Your Mac has two IP addresses you might need to find

Your Mac has a local IP address (the one on your home network) and possibly a public IP address (the one your internet provider assigns). For home network setup and troubleshooting, you almost always need the local one. It looks like 192.168.1.100 or 10.0.0.50 — a number with four groups separated by dots.

Finding it takes under a minute and requires no special software. The method you choose depends on whether you want to see it once or check it regularly.

Key Takeaways

  • Your local IP address appears in System Settings under Network, which is the fastest way to find it on any Mac.
  • The Terminal app shows your IP address in one command if you are comfortable typing, and the information stays visible until you close the window.
  • Your router's admin page lists every device on your network with its IP address, useful if you need to find the address of a Mac you do not have physical access to.
  • The IP address can change if your router restarts or your Mac reconnects to the network, so check it again before relying on it for port forwarding or security rules.

Finding your IP address in System Settings

Open System Settings (the gear icon in your dock or Applications folder). Click General in the left sidebar, then click Network.

You will see your active connection — either Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Click the one you are using. The IP address appears on the right side of the window next to "IP Address". Write it down or take a screenshot if you need it later.

This method works on any recent Mac and shows only the address for your current connection. If your Mac is connected to both Wi-Fi and Ethernet, you will see both addresses — one for each connection.

Using Terminal to see your IP address

Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal, or search for it with Spotlight). Type this command and press Enter:

ifconfig | grep "inet " | grep -v 127.0.0.1

The output shows your local IP address next to "inet". You may see multiple addresses if your Mac is connected to more than one network. The one starting with 192.168 or 10.0 is your local network address.

Terminal stays open until you close it, so this method is useful if you need to check the address multiple times or copy it to paste elsewhere. If you are not comfortable with Terminal, System Settings is simpler.

Checking your router's device list

Your router keeps a list of every device connected to it, including the IP address assigned to each one. Open a web browser and type your router's address — usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 — into the address bar.

Log in with your router's username and password (printed on the router itself or in your setup paperwork). Look for a section called "Connected Devices", "Device List", or "DHCP Clients". Find your Mac by name and read its IP address from the list.

This method is useful if you need to find the address of a Mac you cannot physically access, or if you want to see all devices on your network at once. Different routers organize this information differently, so you may need to explore the admin page to find the right section.

Why your IP address might change

Most home routers assign IP addresses automatically using DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). This means your Mac's address can change when your router restarts, when your Mac reconnects to the network, or after a set period of time.

If you are setting up port forwarding, creating firewall rules, or configuring other network features that depend on a specific IP address, you have two options. You can check the address again before each use, or you can assign a static IP address to your Mac so it stays the same. Static assignment is more complex and usually only necessary for devices you access frequently from outside your network.

Finding your public IP address

Your public IP address is assigned by your internet provider and is what websites see when you visit them. It is different from your local address and changes less often, but you rarely need it for home network setup.

To find it, open any web browser and search for "what is my IP address" or visit a site like whatismyipaddress.com. The first result shows your public address. You can also type "curl ifconfig.me" in Terminal to see it without opening a browser.

You need your public IP address only if you are setting up remote access to a device on your network or troubleshooting issues with your internet connection itself. For most home network tasks, your local address is what matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to know my Mac's IP address?

You need it to access your Mac remotely, set up port forwarding on your router, create firewall rules, or troubleshoot network problems. If you are just using your Mac normally on your home network, you do not need to know it.

Is my IP address the same as my MAC address?

No. Your IP address is a number like 192.168.1.100. Your MAC address is a different identifier used only on your local network, written like 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E. They serve different purposes and you rarely need your MAC address for home network setup.

What if I see 127.0.0.1 in Terminal?

That is your computer talking to itself, not your network address. Ignore it and look for the address starting with 192.168 or 10.0 instead. The command above filters out 127.0.0.1 automatically.

Can I make my IP address stay the same?

Yes, by assigning a static IP address in System Settings or your router. This is more complex than letting your router assign one automatically, and you only need it if you access your Mac from outside your network regularly.

What if my Mac does not show an IP address?

Your Mac is not connected to the network. Check that Wi-Fi is turned on or that your Ethernet cable is plugged in. Restart your Mac and try again. If it still does not connect, restart your router and wait two minutes before checking.