How to Find Your IP Address on Any Device

What an IP address is and why you need to know yours

Your IP address is a set of numbers that identifies your device on your network and the internet — like a mailing address for data. It looks like four numbers separated by periods: 192.168.1.5 or 8.8.8.8. You have two: a local IP address that identifies your device within your home network, and a public IP address that identifies your home to the wider internet.

You need to know your local IP address when you're troubleshooting network problems, setting up port forwarding, or accessing your router's settings. You need your public IP address when you're diagnosing why a website or service isn't reaching you, or when you're setting up remote access to your home network. Finding either one takes less than a minute on any device.

Key Takeaways

Your local IP address is found in your network settings on Windows, Mac, or Linux, and identifies your device within your home network.
Your public IP address is what the outside internet sees and can be found by visiting a website like whatismyipaddress.com or by checking your router's admin page.
On Windows, open Command Prompt and type ipconfig; on Mac or Linux, open Terminal and type ifconfig or ip addr.
Your router's admin page (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) shows both your local IP and your public IP in one place.
If you're setting up port forwarding or accessing your router remotely, write down both addresses so you have them when you need them.

Finding your local IP address on Windows

Open Command Prompt by pressing the Windows key, typing cmd, and pressing Enter. Type ipconfig and press Enter. Look for the section labeled "Ethernet adapter" or "Wireless LAN adapter" depending on how you're connected. Your local IP address is the number next to "IPv4 Address" — it will start with 192.168 or 10.0 in most home networks.

If you prefer not to use Command Prompt, you can also find it through Settings. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi (or Ethernet), select your network, and scroll down to "IP address" under the Properties section. Both methods show the same number; use whichever feels easier.

Finding your local IP address on Mac

Open System Preferences and click Network. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) from the list on the left. Your local IP address appears in the main window next to "IP Address." It will start with 192.168 or 10.0 in most home networks.

If you want to use Terminal instead, open Applications > Utilities > Terminal, type ifconfig, and press Enter. Look for the section that matches your connection type. Your local IP is next to "inet" (not "inet6"). Both methods show the same address.

Finding your local IP address on Linux

Open a Terminal window. Type ip addr and press Enter. Your local IP address appears next to "inet" in the section for your active network connection. It will start with 192.168 or 10.0 in most home networks. Alternatively, you can type ifconfig if that command is available on your system — it shows the same information in a slightly different format.

If you're not sure which section of the output is your active connection, look for the one labeled "UP" or the one that matches your network interface name (usually eth0 for Ethernet or wlan0 for Wi-Fi). Ignore any sections labeled "lo" — that's your computer's internal loopback address.

Finding your public IP address

Your public IP address is what websites and services see when you connect to them. The simplest way to find it is to visit a website that displays it: go to whatismyipaddress.com, ipchicken.com, or straightforward search "what is my IP" in any search engine. The number will appear at the top of the page within seconds.

If you want to find your public IP without leaving your home network, log into your router's admin page. Open a web browser and type 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in the address bar (check your router's label if neither works). Log in with your router's username and password. Look for a section called "Status," "Internet," or "WAN" — your public IP address is listed there. This method also shows you your local IP address in the same place.

Understanding the difference between the two addresses

Your local IP address is used only within your home network. Devices on your Wi-Fi use it to find and talk to each other. When you're setting up port forwarding or accessing a printer on your network, you use the local IP. This address changes only if you manually change it or if your router's DHCP server assigns a new one (which can happen after a reboot, though most home routers keep the same address for the same device).

Your public IP address is assigned by your internet service provider and is what the outside world sees. When you visit a website, that website logs your public IP, not your local one. If you're setting up remote access to your home network or troubleshooting why a service can't reach you, you need the public IP. Your public IP can change if your modem restarts or if your ISP reassigns it, which is why some people set up a dynamic DNS service to track changes automatically.

What to do if you can't find your IP address

If the command prompt or terminal method doesn't show an IP address, your device may not be connected to the network. Check that Wi-Fi is turned on or that your Ethernet cable is plugged in. Wait a few seconds and try again — sometimes a device takes a moment to receive an address from the router.

If you can't access your router's admin page at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, check the label on the back or bottom of your router — it will list the correct address. If you've changed the router's password and forgotten it, you can reset the router to factory settings by holding the reset button for 10 seconds, though this will erase all your custom settings. After a factory reset, the default username and password (usually printed on the router) will work again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone see my IP address and find out where I live?

Your public IP address can be looked up to find your general location (usually your city or region), but it won't show your street address or home. Your internet service provider knows the exact address tied to that IP, but they don't share that information publicly. Your local IP address is private to your home network and invisible to the outside internet.

Why does my IP address keep changing?

Your router assigns local IP addresses through DHCP, which can reassign them after a reboot or after a set time period. Most home routers keep the same local IP for the same device, but it's not may provide. Your public IP can change if your modem restarts or if your ISP reassigns it. If you need a stable local IP for port forwarding, you can set a static IP in your router's settings.

Is my IP address the same as my MAC address?

No. Your MAC address is a different identifier that works only on your local network and identifies your device's network card. Your IP address works across networks and the internet. Both are useful for different purposes — MAC addresses for connecting to your network, IP addresses for routing data across the internet.

What if I see multiple IP addresses when I run ipconfig or ifconfig?

You may see multiple addresses if you have multiple network connections (Wi-Fi and Ethernet, for example) or if your device has a virtual network adapter. Look for the one next to your active connection — the one you're actually using to reach the internet. Ignore addresses that start with 127.0 (that's your computer talking to itself) or fe80 (that's IPv6, a newer address format).

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.