a username and password. If you have not changed these, they are usually printed on the same sticker as the router address. If you have changed them and forgotten them, you can reset the router to factory settings by holding down a small reset button for 10 to 15 seconds, though this will erase any custom settings you made.

Why you might need to know your IP address

The most common reason to find your IP address is to troubleshoot a network problem. If a device will not connect to your Wi-Fi, knowing its local IP address helps you see whether it is actually on the network. If a printer is not printing, you may need its IP address to add it to your computer or phone.

You might also need your local IP address to log into your router and change settings — for example, to restart it, change your Wi-Fi password, or adjust parental controls. Some people write down their router's IP address and keep it in a safe place for this reason.

If a website or service tells you that your connection has been blocked, you may need your public IP address to contact their support team and ask them to unblock it. This is rare, but it can happen if your internet provider's IP range is flagged as suspicious or if you are using a VPN that the service does not allow.

What to do if you cannot find your IP address

If the steps above do not work, restart your device and try again. Sometimes the network settings page takes a moment to load. If you are using a phone or tablet, make sure you are looking at the Wi-Fi settings, not the cellular settings — the IP address only appears under Wi-Fi.

If you are trying to find your router's IP address and the sticker is missing or unreadable, you can find it by looking at your device's network settings. On Windows, open Command Prompt and type ipconfig, then look for "Default Gateway" — that is your router's address. On Mac, open Terminal and type netstat -nr | grep default. On a phone, the router address usually appears at the bottom of the Wi-Fi settings page under "Router" or "Gateway".

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone use my IP address to hack me?

Your public IP address alone is not enough to hack your device — it is like knowing someone's street address but not having keys to their house. However, it can be used to find your general location or to target you with certain types of attacks. Keeping your router password strong and your device software updated protects you far more than hiding your IP address.

Will my IP address change if I restart my router?

Your local IP addresses (the ones on your devices) usually stay the same when you restart your router, but not always. Your public IP address may change when you restart your modem or router, depending on your internet provider's settings. If you need a stable address for a specific purpose, contact your provider about a static IP option.

Is my IP address the same on Wi-Fi and cellular?

No. When you are on Wi-Fi, you have a local IP address from your router and a public IP address from your internet provider. When you are on cellular, your phone has a different public IP address assigned by your mobile carrier. Your local IP address only exists on your home network.

Why do I see multiple IP addresses in my settings?

You may see both an IPv4 address (like 192.168.1.105) and an IPv6 address (a longer string with colons and letters). Both are valid — IPv6 is a newer system that will eventually replace IPv4. For most home network tasks, you only need the IPv4 address.