What these three things are and why you might need them

Your IP address is a number assigned to your device by your internet provider — it looks like 192.168.1.5 or something similar. Your username is the name you chose to log into a service. Your password is the secret code that goes with it. These three pieces of information serve different purposes, and the way you find each one depends on what you're trying to do.

You might need your IP address to troubleshoot a connection problem, set up a device on your home network, or give to technical support. You might need to recover a username because you've forgotten which email address you used to sign up. You might need to reset a password because you can't remember it. This guide walks you through finding or recovering each one.

Key Takeaways

  • Your IP address can be found by searching "what is my IP" in any web browser, or by checking your device settings — the method depends on whether you need your home network address or your public internet address.
  • Your username is usually the email address you used to sign up, and you can often find it by checking the confirmation email from when you created the account.
  • If you've forgotten your password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the login page rather than trying to find the original — that link lets you set a new one.
  • For apps on your phone or computer, your saved username and password may be stored in your browser or device settings, where you can view them without logging in again.

Finding your IP address on Windows

If you need the IP address of your Windows computer on your home network, open the Command Prompt. Press the Windows key and R together, type cmd, and press Enter. A black window will open. Type ipconfig and press Enter. Look for the line that says "IPv4 Address" — that number is your device's address on your home network.

If you need your public IP address instead — the one your internet provider assigns to your whole household — open any web browser and search for "what is my IP". The first result will show you a number like 203.45.67.89. This is the address the rest of the internet sees when your device connects to it.

Finding your IP address on Mac or Linux

On a Mac, open the Terminal process (search for it in Spotlight). Type ifconfig and press Enter. Look for the section labeled "en0" or "en1" and find the line that starts with "inet" — that number is your home network address.

On Linux, open a terminal and type ip addr show or ifconfig depending on your distribution. The output will show your network address in a similar format. For your public IP address on either Mac or Linux, open a browser and search "what is my IP" just as you would on Windows.

Finding your IP address on phones and tablets

On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap Wi-Fi, and tap the information icon (a circle with an "i") next to the network you're connected to. Your IP address appears under "IP Address" in the list.

On an Android phone, go to Settings, tap About Phone, and look for "IP Address" in the list. On some Android versions, you may need to go to Settings, then Network & Internet, then Wi-Fi, tap the network name, and scroll down to find it. If you don't see it there, search "what is my IP" in your browser instead.

Finding your username when you've forgotten it

The easiest place to find your username is in your email inbox. Search for a confirmation or welcome email from the service you're trying to log into — it usually arrives within minutes of signing up. Open that email and look for a line that says "Username:" or "Account name:" — that's what you used to register.

If you can't find the confirmation email, check your spam or promotions folder. If it's not there, go to the login page of the service and look for a link that says "Forgot username?" or "Can't log in?" — click it and follow the prompts. Most services will send you an email with your username or let you reset it.

For apps on your phone or computer, your username may be saved in your browser's password manager. On Chrome, go to Settings, select Passwords, and search for the service name — you'll see both the saved username and a masked password. On Safari, go to Preferences, select Passwords, and search the same way. On Windows, you can also check Credential Manager by pressing Windows key + R, typing control /name Microsoft.CredentialManager, and pressing Enter.

Resetting a password you've forgotten

Never try to find your original password — instead, reset it. On any login page, look for a link that says "Forgot password?" or "Can't log in?" Click it. The service will ask you to enter your username or email address, then send you a link to create a new password. Check your email (including spam) for that link, click it, and follow the prompts to set a new password.

Make sure your new password is something you can remember, or write it down somewhere safe. If you use the same password across multiple services, this is a good time to make each one different — that way, if one service is compromised, the others stay find.

Viewing saved passwords in your browser

If you've logged into a service before and your browser saved your password, you can view it without logging in again. On Chrome, go to Settings, select Passwords, search for the service, and click the eye icon next to the password to reveal it. On Firefox, go to Settings, select Privacy & Security, scroll to Passwords, click Saved Passwords, search for the service, and click Show Password. On Safari, go to Preferences, select Passwords, find the service, and double-click it to reveal the password (you may need to enter your Mac password first).

On your phone, the process is similar but varies by browser. On Chrome for Android or iPhone, tap the three-line menu, go to Settings, select Passwords, find the service, and tap the eye icon. On Safari for iPhone, go to Settings, select Passwords, find the service, and tap it to view the details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my IP address the same as my password?

No. Your IP address is a number assigned to your device by your internet provider and is visible to any website you visit. Your password is a secret code only you should know. They serve completely different purposes and are not related to each other.

Can I change my IP address?

Your public IP address (the one the internet sees) is assigned by your internet provider and changes occasionally on its own. You can force a change by unplugging your modem for a few minutes and plugging it back in. Your home network IP address can be changed in your router settings, but most people never need to do this.

What should I do if I think someone knows my password?

Change it when ready by going to the login page, clicking "Forgot password?", and setting a new one. If the account is important (email, banking, social media), also check your recovery options — make sure the phone number and backup email address on file are still yours. Consider enabling two-factor authentication if the service offers it.

Why does my browser keep asking for my password even though I saved it?

Your browser may have been set to clear saved passwords when you close it, or the website may have security settings that prevent auto-fill. Check your browser settings under Privacy or Security to see if "Clear cookies and site data on exit" is turned on. If it is, turn it off. Some banking and government websites intentionally disable password saving for security reasons.

Can I find someone else's IP address or password?

You can see the IP address of a website you visit (your internet provider and the website owner can see it), but finding someone else's password is not possible through normal means — passwords are encrypted and stored securely. Attempting to access someone else's accounts without permission is illegal.