Your IP address is a number your computer uses to talk to other devices on your network

Every device connected to your home network — your computer, phone, printer, smart TV — has an IP address, a unique identifier that lets other devices find and communicate with it. Your computer's IP address looks like four numbers separated by dots, such as 192.168.1.5 or 10.0.0.42. You need to know this number when you're setting up a home network, troubleshooting connection problems, or configuring devices like printers and routers to work together.

The steps to find your IP address differ depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, or Linux. The process takes less than a minute once you know where to look, and your address won't change unless you restart your computer or your router assigns addresses differently.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users can find their IP address by opening Command Prompt and typing ipconfig, then looking for the line labeled "IPv4 Address".
  • Mac users should go to System Settings, select Network, choose their active connection, and look for the IP address displayed in the connection details.
  • Linux users can open a terminal and type hostname -I or ip addr to see all IP addresses assigned to their computer.
  • Your IP address on your home network (starting with 192.168 or 10.0) is different from your internet-facing address, which your internet provider assigns.
  • Write down your IP address or take a screenshot if you need it for network setup, since it may change if your router restarts.

Finding your IP address on Windows

Open the Start menu and type cmd into the search box. Click on "Command Prompt" when it appears. A black window will open with a blinking cursor.

Type ipconfig and press Enter. Your computer will display a list of network information. Look for the section labeled "Ethernet adapter" or "Wireless LAN adapter" — whichever one you're using to connect to your network. Under that section, find the line that says "IPv4 Address". The number next to it is your IP address. It will look something like 192.168.1.105.

If you see multiple adapters listed, look for the one that shows an IPv4 address. Some computers have both wired and wireless connections; the one you're currently using will have an active IP address. If you're connected by WiFi, look under the wireless adapter section.

Finding your IP address on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older versions of macOS). In the left sidebar, click "Network".

You'll see a list of connection types on the left side — WiFi, Ethernet, or others. Click whichever one shows a green dot or "Connected" status next to it. On the right side of the window, your IP address will appear in the details section. It's labeled as "IP Address" and will be a four-part number like 10.0.0.23.

If you're connected by WiFi, click "WiFi" in the sidebar first. If you're using an Ethernet cable, click "Ethernet". The IP address displayed is the one your router assigned to your Mac on your home network.

Finding your IP address on Linux

Open a terminal window. The method varies by Linux distribution, but usually you can right-click on the desktop and select "Open Terminal" or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+T.

Type hostname -I and press Enter. Your computer will display one or more IP addresses. The first one listed is usually your primary IP address on your home network. Alternatively, you can type ip addr and press Enter to see more detailed network information. Look for lines that start with "inet" followed by a four-part number — that's an IP address.

If you see multiple addresses, the one starting with 192.168 or 10.0 is your home network address. Addresses starting with 127.0 are internal to your computer only and won't help you communicate with other devices on your network.

Understanding the difference between your home network IP and your internet IP

The address you just found is your local IP address — the one your router uses to identify your computer within your home network. This is the number you'll use when setting up printers, configuring smart home devices, or accessing your computer from another device on the same WiFi network.

Your internet IP address is different. It's assigned by your internet service provider and is how the outside world identifies your home network when you browse the web. You don't need this address for home network setup. If you're curious what it is, you can search "what is my IP" in any web browser and it will display your internet-facing address.

For home network purposes — connecting devices, troubleshooting, configuring routers — always use the local IP address you found using the steps above. The local address stays within your home network and is what other devices on your WiFi need to find your computer.

What to do if your IP address changes

Your router assigns IP addresses to devices on your network automatically. Most home routers are set to give the same address to the same device each time it connects, but this isn't may provide. If you restart your router or your computer, the address might change to a different number.

If you're setting up a device that needs your computer's IP address — like a printer or a network storage device — and the address changes later, that device won't be able to find your computer anymore. To prevent this, you can set a static IP address on your computer, which tells your router to always assign the same number. The process for this varies by operating system and router model, but it's a setting you configure in your network settings or your router's admin panel.

For most home setups, you don't need a static address. But if you're troubleshooting a connection problem or setting up a device that needs to find your computer reliably, a static address prevents the frustration of a changed number.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

You need it when setting up network devices like printers or security cameras that connect to your WiFi, when troubleshooting why a device can't find your computer, or when accessing your computer remotely from another device on your network. Some network setup steps also ask for it to configure how devices communicate.

Is my IP address the same as my WiFi password?

No. Your WiFi password is what you type to connect to your network. Your IP address is a number your router assigns to your computer after you've connected. They're completely separate — knowing one doesn't tell you the other.

Can someone use my IP address to hack my computer?

Your local IP address (the one starting with 192.168 or 10.0) only works within your home network, so someone outside your home can't use it to reach your computer. Your internet-facing IP address is visible to websites you visit, but it identifies your home network, not your specific computer. Standard security practices like a strong WiFi password and a firewall protect you from misuse.

What if I see multiple IP addresses when I run these commands?

Computers can have multiple network connections active at once — WiFi, Ethernet, and virtual connections. Look for the one you're actually using to connect to your home network. If you're on WiFi, find the address under the wireless adapter section. If you're plugged in with an Ethernet cable, use the address under the Ethernet section.

Does my IP address change every time I restart my computer?

Not necessarily. Most home routers remember which devices they've seen before and assign them the same address each time they reconnect. However, if your router restarts or if you don't connect for a long time, the address might change. If you need the address to stay the same, you can configure a static IP in your network settings.