What Your IP Address Is and Why You Need It

Your IP address is a set of numbers that identifies your device on your network — something like 192.168.1.5 on your home network, or a different number when you connect elsewhere. You need to know it for several reasons: to log into your router's settings, to troubleshoot why a device won't connect, to set up port forwarding for gaming or remote access, or straightforward to confirm which device is which when multiple devices are on your network.

There are two IP addresses that matter. Your local IP address is what your device uses inside your home network. Your public IP address is what the internet sees when you browse — it's assigned by your internet service provider and is the same for all devices in your home. Most of the time, you need the local one.

Key Takeaways

  • Your local IP address is found in your device settings or network information, and it starts with 192.168 or 10.0 on most home networks.
  • Windows users can find it by opening Command Prompt and typing ipconfig, then looking for "IPv4 Address".
  • Mac and Linux users open Terminal and type ifconfig or ip addr to see the same information.
  • Your public IP address (what the internet sees) can be found by visiting a website like whatismyipaddress.com from any browser.
  • If you need your router's IP address to change settings, it is almost always 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.

Finding Your IP Address on Windows

The fastest way on Windows is through Command Prompt. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and press Enter. A black window opens. Type ipconfig and press Enter. You will see a list of network information.

Look for the section labeled with your network name or "Ethernet" if you are wired. Find the line that says IPv4 Address — that number is your local IP address. It will look something like 192.168.1.42. Write it down or take a screenshot if you need it for later.

If you prefer not to use Command Prompt, you can also find it through Settings. Open Settings, go to Network & Internet, then Status. Scroll down and click "View your network properties". Look for "IPv4 address" in the list.

Finding Your IP Address on Mac

On Mac, open System Preferences (or System Settings on newer versions), then click Network. Select your active connection — usually "Wi-Fi" or "Ethernet" — and your local IP address appears in the window. It shows up next to "IP Address" or sometimes "IPv4 Address".

If you want to use Terminal instead, press Command + Space, type terminal, and press Enter. Type ifconfig and press Enter. Look for the section labeled "en0" (for Ethernet) or "en1" (for Wi-Fi). Find the line starting with "inet" — the number after that is your local IP address.

Finding Your IP Address on Linux

Open a terminal window. Type ip addr and press Enter. You will see a list of all network interfaces. Look for the one labeled "wlan0" (wireless) or "eth0" (wired). The line starting with "inet" shows your local IP address.

If that command does not work, try ifconfig instead. The output is similar — find your active connection and look for the "inet" line. The number there is your local IP address.

Finding Your Public IP Address

Your public IP address is what websites and services see when you connect from home. To find it, open any web browser and visit whatismyipaddress.com or ipinfo.io. The page displays your public IP address when ready — no login or read needed.

You can also find it by searching "what is my IP" in Google. Google shows your public IP address right at the top of the search results. This is the address your internet service provider assigned to your home connection, and it is the same for all devices on your network.

Finding Your Router's IP Address

Your router has its own IP address, which you need if you want to log in and change settings like your Wi-Fi password or port forwarding rules. On almost all home networks, the router's IP address is 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. Try the first one in your browser address bar — if that does not work, try the second.

If neither works, you can find the correct address by looking at your device's network settings. On Windows, open Command Prompt, type ipconfig, and look for the line labeled "Default Gateway" — that is your router's IP address. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Network, select your connection, and click Advanced. The router address appears under TCP/IP. On Linux, type ip route in Terminal and look for the line starting with "default via".

What to Do Once You Have Your IP Address

Once you know your local IP address, you can use it to troubleshoot connection problems. If a device is not connecting to your network, you can ping it from another device to see if it is reachable. You can also use it to set up port forwarding in your router if you need to run a server or gaming process.

If you need to log into your router to change settings, use the router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1) in your browser. The router will ask for a username and password — check the sticker on the back of your router if you do not know them. From there, you can change your Wi-Fi name, password, security settings, and other network configurations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my IP address keep changing?

Your local IP address can change if your router restarts or if your device reconnects to the network. Your public IP address changes less often but can shift if your internet service provider restarts your modem or reassigns addresses. If you need a device to stay at the same local IP address, you can set a static IP in your router's settings.

Is it safe to share my public IP address?

Your public IP address is already visible to every website you visit, so sharing it does not create a security risk by itself. However, do not share it in public forums where someone could use it to target your network with attacks. Your local IP address should never be shared outside your home network.

What if I cannot find my IP address using these steps?

Make sure you are connected to your network — if you are offline, you will not have a local IP address. If you are using a VPN, your public IP address will show the VPN's location instead. Restart your device and try again. If the problem continues, restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds.

Can I change my IP address?

You can request a new public IP address from your internet service provider by restarting your modem. For your local IP address, you can set a static address in your router's settings so it does not change, or you can release and renew it through your device's network settings.