Your WiFi IP address is the number your router assigns to identify your device on your home network

When you connect to WiFi, your router gives your device a local IP address — something like 192.168.1.5 or 10.0.0.12. This is different from your internet-facing IP address, which is what websites see when you visit them. Your WiFi IP address only works inside your home network. It lets your router know which device to send data to when you're streaming video, checking email, or printing a document.

You have a WiFi IP address for every device that connects to your network — your phone, laptop, smart TV, security camera, everything. Your router keeps track of all of them. If something goes wrong with one device, knowing its IP address helps you troubleshoot the problem or block it from the network if needed.

Key Takeaways

  • Your WiFi IP address is assigned by your router and only works on your home network, not on the internet.
  • On Windows, open Command Prompt and type ipconfig to see your WiFi IP address listed as "IPv4 Address".
  • On Mac or Linux, open Terminal and type ifconfig or ip addr to find your local IP address.
  • On phones and tablets, go to Settings, find your WiFi network name, and tap it to see the IP address assigned to that device.
  • Knowing your device's IP address helps you troubleshoot network problems, set up port forwarding, or restrict a device's access to your network.

Finding your IP address on Windows

Open Command Prompt by pressing the Windows key, typing cmd, and pressing Enter. Type ipconfig and press Enter. You will see a list of network connections. Look for the section labeled "Wireless LAN adapter WiFi" or similar. The line that says "IPv4 Address" shows your WiFi IP address — it will be four numbers separated by periods, like 192.168.1.105.

If you see multiple network adapters listed, find the one that shows a real IP address (not 0.0.0.0) under the WiFi adapter section. That is the address your router assigned to your device right now. If you disconnect and reconnect to WiFi, your router may assign you a different one, depending on how your router is configured.

Finding your IP address on Mac or Linux

On Mac, open Terminal (search for it in Spotlight or find it in Applications > Utilities). Type ifconfig and press Enter. Look for a section labeled "en0" or "en1" — these are your network interfaces. Find the line that starts with "inet" (not "inet6"). The number after "inet" is your WiFi IP address.

On Linux, open a terminal and type ip addr or ifconfig depending on your distribution. Look for the interface connected to your WiFi (often labeled "wlan0" or "wlp3s0"). The "inet" address shown there is your local IP address on the network.

Finding your IP address on phones and tablets

On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > WiFi. Tap the name of the WiFi network you are connected to. Scroll down and you will see "IP Address" listed along with other network details like the subnet mask and router address.

On Android, go to Settings > WiFi. Tap the network name you are connected to (or the gear icon next to it, depending on your phone). Look for "IP address" in the network details. Some Android phones show this information on the main WiFi settings screen; others require you to tap into the specific network.

What your WiFi IP address tells you about your network setup

The first three numbers in your IP address tell you something about your network. Most home routers use addresses starting with 192.168.1 or 10.0.0. If your address starts with something else — like 172.16 — your router is using a different private range, which is fine but less common. The last number (the fourth set) is unique to your device on that network.

If you see an address starting with 169.254, your device did not get a proper address from your router. This usually means your WiFi connection is unstable or your router is not working correctly. Reconnecting to WiFi or restarting your router often fixes this.

When you need to know your WiFi IP address

Knowing your device's IP address becomes useful when you are troubleshooting network problems. If one device is slow or dropping connection, you can restart just that device or restart your router and watch which IP address it gets assigned next. If you want to set up port forwarding (directing traffic from the internet to a specific device on your network), you need that device's local IP address.

You also need it if you want to block a device from your network or set up parental controls for a specific device. Some routers let you restrict internet access by IP address, so knowing which address belongs to which device matters. If you are setting up a printer, security camera, or other smart home device that needs a stable address, you may want to assign it a fixed IP so it does not change when you restart your router.

The difference between your WiFi IP and your internet IP

Your WiFi IP address (like 192.168.1.5) is private and only visible inside your home network. Your internet IP address is what your router uses to talk to the outside world — it is assigned by your internet service provider and is visible to websites you visit. You cannot see your internet IP address from inside your home network the same way you see your WiFi IP. To find your internet IP, you would search "what is my IP" in a web browser, which shows you the address your ISP assigned to your router.

This separation is intentional. Your private WiFi IP keeps your device hidden from the internet. Your router acts as a middleman, translating between your private address and your public one. This is one reason why devices on your home network are harder to attack directly from the internet — attackers see your router's IP, not the individual addresses of your devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my WiFi IP address change if I restart my router?

It might. Most home routers assign addresses dynamically, meaning the address can change each time you connect. If you need a device to keep the same IP address, you can set a static IP in your device settings or configure your router to always assign the same address to that device (called DHCP reservation).

Can someone on my WiFi network see my IP address?

Yes, anyone connected to your WiFi can see other devices' local IP addresses if they know how to look. This is why it matters who you let onto your network. If you are concerned about privacy on a shared network, use a VPN on your device, which encrypts your traffic even on your home WiFi.

Is my WiFi IP address the same as my MAC address?

No. Your MAC address is a permanent identifier built into your device's network hardware. Your IP address is assigned by your router and can change. Both are useful for different troubleshooting tasks, but they are not the same thing.

What should I do if my device keeps getting a different IP address?

If a device needs a stable address for port forwarding or network access, log into your router's settings and set up DHCP reservation for that device. This tells your router to always assign the same IP to that specific device, even after restarts.

Can I change my WiFi IP address myself?

You can set a static IP on your device in its network settings, but this can cause conflicts if your router tries to assign the same address to another device. The safer approach is to use your router's DHCP reservation feature, which keeps the router in control while ensuring one device always gets the same address.