The quickest way to find your IP address

Open System Settings, click Network in the left sidebar, then select Wi-Fi or Ethernet depending on how you're connected. Your IP address appears next to "IP Address" in the window that opens. If you're on Wi-Fi, click the Wi-Fi network name first, then look for the IP Address field. That's the address your Mac uses on your home or office network.

This is your local IP address — the one that identifies your Mac to other devices and your router. It usually starts with 192.168 or 10.0, and it changes only when you disconnect and reconnect to the network, or when your router reassigns addresses (which can take weeks or months).

Key Takeaways

  • Your local IP address appears in System Settings under Network, in the Wi-Fi or Ethernet section depending on your connection type.
  • Local IP addresses start with 192.168 or 10.0 and identify your Mac only to devices on your home or office network.
  • Your public IP address (the one websites see) is different and can be found by searching "what is my IP" in any web browser.
  • You can also find your local IP address by opening Terminal and typing ifconfig, then looking for the line that starts with "inet" under your connection type.

Finding your IP address using Terminal

If you prefer the command line, open Terminal (search for it in Spotlight by pressing Command-Space, typing "Terminal", and pressing Enter). Type ifconfig and press Enter. A list of network interfaces appears.

Look for the section labeled en0 (Ethernet) or en1 or en5 (Wi-Fi, depending on your Mac model). Under that section, find the line starting with "inet" — the number after "inet" is your local IP address. Ignore lines starting with "inet6"; those are IPv6 addresses, a different format your Mac may also use.

Understanding local versus public IP addresses

Your Mac actually has two IP addresses. The local IP address (also called private IP address) is what you find in System Settings — it's used only by devices on your network to talk to your Mac. Your router assigns it, and it stays the same until you change networks or your router forgets it.

Your public IP address is what websites and services on the internet see when you connect through your router. It's assigned by your internet service provider and is shared by all devices on your network. To find your public IP, open any web browser and search for "what is my IP" — the first result will show it. Your public IP changes when your router restarts or when your ISP reassigns it, which can happen anywhere from weekly to yearly depending on your provider.

Why you might need your IP address

You need your local IP address when you're setting up a device on your home network, connecting to your Mac remotely from another computer, or troubleshooting network problems. Knowing it helps you tell your router to always give your Mac the same address (called a static IP), which is useful if you run a home server or access your Mac from outside your home.

Your public IP address matters when you're checking which country a website thinks you're in, or when you're troubleshooting why a service is blocking you. It's also what your ISP uses to identify your household for billing and legal purposes, so it's worth knowing that websites can see it.

Checking if your IP address changed

Your local IP address usually stays the same for months or years unless you restart your router or your Mac loses its connection. If you need to check whether it's changed, open System Settings and look at the IP Address field again — if it's different from last time, your router reassigned it.

Your public IP address changes less predictably. Some ISPs reassign it every time you restart your modem; others keep it stable for months. If you need your public IP to stay the same (for example, to access your Mac remotely), contact your ISP and ask whether they offer a static public IP address — many do for a small monthly fee, though some residential plans don't support it.

What to do if you can't see your IP address

If System Settings shows "Not Connected" or no IP address appears, your Mac isn't connected to the network. Check that Wi-Fi is turned on (click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar) or that your Ethernet cable is plugged in. If you're connected but still see no address, try disconnecting and reconnecting to the network, or restart your Mac.

If Terminal shows no output or an error when you type ifconfig, try typing ifconfig | grep inet instead — this filters the output to show only lines with IP addresses. If you still see nothing, your network connection may be broken. Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and wait for the lights to stabilize before trying again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my IP address the same as my MAC address?

No. Your IP address is a number that identifies your Mac on a network (like 192.168.1.5). Your MAC address is a different identifier built into your network hardware, used only by devices on the same local network. You rarely need your MAC address unless you're setting up network filtering or a static IP through your router.

Can I change my local IP address?

You can ask your router to assign a different one by going to System Settings, Network, and clicking "Advanced" next to your connection, then the TCP/IP tab. But most people don't need to — your router handles this automatically. If you want your Mac to always get the same address, configure a static IP in your router's settings instead, not on your Mac.

Why does my IP address start with 192.168 instead of something else?

Your router automatically assigns addresses from a range reserved for private networks. Most home routers use 192.168.x.x, but some use 10.x.x.x or 172.16.x.x. All three ranges work the same way — they're just different blocks your router can choose from. The specific range doesn't matter for normal use.

Is it safe to share my local IP address?

Your local IP address is only useful to devices already on your home network, so sharing it with someone outside your network doesn't expose anything. Your public IP address is different — websites can already see it, but you generally shouldn't post it publicly, since it identifies your household to the internet.