What an IP address is and why you need it

Your computer's IP address is a set of numbers that identifies your device on your network — similar to how a street address identifies a house. It looks like four numbers separated by periods: 192.168.1.5 or 10.0.0.42. When you set up a home network or troubleshoot connection problems, you often need this number to log into your router, check which devices are connected, or give to a technician.

Every device on your network has its own IP address. Your computer has one, your phone has one, your printer has one. Knowing how to find yours takes about two minutes and requires no special tools — just a few clicks or typed commands.

There are two types of IP addresses you might encounter: the one your router assigns to your computer (called a private IP address, used only inside your home network), and the one your internet provider assigns to your router (called a public IP address, visible to websites you visit). This guide covers finding your private IP address, which is what you need for home network setup and troubleshooting.

Key Takeaways

  • Your private IP address is a set of four numbers separated by periods, assigned by your router to your computer.
  • On Windows, open Settings, select Network & Internet, then Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and look for "IPv4 address" in the connection details.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, select Wi-Fi or Network, click Details, and find the IP address listed under TCP/IP.
  • You can also find your IP address by opening Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac) and typing a single command.
  • Write down your IP address if you need it for router login or network troubleshooting, since it may change if you restart your computer.

Finding your IP address on Windows

The easiest route on Windows is through Settings. Click the Windows Start button, then type "Settings" and open it. Select Network & Internet from the left menu. If you are connected by Wi-Fi, click Wi-Fi; if you are plugged in with an ethernet cable, click Ethernet.

Under your connection name, you will see a link that says Properties or View your network properties. Click it. Scroll down until you see IPv4 address — that is your computer's IP address on your home network. It will be four numbers like 192.168.1.100.

If you prefer using the command line, open Command Prompt by pressing Windows key + R, typing "cmd", and pressing Enter. Type ipconfig and press Enter. Look for the line that says IPv4 Address under your active connection. The number next to it is your IP address.

Finding your IP address on Mac

On Mac, open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions). Click Wi-Fi in the left sidebar if you are on Wi-Fi, or Network if you are using ethernet. If you chose Wi-Fi, click the Details button. If you chose Network, select your connection and click Advanced.

Look for the TCP/IP tab at the top of the window. Your IP address appears next to IPv4 Address. Write it down if you need it for later.

From Terminal, you can also type ifconfig and press Enter. Look for the section labeled with your connection type (en0 for ethernet, en1 for Wi-Fi on newer Macs). Find the line that starts with "inet" followed by four numbers — that is your IP address.

What to do if you see multiple IP addresses

If you are connected to both Wi-Fi and ethernet at the same time, your computer has two IP addresses — one for each connection. Use the address that matches the connection you are actually using. If you are on Wi-Fi, use the Wi-Fi address. If you are plugged in, use the ethernet address.

You might also see an address that starts with 169.254. This means your computer is not properly connected to your network. Restart your computer and your router, then check again. If the 169.254 address persists, your router may not be assigning addresses correctly — this is a sign to restart your router or check that it is powered on.

Why your IP address might change

Your router assigns IP addresses automatically using a system called DHCP. Most home routers are set to give the same address to the same device each time it connects, but this is not may provide. If you restart your computer or disconnect and reconnect to your network, your router might assign you a different address.

If you need the same IP address every time — for example, to set up port forwarding or access your computer remotely — you can assign a static IP address in your router settings. This is a more advanced step covered in your router's manual or support pages, but it is useful if you are doing network troubleshooting and need a stable address to work with.

Finding your public IP address instead

Your public IP address is the one your internet provider assigns to your router, and it is what websites see when you visit them. This is different from your private IP address. If you need your public IP address for security purposes or to check your location, visit a site like whatismyipaddress.com or straightforward search "what is my IP" in any search engine. The first result will show your public address.

You should not share your public IP address with strangers, but it is not as sensitive as other information. Websites already know it when you visit them. Your private IP address, on the other hand, is only visible inside your home network and is safe to share with technicians or write down for your own records.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to share my IP address?

Your private IP address (the one on your home network) is safe to share — it only works inside your home. Your public IP address is already visible to every website you visit, so sharing it is not a security risk, but there is no reason to post it publicly either. Never share passwords or personal information along with any IP address.

What if I cannot find the IPv4 address in Settings?

Make sure you are looking at the right connection. If you are on Wi-Fi, click Wi-Fi in Settings, not Ethernet. If you are on ethernet, click Ethernet, not Wi-Fi. If the address still does not appear, your computer may not be connected to the network. Check that your Wi-Fi is turned on or your ethernet cable is plugged in, then try again.

Will my IP address change if I restart my computer?

Usually not — most home routers remember which address they gave you and assign the same one when you reconnect. However, it is not may provide. If you need the same address every time, you can set a static IP in your router settings, though this requires accessing your router's admin panel.

Can I find someone else's IP address on my network?

Yes, your router keeps a list of all connected devices and their IP addresses. You can see this by logging into your router (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in a web browser) and looking for a section called "Connected Devices" or "DHCP Clients". This is useful for identifying unknown devices on your network.