Where to find your IP address on macOS

Your Mac's IP address lives in System Settings under Network. Open System Settings, click Network on the left sidebar, then select your active connection — usually Wi-Fi or Ethernet. The IP address appears next to "IPv4 Address" on the right side of the window. Write it down or take a screenshot if you need it for troubleshooting or connecting devices.

If you are connected to Wi-Fi, the address starts with numbers like 192.168 or 10.0. If you are plugged into Ethernet, the format is the same but the connection type is different. Either way, this is the address your router assigned to your Mac on your local network.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Mac's IP address is in System Settings under Network, next to "IPv4 Address" in your active connection details.
  • The address usually starts with 192.168 or 10.0 and is unique to your Mac on your home or office network.
  • You can also find it by opening Terminal and typing ifconfig, then looking for "inet" in the Wi-Fi or Ethernet section.
  • If you see 169.254 at the start, your Mac is not connected to the network properly and needs troubleshooting.

Using System Settings on newer Macs (Monterey and later)

On macOS Monterey, Ventura, or Sonoma, the steps are identical. Click the Apple menu in the top left, then System Settings. On the left sidebar, scroll down and click Network. You will see a list of connection types — Wi-Fi, Ethernet, VPN, or others depending on what your Mac has. Click the one you are currently using.

The right side of the window shows your connection status. Look for "IPv4 Address" — that is your local IP address. Below it you may see other details like your subnet mask and router address, but the IPv4 Address is what you need most often. If the field is blank or shows "Not Connected", your Mac is not on the network.

Finding your IP address in System Preferences on older Macs

If you are running macOS Big Sur or earlier, the path is slightly different but the information is in the same place. Click the Apple menu, then System Preferences instead of System Settings. Click Network, select your connection type, and look for "IPv4 Address" on the right side.

The layout is nearly identical to newer versions — the main difference is the name of the settings app. Everything else works the same way. If you are unsure which macOS version you have, click the Apple menu and select "About This Mac" to check.

Using Terminal to find your IP address

If you prefer the command line, Terminal is faster once you know the command. Open Terminal (search for it in Spotlight by pressing Command+Space, typing "Terminal", and pressing Enter). Type ifconfig and press Enter. A block of text appears showing all your network connections.

Look for the section labeled "en0" (Ethernet) or "en1" or "en5" (Wi-Fi, depending on your Mac model). Under that section, find the line that starts with "inet" — the address next to it is your IP address. Ignore lines that start with "inet6" — those are IPv6 addresses, which are different. Copy the IPv4 address if you need it for something else.

What to do if your IP address looks wrong

If your IP address starts with 169.254, your Mac is connected to the network physically but did not receive a valid address from your router. This usually means the router is not working properly or your Mac is not configured to receive addresses automatically. Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and wait two minutes for it to fully restart.

If the address still starts with 169.254 after the restart, go back to System Settings, click Network, select your connection, and look for a button that says "Renew DHCP Lease" or similar. Click it to ask the router for a new address. If that does not work, restart your Mac itself. If the problem persists after both restarts, your router may need troubleshooting or your Mac may have a network hardware issue.

Why you might need your IP address

Your IP address is useful when you are troubleshooting network problems, connecting to your Mac remotely, setting up printers or smart home devices, or when tech support asks for it. It is also the address other devices on your network use to find your Mac. If someone asks for your "local IP address" or "private IP address", this is what they mean — not your internet-facing address, which is different and belongs to your router.

Keep in mind that this IP address changes periodically. Your router assigns it fresh each time your Mac connects, so do not write it down expecting it to stay the same forever. If you need a permanent address for a device like a printer, you can set a static IP in your router settings, but that is a separate process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my IP address the same as my internet address?

No. Your IP address on this page is your local address — the one your router uses to find your Mac at home or at the office. Your internet address is your router's public IP, which the outside world sees. They are different numbers. If you need your public IP, search "what is my IP" in a web browser.

Can someone use my IP address to hack me?

Your local IP address (the one in System Settings) is only useful on your home or office network, so it is not a security risk by itself. Your public IP is more sensitive, but even that alone does not let someone access your Mac — they would need additional information and your firewall is blocking most attempts anyway.

Why does my IP address keep changing?

Your router assigns IP addresses temporarily, usually for 24 hours or longer. When that time expires, your Mac gets a new one. This is normal and expected. If you need the same address every time, ask your router to assign a static IP to your Mac, which you can set up in your router's admin panel.

What if Terminal shows multiple IP addresses?

Your Mac may have multiple network connections active at once — Wi-Fi, Ethernet, VPN, or others. Each one gets its own address. Find the section for the connection you are actually using (usually en0 for Ethernet or en5 for Wi-Fi on modern Macs) and use that address.

Do I need to remember my IP address?

Not usually. Most of the time you do not need it. Write it down only if someone specifically asks for it — tech support, a printer setup, or a device you are trying to connect. After you solve the problem, you can forget it.