How to Find Your IP Address on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android

To find your IP address, first decide whether you need your public IP, which an internet service sees, or your local IP, which identifies your device on its current network. For a public IP, use an IP-checking website. For a local IP, open your device’s network settings. On Windows, you can also run ipconfig and read the IPv4 Address under the active connection.

This guide covers Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, Linux, routers and connected devices. Menu labels can vary by operating-system version and manufacturer. The steps below are based on the official documentation linked at the end; the sample addresses are illustrative.

Quick guide: Where to find your IP address

Public vs private IP: Which address do you need?

An IP address helps send information to the correct destination across a network. For typical home troubleshooting, distinguish these three values:

For example, a laptop could use 192.168.1.25 while its router uses 192.168.1.1. Neither example tells you your actual public IP. Your router’s address is not your laptop’s address.

In a typical home IPv4 network, network address translation (NAT) lets several devices use one public address while retaining separate local addresses. IPv6 can work differently: a device may have a globally routable IPv6 address as well as local-scope addresses.

How to find your public IP address

1. Open a browser on the device you want to check.
2. Visit an IP-checking service such as WhatIsMyIP.com.
3. Read the displayed public IPv4 or IPv6 address.
4. Note whether you are using Wi-Fi, Ethernet, mobile data or a VPN.

The result describes the connection reaching that service. If traffic passes through a VPN or proxy, the displayed address can belong to that service. It does not necessarily match the address in your Wi-Fi settings.

Useful comparison: Check a phone on home Wi-Fi, then on mobile data. Different public addresses can be expected because the connection changed. Record the connection type before deciding that a result is wrong.

How to find your IP address on Windows 11 or Windows 10

Method 1: Use network settings

1. Open Start → Settings → Network & internet.
2. Open the properties of your connected Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection.
3. Find IPv4 address in the connection details.

Windows 10 and Windows 11 use slightly different layouts. Look for the connected network’s properties rather than changing IP assignment settings.

Method 2: Find your IP address using CMD

1. Open Start and search for Command Prompt.
2. Open it, type the command below, and press Enter.
3. Find your active Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter.
4. Read its IPv4 Address.

ipconfig

Here is a simplified, fictional output:

Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi:
   IPv4 Address . . . . . . : 192.168.1.25
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . : 192.168.1.1

• 192.168.1.25 is the computer’s local IPv4 address.
• 192.168.1.1 is the gateway, usually the home router.
• The subnet mask describes the local network boundary.

If several adapters appear, choose the one carrying the connection you are troubleshooting. Ignore disconnected adapters; VPN and virtual-machine adapters can have their own addresses. You do not need administrator access or commands that reset the connection simply to run ipconfig and read its output.

How to find your IP address on Mac

1. Open the Apple menu → System Settings.
2. Select Network.
3. Choose the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection and open Details.
4. Open TCP/IP and read the IP-address information.

The Router field is the gateway; the Mac’s IP appears separately. Read the fields without changing Configure IPv4, DNS or other options. Older macOS versions may use System Preferences instead of System Settings.

How to find your IP address on iPhone or iPad

1. Open Settings → Wi-Fi.
2. Find the connected network, marked with a check.
3. Tap the information button beside that network.
4. Find IP Address in the IPv4 section.
5. Read Router separately if you need the gateway.

This is your Wi-Fi connection’s address. If you need the address visible to websites while using mobile data, use the public-IP method on that connection instead.

“Private Wi-Fi Address” is a different setting

Apple’s Private Wi-Fi Address feature concerns a MAC address, not the IP address you are looking for. You do not need to turn that privacy feature off to view your IP.

How to find your IP address on Android

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Network & internet, Connections or Wi-Fi.
3. Open the connected Wi-Fi network or tap its settings icon.
4. Find IP address in network details, sometimes under Advanced or View more.

On Samsung phones, start with Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi, then open the connected network’s details. Labels vary by model and software version. Some Android devices also show address information under About phone → Status.

If the field is missing, search Settings for “IP address” or check your manufacturer’s instructions. Do not assume that a Wi-Fi MAC address is the same value.

How to find an IP address on Linux

On Ubuntu systems where this command is available, open Terminal and run:

hostname -I

Use a capital I. This can return multiple assigned addresses. Identify the relevant network before choosing one; the result is not automatically your public IPv4 address. Availability and options vary by distribution and installed hostname implementation.

How to find your router’s IP address

• Windows: Run ipconfig and read Default Gateway under the active adapter.
• Mac: Open the connection’s TCP/IP details and read Router.
• iPhone/iPad: Open the connected Wi-Fi network’s information and read Router.

Use the value from your actual network instead of assuming every router uses 192.168.1.1. On a workplace network or with a VPN, the gateway arrangement can be more complex.

Once you have identified your home router, our guide to securing home Wi-Fi explains passwords, firmware updates and guest networks.

How to find a printer or connected device’s IP address

For a printer, check its network-information screen or print a network report using the instructions for that model. You can also check your own router:

1. Connect to the relevant network.
2. Sign in to the router through its documented management method.
3. Open Connected Devices, Attached Devices, Device Manager or the equivalent section.
4. Match the device name and read its IP address.

Names can be unfamiliar or outdated, so confirm the device before using the address. A guest network may isolate devices even when they use the same physical router. Only inspect networks and devices you own or are authorized to manage.

Found an address, but something looks wrong?

Start with connection checks and reconnecting where appropriate. Do not factory-reset a router or assign a random static IP simply because an address looks unfamiliar.

If you have an IP address but websites are slow to resolve, follow our slow DNS lookup troubleshooting guide to distinguish name-resolution delays from other connection problems. Finding an IP does not by itself prove that internet access or DNS is working.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Why does my computer show both IPv4 and IPv6?

They are different versions of Internet Protocol. A connection can have addresses from both. IPv4 uses dotted numbers, while IPv6 uses hexadecimal characters separated by colons. Use the version requested by the service or support instructions.

Why is my public IP different from my private IP?

A local address identifies a device within its network. In a typical home IPv4 setup, NAT lets the router connect those private addresses to a public address for internet traffic.

Can two devices have the same public IP?

Yes. Devices on a typical home network can share a public IPv4 address through NAT while using different local addresses. This does not mean their local IP addresses should be identical on the same network.

Does a VPN change my IP address?

For traffic routed through the VPN, websites generally see the VPN server’s public address. The local address in Wi-Fi settings may stay the same. Split tunneling and browser-only VPNs can affect which traffic uses the VPN.

Can an IP lookup reveal someone’s exact home address?

An ordinary public IP lookup may show approximate location and network-provider information. It does not establish a verified street address or identify a specific person. For broader protection, see our explanation of cybersecurity threats and practical safeguards.

Does my IP address stay the same?

Not necessarily. Dynamically assigned addresses can change, and moving between Wi-Fi, Ethernet, mobile data or a VPN can change the address relevant to your task. Check the current value again when troubleshooting instead of relying on an old screenshot.

Save this IP-address checklist

Before contacting support, record:

• Device: Which computer, phone or printer?
• Connection: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, mobile data or VPN?
• Address needed: Device IP, gateway or public IP?
• Version: IPv4 or IPv6?
• Time checked: When did you collect the result?

Bookmark this guide for printer setup, VPN checks and network troubleshooting. Share address details privately with trusted support when needed rather than posting full network screenshots publicly.

Sources and documentation

Documentation checked on 29 October 2026. This is a documentation-based guide, not a claim of hands-on testing on every listed device.

• Microsoft: Essential network settings and tasks in Windows
• Microsoft Learn: ipconfig command reference
• Microsoft: Troubleshoot Wi-Fi connections
• Apple: TCP/IP address settings on Mac
• Apple: Private Wi-Fi addresses
• TP-Link: Find an Android, iPhone or iPad IP address
• NETGEAR: Find connected-device IP addresses
• Ubuntu: hostname command reference
• Cloudflare: How a VPN works