What you're actually looking for when you search for an IP address
When you type a URL like example.com into your browser, your computer doesn't know where to send the request. It needs a number — an IP address — which is like a street address for a server on the internet. Your computer asks a DNS server "what number goes with example.com?" and gets back something like 93.184.216.34. That number is what you're looking for.
You might want to find this number for several reasons: you're troubleshooting a connection problem, you want to see where a website is physically hosted, or you're checking whether two URLs point to the same server. The method is the same regardless. You're not hacking anything — this information is public and designed to be found.
The simplest routes are a command-line tool on your computer (which takes 30 seconds) or a website that does the lookup for you (which takes 10 seconds). Both give you the same answer.
Key Takeaways
- The fastest method is typing nslookup example.com into Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux), which returns the IP address in seconds.
- If you don't want to use the command line, websites like mxtoolbox.com or whatsmyipaddress.com will look up the IP for you — just paste the URL and click a button.
- One URL can point to multiple IP addresses, and one IP address can host many websites, so the IP alone doesn't tell you everything about where a site is hosted.
- The IP address you find is usually the server's address, not the physical location of the company running the website.
Using Command Prompt or Terminal (the fastest way)
On Windows, open Command Prompt by pressing the Windows key, typing "cmd", and pressing Enter. On Mac or Linux, open Terminal from your Applications folder (Mac) or your applications menu (Linux).
Type this exactly: nslookup example.com — but replace "example.com" with the actual URL you're looking up. Press Enter. Within a second or two, you'll see a result that looks like this:
Name: example.com Address: 93.184.216.34
That number is the IP address. If you see multiple addresses listed, the website is using more than one server. Write down the number or take a screenshot — that's all you need.
If you get an error message saying the server can't be found, the URL might be misspelled, or your internet connection might be down. Try a URL you know works (like google.com) to test whether the command itself is working.
Using a website lookup tool (no command line required)
If you don't want to open Command Prompt or Terminal, several websites will do this lookup for you. Go to mxtoolbox.com or whatsmyipaddress.com in your browser.
On mxtoolbox.com, you'll see a box labeled "Domain" or "Lookup". Paste the URL (example.com, not https://example.com) into that box and click the button that says "MX Lookup" or "DNS Lookup". The results page will show you the IP address under "A Record" or "Address".
On whatsmyipaddress.com, look for a section called "IP Lookup" or "Reverse IP Lookup". Paste your URL into the search box and click the search button. The IP address appears in the results, usually labeled "IP Address" or "Resolved IP".
Both sites are free and don't require you to create an account. The lookup takes a few seconds because the website is asking the same DNS question your computer would ask — it's just doing it for you through a web form.
Understanding what the IP address tells you (and what it doesn't)
The IP address you find is the address of the server where the website's files are stored. This is useful information if you're troubleshooting network problems or checking whether two websites are hosted on the same server. However, it doesn't tell you the physical location of the company running the website.
A company in New York might host its website on a server in California or Europe. The IP address points to the server, not to the business. If you need to know where a company is actually located, you'll need to look at their contact page or business registration, not the IP address.
Also, one URL can point to multiple IP addresses (especially for large websites that use load balancing), and one IP address can host hundreds of websites. So the IP address is one piece of information, not a complete picture of how the website is set up.
What to do if the lookup fails or returns unexpected results
If you get an error or the lookup returns an IP address you weren't expecting, start by checking the URL spelling. A single letter wrong (exampl.com instead of example.com) will return a different result or an error.
If the URL is spelled correctly but you still get an error, wait a minute and try again. DNS information is cached in multiple places, and sometimes a lookup fails temporarily because of network delays. If it fails a second time, your internet connection might be down — test it by looking up a major site like google.com.
If the lookup returns an IP address but it seems wrong (for example, you expected a US address but got one from another country), remember that the IP address is where the server is located, not where the company is. This is normal and expected for many websites.
Why you might need this information for home network security
In the context of home network security, knowing how to find an IP address from a URL helps you understand how your computer communicates with websites. When you visit a site, your computer is connecting to that IP address. If you're troubleshooting why a website won't load, you can use this information to test whether the problem is with your internet connection or with the website itself.
You can also use this to check whether a suspicious link is actually pointing where it claims to point. If someone sends you a link that says it goes to your bank but the IP address belongs to a server in a different country, that's a red flag. This is one small tool in protecting yourself from phishing and other social engineering attacks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find the IP address of a website without using the command line?
Yes. Websites like mxtoolbox.com and whatsmyipaddress.com will look it up for you through a web form. You paste the URL, click a button, and the result appears on the page. No technical knowledge required.
Does finding an IP address tell me where a website's company is located?
No. The IP address tells you where the server is located, not where the company is. A business in one country might host its website on a server in another country. To find the company's location, check their contact page or business registration.
What if the same URL gives me different IP addresses each time I look it up?
This is normal for large websites. They often use multiple servers in different locations and distribute traffic between them. Each lookup might return a different address depending on which server responds first. This is called load balancing and is a sign of a well-managed website, not a problem.
Is it illegal to look up someone's IP address from their website?
No. The IP address of a public website is public information — it has to be, or your browser couldn't connect to it. Looking it up is not hacking and requires no special permission. However, attempting to access the server itself or interfere with it is illegal.
Can I find the IP address of a website that's behind a proxy or VPN?
You'll find the IP address of the proxy or VPN server, not the original website's server. This is by design — proxies and VPNs hide the real server address. The lookup will still work, but the address you get belongs to the proxy, not the destination.