What an internet address is and where to find it

Your internet address — also called your IP address — is a set of numbers that identifies your device on the internet, the same way your home address identifies where you live in the physical world. Every device connected to your network has one. You need to know your own address if you're troubleshooting connection problems, setting up port forwarding, or checking which devices are actually on your network.

Finding it takes less than a minute. The steps depend on whether you want your device's address on your home network (called a local IP address) or the address your internet service provider assigned to your whole household (called a public IP address). Most people need the local one first.

Key Takeaways

  • Your local IP address is a four-part number like 192.168.1.5 that identifies your device on your home network, and you find it in your device's network settings.
  • Your public IP address is what the outside internet sees, and you can find it by visiting a website like whatismyipaddress.com in any web browser.
  • Windows, Mac, and Linux devices each have different paths to the network settings where your local address lives, but all take under two minutes to reach.
  • Your router's settings page shows every device currently connected to your network and what local address each one has been assigned.

Finding your local IP address on Windows

On a Windows computer, the fastest route is through the Command Prompt. Press the Windows key and type cmd, then press Enter. A black window opens. Type ipconfig and press Enter. Look for the line that says "IPv4 Address" — that's your local IP address. It will look something like 192.168.1.5 or 10.0.0.15.

If you prefer not to use the command line, you can also go through Settings. Click the Windows Start button, then Settings, then Network & Internet, then Wi-Fi (or Ethernet if you're plugged in). Click the network you're connected to, scroll down, and look for "IPv4 address" in the properties section.

Finding your local IP address on Mac

On a Mac, click the Apple menu in the top left, then System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions). Click Network on the left side. Select the network connection you're using — Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Your local IP address appears next to "IP Address" in the window that opens. It follows the same format as Windows addresses: four numbers separated by periods.

You can also find it faster through the terminal if you're comfortable with that route. Open Terminal (search for it in Spotlight), type ifconfig, and press Enter. Look for "inet" followed by your IP address in the output.

Finding your local IP address on Linux

On Linux, open a terminal window. Type hostname -I and press Enter. Your local IP address appears when ready. Alternatively, type ip addr and press Enter to see more detailed information about all your network connections.

If you're using a graphical desktop environment like GNOME or KDE, you can also click the network icon in the system tray, select your connection, and look for the IP address in the connection details.

Finding your public IP address

Your public IP address is what websites and services on the internet see when you connect to them. It's assigned by your internet service provider and is usually shared by all devices in your household. To find it, open any web browser and visit whatismyipaddress.com or ipchicken.com. The page displays your public IP address when ready — no sign-up or read needed.

You can also type "what is my ip" into a search engine and the answer appears at the top of the results. Your public IP address changes periodically — sometimes weekly, sometimes monthly, depending on your service provider — so don't be surprised if it's different the next time you check.

Seeing all devices on your network from your router

If you want to see every device connected to your home network and what local address each one has, you can log into your router's settings page. Open a web browser and type 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into the address bar. (If neither works, check the bottom or back of your router for the correct address.) You'll be asked for a username and password — these are usually printed on the router itself or came in the paperwork when you set it up.

Once you're logged in, look for a section called "Connected Devices," "DHCP Clients," "Device List," or "Attached Devices" — the exact name varies by router brand. This page shows every device currently on your network, its local IP address, and sometimes its device name. This is useful for spotting devices you don't recognize or checking whether a device you thought was offline is actually still connected.

Why knowing your addresses matters for security

Knowing your local IP address helps you spot problems before they become serious. If a device isn't connecting properly, you can ping its address to see if it's reachable. If you're setting up port forwarding to run a server or game, you need the local address of the device you want traffic to reach. If you notice an unfamiliar device on your router's connected list, you can investigate whether it belongs there.

Your public IP address is less sensitive than a password, but it's still information worth keeping private. Websites can see it, and so can anyone on the internet if they know where to look. Don't post it publicly or share it with people you don't trust. If you're concerned about your public IP being visible to trackers or advertisers, that's where a VPN comes in — but that's a separate decision with its own trade-offs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my IP address the same as my MAC address?

No. Your MAC address is a different identifier that only matters on your local network — it's how your router knows which device is which. Your IP address is what lets devices on the internet find you. You need both, but they serve different purposes.

Will my local IP address ever change?

Yes, but usually not often. Your router assigns local addresses automatically using DHCP, and most routers keep the same address for a device until it's been offline for a while. If you need a device to keep the same local address permanently, you can set a static IP in your router's settings, but that's usually only necessary for servers or devices you're port-forwarding to.

Can someone harm me if they know my public IP address?

Knowing your IP address alone doesn't let someone access your devices or files — your router's firewall blocks that. However, they could use it to target you with certain attacks or to track your approximate location. For most people this isn't a practical concern, but if you're worried about it, a VPN masks your public IP from websites you visit.

What if I can't find my IP address using these steps?

Make sure you're actually connected to the network — check that Wi-Fi is on or your ethernet cable is plugged in. If you're still stuck, restart your device and try again. If you're on a work or school network, the IT department may have restricted access to network settings, so you might need to contact them instead.