How to Find Your IP Address

This guide finds both the private and public IP addresses of a device so the correct address is known for network setup, remote access, or troubleshooting. The result is a clear reading of the private IP that identifies the device on the local network and the public IP that identifies the whole network on the internet. A private IP address, such as 192.168.1.20, is assigned by the router and used inside the home, while a public IP address is assigned by the internet provider and seen by outside websites.

The process covers four readings: the private IP on Windows, the private IP on Mac and phone, the public IP through a browser, and the router gateway IP. Each reading names the exact command, menu, or site involved.

A private IP differs from a public IP because the router translates between them, so each is found in a different place. Use the section that matches the address and device needed.

What You Need to Find Your IP Address

Finding an IP address requires only the access below, since the values are already assigned. Confirm each item first so each reading is accurate.

• Access to the device itself. The private IP is read from the device whose address is needed.
• A command window or settings menu. Windows uses ipconfig or the Settings app, and other systems use their network settings.
• A web browser for the public IP. The public IP is shown by a search or a lookup website.
• The same network for an accurate public IP. The public IP reflects the network the device is connected to at the time.
• Router access for the gateway address. The gateway IP is confirmed from a connected device or the router label.

Find the Private IP Address on Windows

Finding the private IP on Windows reveals the address the router assigned to the computer on the local network. The ipconfig command and the Settings app both report this address.

1. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and open Command Prompt.
2. Type ipconfig and press Enter.
3. Read the IPv4 Address line under the active adapter, such as 192.168.1.20, which is the private IP.
4. Note the Default Gateway line on the same adapter, which is the router address.
5. Open Settings, Network and Internet, and the adapter Properties to read the same IPv4 address without a command.

The IPv4 Address is the private IP, and it stays within the home network. The Default Gateway on the same screen is the router own address.

Find the Private IP Address on Mac and Phone

Finding the private IP on a Mac or phone reveals the address the router assigned to that device. Each system shows the address in its network settings.

• On macOS, open System Settings. Select Network, choose the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection, and read the IP address shown under Details.
• On iPhone, open Settings. Tap Wi-Fi, tap the connected network, and read the IP Address under the IPv4 section.
• On Android, open Settings. Tap Network and internet, tap the connected Wi-Fi, and read the IP address under the network details.
• On any system, use the terminal. The ifconfig or ip addr command on macOS and Linux prints the same private address.

Find the Public IP Address

Finding the public IP reveals the single address the internet provider assigned to the whole network. A browser search or a lookup site returns this address directly.

1. Open a web browser on any device connected to the network.
2. Search the phrase what is my IP in a search engine, which displays the public IP at the top of the results.
3. Visit whatismyipaddress.com or a similar lookup site to read the same public address.
4. Note that every device on the same network shares this one public IP.
5. Recheck the value after reconnecting, because some providers assign a new public IP over time.

The public IP is what outside websites and services see. It differs from the private IP because the router translates between the one public address and the many private addresses inside the home.

Find the Router Gateway IP Address

Finding the gateway IP reveals the router own address, used to open the admin page and manage the network. The gateway appears in ipconfig output and on the router label.

1. Run ipconfig in Command Prompt and read the Default Gateway line, commonly 192.168.1.1.
2. Read the router label for the printed default gateway address if the command is unavailable.
3. On macOS, open Network settings, select the connection, and read the Router field under Details.
4. On a phone, read the Gateway or Router value in the connected network details.
5. Type the gateway address into a browser to open the router admin page.

The gateway is the door between the local network and the internet. The settings reached through it are covered in the guide to set up a Wi-Fi router.

Find Connected Device IP Addresses in the Router

Finding device addresses in the router admin page lists the private IP of every device on the network in one place. The router holds this list because it assigns each private IP through DHCP.

1. Sign in to the router admin page at the default gateway address, such as 192.168.1.1.
2. Open the section labeled Attached Devices, DHCP Clients, or Device List.
3. Read the table that pairs each device name and MAC address with its assigned private IP.
4. Match a device by its name or MAC address to confirm which private IP belongs to it.
5. Note the address range the router assigns, which sets the pool the private IPs fall within.

The router list shows every private IP at once, unlike the per-device readings above. This view is useful for confirming an address before a device is given a fixed one.

Find Your IP Address with Command-Line Tools

Reading the IP address from the command line returns the same values without opening any settings menu. Each system provides a command that prints the device addresses directly.

• On Windows, run ipconfig /all. The command prints the IPv4 Address, the IPv6 Address, the Default Gateway, and the DNS servers for every adapter.
• On Windows PowerShell, run Get-NetIPAddress. The command lists each interface with its IPv4 and IPv6 address in a single table.
• On macOS or Linux, run ip addr. The command prints the private address beside each network interface name.
• For the public IP, run a lookup command. The command curl ifconfig.me returns the public address from a terminal without a browser.

Public and Private IP Address Reference

Understand IPv4 Versus IPv6

A device may show both an IPv4 and an IPv6 address, and each serves the same purpose in a different format. The points below explain the difference.

• IPv4 uses four numbers. An IPv4 address such as 192.168.1.20 uses four groups separated by dots and remains the common format on home networks.
• IPv6 uses hexadecimal groups. An IPv6 address such as fe80::1c2d uses longer hexadecimal groups separated by colons to allow far more addresses.
• Both can be active at once. Many networks run IPv4 and IPv6 together, so ipconfig lists both under the same adapter.
• The private and public split applies to both. IPv4 separates private and public ranges, while IPv6 uses link-local and global addresses for a similar division.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Confusing the private IP with the public IP. The 192.168 address is private and internal; the public IP comes from a browser lookup.
• Reading the gateway as the device address. The Default Gateway is the router, not the computer; the IPv4 Address line is the device.
• Assuming the public IP never changes. Many providers assign dynamic public IPs that change over time.
• Reading the wrong adapter. ipconfig lists every adapter, so the active Ethernet or Wi-Fi entry is the one to read.
• Sharing the public IP carelessly. The public IP identifies the network to outside services and should be shared only when required.

Key Takeaways

• Use ipconfig for the private IP. The IPv4 Address line shows the device address on Windows.
• Search the web for the public IP. A what is my IP search returns the address the provider assigned.
• Read the Default Gateway for the router. The gateway line is the router address used to open the admin page.
• One public IP serves the whole network. Every device shares the single public address.
• IPv4 and IPv6 can both be active. A device may list both formats under the same adapter.

Last Thoughts on Finding Your IP Address

An IP address is found by reading the private IP with ipconfig or the device network settings, the public IP through a browser search, and the gateway IP from the Default Gateway line. The private IP identifies the device inside the home, while the public IP identifies the whole network on the internet, and the router translates between them. The full meaning of each address is covered in the overview of what an IP address is.

Fixing a device to one private address is covered in the guide to set up a static IP, and the gateway value opens the configuration in the guide to set up a home network. The collected reference guides sit on the PC tutorials hub.