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 can find and talk to it. Your Mac has a local IP address (the one other devices in your house use to reach it) and a public IP address (the one the outside internet sees). For home network security, you almost always need the local one. You'll use it to log into your router's settings, to set up network printers, to troubleshoot connection problems, or to see what devices are actually connected to your network.

Finding your Mac's local IP address takes about 30 seconds and requires no special tools — just the System Settings app that's already on your computer.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Mac's local IP address is a four-part number like 192.168.1.105, and you find it in System Settings under Network.
  • Write down or screenshot your IP address because you'll need it again — it usually stays the same, but can change if your router restarts.
  • The fastest way is to open System Settings, click Network on the left, select your connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet), and look for the IP address field.
  • If you see "169.254" at the start of the number, your Mac isn't actually connected to the network yet, even though it looks like it is.

Finding your IP address on Wi-Fi

Open System Settings (the gear icon in your dock, or press Command-Space and type "System Settings"). On the left sidebar, click Network. You'll see a list of connection types — click Wi-Fi if you're using wireless.

On the right side, you'll see your network name and a button that says Details. Click it. A window opens showing several pieces of information. Look for the line that says IPv4 Address — the number next to it is what you need. It will look something like 192.168.1.105 or 10.0.0.42. That's your local IP address. Write it down or take a screenshot.

If you don't see an IPv4 Address field, or if the number starts with 169.254, your Mac is not actually connected to the network. Try forgetting the Wi-Fi network and reconnecting: go back to Network, click Wi-Fi, then click Advanced, find your network name in the list, and click the minus button to remove it. Then reconnect by selecting the network and entering your password.

Finding your IP address on Ethernet

If your Mac is plugged directly into your router or modem with an Ethernet cable, the process is almost identical. Open System Settings, click Network, then click Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi. Click Details and look for IPv4 Address. Write down the number.

Ethernet connections are more stable than Wi-Fi, so your IP address is less likely to change. If you're setting up a home network printer or accessing your router's settings, using Ethernet is often easier because you don't have to worry about the connection dropping.

Why your IP address might change, and when that matters

Your router assigns IP addresses automatically using something called DHCP. Most home routers are set to let devices keep the same address for a long time, but if your router restarts or your Mac hasn't connected for a while, the address can change. This is usually not a problem — your devices will find each other anyway.

It becomes a problem only if you've written down an IP address to use later. For example, if you tell someone "log into my Mac at 192.168.1.105" and then your router restarts, that address might belong to a different device. If you're setting up something that needs a fixed address — like a network printer or a home server — you can lock your Mac's IP address in your router's settings. This is called IP reservation or static DHCP, and the steps vary by router model, but it's usually in the router's admin panel under DHCP or Local Network settings.

What to do with your IP address once you have it

Now that you know your Mac's local IP address, you can use it for several things. To access your router's settings (to change your Wi-Fi password, see what devices are connected, or set up port forwarding), open a web browser and type your router's IP address into the address bar — usually 192.168.1.1 or 10.0.0.1, but check your router's label or manual. You'll be asked to log in.

To connect to a network printer, most printer setup tools will ask for your Mac's IP address or will find it automatically. To troubleshoot a connection problem, you can give this number to your internet provider or to whoever is helping you diagnose the issue — it tells them exactly which device on your network you're talking about.

To see what other devices are on your network, you can use a free tool like Angry IP Scanner or the network tab in your router's admin panel. Knowing what devices are connected is one of the simplest ways to spot if someone has joined your network without permission.

The difference between local and public IP addresses

Your local IP address (192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x) only works inside your home network. Devices outside your home cannot reach your Mac using this number. Your public IP address is what the outside internet sees, and it's assigned by your internet provider. You don't usually need it for home network security, but if you want to know it anyway, you can find it by opening a web browser and searching "what is my IP" — Google will show it at the top of the results.

For the purposes of securing your home network, focus on the local IP address. That's the one that matters for connecting devices, accessing your router, and understanding what's actually on your network.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my IP address start with 169.254?

That means your Mac is not connected to the network, even though it appears to be. Your Mac assigns itself this temporary address when it can't reach the router. Restart your Mac, restart your router, or try forgetting and reconnecting to the Wi-Fi network. If the problem persists, your router may not be working.

Can I change my Mac's IP address myself?

You can, but you shouldn't unless you know what you're doing. Go to System Settings > Network > Details > TCP/IP and change "Configure IPv4" from Automatic to Manual, then enter a new address. But if you pick an address that conflicts with another device, your network will have problems. It's safer to use your router's IP reservation feature instead.

Is my IP address a security risk?

Your local IP address is only visible to devices already on your home network, so it's not a security risk by itself. Your public IP address is visible to websites you visit, but that's normal and expected. Neither one tells someone how to break into your Mac — that requires a password or a software vulnerability.

Do I need to write down my IP address?

Only if you're about to use it for something specific, like setting up a printer or accessing your router. For everyday use, your devices find each other automatically and you never need to think about IP addresses. If you're just curious, you can look it up again anytime in a few seconds.