Your Mac has two IP addresses, and which one you need depends on what you're doing

Every device on your home network has an IP address — a number that identifies it so other devices know where to send information. Your Mac has a local IP address (the one other devices in your home use to find it) and a public IP address (the one the outside internet sees). For home network security, you almost always need the local one. It looks like 192.168.1.something or 10.0.0.something. The public one changes regularly and you rarely need it unless you're troubleshooting internet problems with your provider.

Finding your local IP address takes about 30 seconds and requires no special tools — just the System Settings app that came with your Mac.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Mac's local IP address is a number like 192.168.1.105 that identifies it on your home network, and you find it in System Settings under Network.
  • Write down or screenshot your IP address when you find it, because it may change if you restart your router or if your router's settings shift.
  • If you need to find another device's IP address on your network, you can check your router's admin page or use the Terminal app to scan for connected devices.
  • Your public IP address (the one the internet sees) is different from your local one and changes on its own; you can find it by searching "what is my IP" in any browser.

Finding your local IP address in System Settings

Open System Settings (the gear icon in your dock or Applications folder). Click Wi-Fi in the left sidebar. If you are connected to your network, you will see the network name listed. Click the Details button next to it (or the information icon, depending on your macOS version). A window opens showing your connection details. Look for the line labeled IPv4 Address — that number is your local IP address.

If you are using an Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi, click Ethernet in the left sidebar instead of Wi-Fi, then follow the same steps. The IPv4 Address field will show your local IP on the wired connection.

Write this number down or take a screenshot. It may stay the same for months, or your router may assign you a new one if you restart the router or if the router's settings change. Knowing what it was helps you troubleshoot if a device suddenly cannot find your Mac.

Using Terminal to find your IP address (faster if you know Terminal)

If you are comfortable with Terminal, you can find your IP address in one command. Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal). Type ifconfig | grep "inet " | grep -v 127.0.0.1 and press Enter. The output shows your local IP address next to "inet" — it is the one that starts with 192.168 or 10.0.

This method is faster once you know the command, and it shows you all your network connections at once if your Mac is connected to multiple networks. For most people, System Settings is simpler.

Finding another device's IP address on your network

If you need to find the IP address of another computer, phone, or device on your home network, the easiest route is your router's admin page. Open a web browser and type 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into the address bar (the exact address depends on your router brand — check the sticker on the back of your router if neither works). Log in with your router's username and password (also on the sticker, usually "admin" and "admin" or a default password). Look for a section called Connected Devices, DHCP Clients, or Device List. That page shows every device on your network and its IP address.

If you do not know your router's login details, you can reset the router to factory defaults by holding the reset button for 10 seconds, but this erases all your custom settings and you will have to set up your network again.

Why your IP address might change

Your router assigns IP addresses using a system called DHCP. Most home routers are set to hand out temporary addresses — your Mac might get 192.168.1.105 today and 192.168.1.110 next week. This is normal and usually not a problem. If you need a device to always have the same IP address (for example, if you are setting up a printer or security camera that other devices need to find), you can tell your router to give that device a static IP address or reserved IP address. This is done in your router's admin page under DHCP settings or Reserved IPs. The exact steps depend on your router brand.

Restarting your router, restarting your Mac, or going a long time without connecting to the network can all trigger a new IP address assignment. This is why writing down your address is useful — if a device suddenly cannot reach your Mac, you can check whether the address changed.

The difference between local and public IP addresses

Your local IP address (192.168.x.x or 10.0.x.x) is only visible to devices on your home network. Your router translates between this private address and your public IP address, which is what websites and internet services see. Your public IP address is assigned by your internet service provider and changes on its own every few weeks or months.

For home network security, you almost never need your public IP address. You need your local IP when you are setting up devices on your own network, troubleshooting why something cannot connect, or configuring your router. If someone asks for your "IP address" in a support chat, they usually mean your local one unless they specifically say "public IP" or "external IP".

What to do if you cannot find your IP address

If System Settings does not show an IPv4 Address field, your Mac is not currently connected to the network. Check that Wi-Fi is turned on (click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen) and that you are connected to your network name. If the network name does not appear, your router may be off or too far away.

If you see an IP address that starts with 169.254, your Mac is connected to the network hardware but did not receive an address from the router. Restart your Mac and your router (turn off the router, wait 30 seconds, turn it back on). If the problem continues, restart your router and then restart your Mac in that order, and wait a few minutes for the connection to stabilize.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone on the internet see my local IP address?

No. Your local IP address (192.168.x.x or 10.0.x.x) only works inside your home network. The internet sees your public IP address instead. Your router acts as a wall between the two — it translates requests from the internet to your local devices and back.

Do I need to change my IP address for security?

Not usually. Your local IP address is private and only visible to devices you control. If you want to hide your public IP address from websites, you would use a VPN, not change your local address. Changing your local IP address does not improve home network security.

What if two devices have the same IP address?

This causes a conflict and both devices will have connection problems. It happens rarely with modern routers, but if it does, restart both devices and your router. If it keeps happening, check your router's DHCP settings to make sure the address range is large enough for all your devices.

Is my IP address the same as my MAC address?

No. Your MAC address is a different identifier that only works on your local network. Your IP address is a number like 192.168.1.105. They serve different purposes — IP addresses route data across networks, while MAC addresses identify devices on the same physical network.

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

You need it to set up printers, cameras, or other devices that connect to your network; to troubleshoot why something cannot find your Mac; or to access your Mac remotely from another device on the network. Most of the time you do not need it, but when you do, you need it quickly.