Your IP address is a number that identifies your device on your network

An IP address is a set of numbers separated by periods — something like 192.168.1.5 or 10.0.0.12 — that acts as your device's address on a network. Every device connected to your home network has one. Your router also has an IP address. Finding yours takes less than a minute and requires no special tools.

You have two IP addresses that matter: one on your home network (called a private IP address) and one that the outside internet sees (called a public IP address). The private one is what you need to know for setting up your home network securely. The public one changes regularly and is assigned by your internet provider.

Key Takeaways

  • Your private IP address is visible in your network settings and usually starts with 192.168 or 10.0 — this is the one you need for home network setup.
  • On Windows, open Settings, go to Network & Internet, then Status to see your private IP address in seconds.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, click Network, select your connection, and look for the IP address field.
  • Your router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) is where you log in to change your network password and security settings.
  • Your public IP address is what websites see and changes automatically — you can find it by searching "what is my IP" in any browser.

Finding your private IP address on Windows

Open the Settings app and go to Network & Internet. Click Status on the left side. Scroll down and click Advanced network settings. You will see a section called IP settings with your private IP address listed next to "IPv4 address".

If you are using Wi-Fi, you can also right-click the Wi-Fi icon in your taskbar, select Show available networks, then click your network name and select Properties. Scroll down to find "IPv4 address".

Finding your private IP address on Mac

Open System Settings and click Network on the left. Select the connection you are using (Wi-Fi or Ethernet). Your IP address appears in the main panel next to "IP Address".

You can also open System Preferences, click Network, select your connection, and look for the IP address field in the window that opens.

Finding your private IP address on Linux

Open a terminal and type hostname -I then press Enter. Your private IP address will appear on the next line. This method works on most Linux distributions without needing to navigate through graphical menus.

Alternatively, type ip addr show and look for the line that starts with "inet" — the number after it is your IP address. This command shows more detail about your network connection, including which interface (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) the address belongs to.

Finding your router's IP address

Your router's IP address is where you log in to change your Wi-Fi password, update security settings, or see which devices are connected. On most home networks, it is 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. Open a web browser and type one of these addresses into the address bar.

If neither works, open your device's network settings and look for "Default Gateway" — that number is your router's IP address. On Windows, open Command Prompt and type ipconfig, then look for the line labeled "Default Gateway". On Mac, open Terminal and type netstat -nr | grep default.

Finding your public IP address

Your public IP address is what the outside internet sees when you visit a website. It is assigned by your internet provider and changes periodically. To find it, open any web browser and search for "what is my IP address" — the first result will show it to you.

You do not need your public IP address for home network setup. It is useful mainly if you need to troubleshoot internet problems with your provider or if you are setting up remote access to devices at home. Unlike your private IP address, you cannot change it directly — your internet provider controls it.

Why knowing your IP address matters for network security

Your private IP address is important because it is how you reach your router's settings page to change your Wi-Fi password or turn on security features. If you forget your router's address, you can always find it through the Default Gateway method described above.

Knowing which devices are on your network also matters. Once you log into your router, you can see a list of connected devices and their IP addresses. If you see a device you do not recognize, that is a sign someone may have connected to your network without permission. Most routers let you block devices or change your Wi-Fi password from that same settings page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my IP address private information I should hide?

Your private IP address (192.168.x.x) only works on your home network, so there is no security risk in sharing it. Your public IP address is visible to every website you visit, but it only tells someone your general location and internet provider — not your name or address. Websites track you through cookies and accounts, not through your IP address alone.

Can I change my IP address?

Your private IP address can be changed in your router settings, but there is usually no reason to. Your public IP address changes automatically when your internet provider assigns you a new one, which happens periodically. You cannot force a change unless your provider allows it.

What if I see an IP address starting with 169.169?

That means your device failed to get an IP address from your router. Restart your device and reconnect to Wi-Fi. If it keeps happening, restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. If the problem continues, your router may not be assigning addresses correctly.

Do I need to know my IP address to change my Wi-Fi password?

You need your router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1) to log into the settings page where you change your password. Your device's private IP address is not needed for this task — only the router's address matters.