Your PC has two IP addresses, and you need to know both

Your computer has a public IP address (the one your internet provider assigns, visible to websites you visit) and a private IP address (the one your router assigns, visible only inside your home network). For home network security, you almost always need the private one — it tells you whether your PC is actually connected to your router and helps you spot devices that shouldn't be there.

Finding your private IP takes 30 seconds on Windows or Mac. Finding your public IP takes even less time. Both are useful for different reasons: your private IP helps you manage your own network, while your public IP is what you check if you're troubleshooting why a website sees you as being in the wrong location, or if you're setting up remote access to your home computer.

Key Takeaways

  • Your private IP address is assigned by your router and stays the same most of the time — find it through Settings on Windows or System Preferences on Mac.
  • Your public IP address is assigned by your internet provider and is what websites see — you can find it by searching "what is my IP" in any browser.
  • If your private IP keeps changing, you can set it to static in your router settings so port forwarding and remote access stay reliable.
  • Knowing both addresses helps you spot unauthorized devices on your network and troubleshoot connection problems without calling your provider.

Finding your private IP address on Windows

On Windows 10 or 11, open Settings and go to Network & Internet, then Status. Scroll down and click "View your network properties." You will see your IPv4 address listed there — that is your private IP. It usually starts with 192.168 or 10.0.

If you prefer the command line, press Windows key + R, type cmd, and press Enter. Type ipconfig and press Enter. Look for "IPv4 Address" under your active network connection. The number next to it is your private IP.

Write down or screenshot this number. You will need it if you ever set up port forwarding on your router, configure remote access, or need to identify your PC when troubleshooting network problems.

Finding your private IP address on Mac

On Mac, click the Apple menu and go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions). Click Network on the left side. Select your active connection (usually Wi-Fi) and your IP address appears on the right side of the window. It usually starts with 192.168 or 10.0.

You can also open Terminal (search for it in Spotlight), type ifconfig, and press Enter. Look for "inet" under your active connection — that is your private IP.

Finding your public IP address

Open any web browser and search for "what is my IP" or go directly to a site like whatismyipaddress.com or icanhazip.com. Your public IP appears when ready. This is the address your internet provider assigned to your home connection, and it is what websites see when you visit them.

Your public IP changes periodically — usually when your modem restarts or when your provider decides to reassign it. This is normal and expected. You do not need to do anything about it unless you are setting up something that requires a static public IP, which is a separate service your provider may charge for.

Why your private IP matters for network security

Your private IP is the address your router uses to talk to your PC. If you log into your router's admin panel (usually by typing 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into a browser), you can see a list of all devices connected to your network and their private IPs. This is how you spot whether someone else's phone or laptop has connected without permission.

If you see an unfamiliar device, you can block it by its MAC address (a unique hardware identifier) or by changing your Wi-Fi password. Knowing your own PC's private IP helps you tell the difference between your devices and anything unexpected.

When to set your private IP to static

Normally your router assigns a new private IP to your PC each time it connects — this is called DHCP. Most of the time this is fine. But if you set up port forwarding (to run a home server or game server), or if you configure remote access to your PC, a changing private IP breaks those settings.

To set a static private IP, log into your router's admin panel, find the DHCP settings, and look for an option to reserve an IP address for your PC's MAC address. The exact steps vary by router brand, but the principle is the same: you tell the router "always give this device the same IP." Once set, your private IP stays put.

Do not manually change your PC's IP settings unless you know what you are doing — it is easier and safer to set the reservation in the router itself.

Troubleshooting when you cannot find your IP address

If the Settings menu does not show an IP address, or if ipconfig shows 169.254.x.x, your PC is not actually connected to the network. Check that your Wi-Fi is on and you are connected to your router's network name. If you are using Ethernet, make sure the cable is plugged in on both ends.

Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. Wait two minutes for it to fully restart, then check your IP address again. If you still see no IP or a 169.254 address, restart your PC as well.

If you are on a work or school network, your IT department may have blocked access to these settings. Contact them before trying to change anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it dangerous to share your IP address?

Your public IP is already visible to every website you visit — there is no security risk in sharing it. Your private IP is only useful to someone already on your home network. The real risk is sharing your router's admin password, which lets someone change your network settings. Keep that password strong and do not share it.

Why does my IP address keep changing?

Your internet provider assigns public IPs dynamically, meaning they change when your modem restarts or after a set period. Your private IP changes if you do not have a DHCP reservation set in your router. Both are normal. If you need a static address for a specific reason, contact your provider about a static public IP or set a reservation in your router for your private IP.

Can someone hack me if they know my IP address?

Knowing your IP alone does not let someone hack you. They would still need to find an open port on your router, exploit a vulnerability in software you are running, or trick you into downloading malware. A strong router password, keeping your software updated, and not opening ports you do not need are far more important than hiding your IP.

What is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?

IPv4 addresses look like 192.168.1.5 and are what most home networks still use. IPv6 addresses are longer and look like 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334. Most home routers support both, but IPv4 is still the standard. For home network purposes, you can focus on IPv4.

Do I need to know my IP address to use my computer normally?

No. Your computer finds your IP automatically and uses it to connect to your network and the internet. You only need to know it if you are troubleshooting a connection problem, setting up port forwarding, configuring remote access, or checking what devices are on your network.