The fastest way to find a website's IP address

The quickest method is to use your computer's built-in command line tool. On Windows, open Command Prompt and type nslookup example.com (replacing example.com with the actual website). On Mac or Linux, open Terminal and type dig example.com or nslookup example.com. Within seconds, you'll see the IP address listed in the results.

If you prefer not to use the command line, several free websites do this lookup for you. Sites like whatismyipaddress.com, mxtoolbox.com, and dnschecker.org have search boxes where you type in a domain name and instantly see its IP address. No account or download needed — just type and click.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users can open Command Prompt and type nslookup example.com to see a website's IP address in seconds.
  • Mac and Linux users can open Terminal and use dig example.com or nslookup example.com for the same result.
  • Free online lookup tools like whatismyipaddress.com and mxtoolbox.com show IP addresses without requiring any software installation.
  • A website may have multiple IP addresses if it uses a content delivery network or is hosted on a shared server with other sites.

Using the nslookup command on Windows

Open the Start menu and search for "Command Prompt." Click to open it. Type nslookup google.com (or any domain you want to look up) and press Enter. The tool will return information including the "Address" line, which shows the IP address you're looking for.

The output also shows the name server that provided the answer. This is the server that translated the domain name into an IP address. You don't need to understand this part — the IP address is what you came for, and it's clearly labeled.

Using dig or nslookup on Mac and Linux

Open Terminal (on Mac, search for it in Spotlight; on Linux, right-click the desktop or use your application menu). Type dig example.com and press Enter. The IP address appears in the "ANSWER SECTION" next to "A" — that's the IPv4 address. If you see "AAAA," that's the IPv6 address, which is a newer format.

If dig isn't installed on your system, nslookup example.com works the same way and is more widely available. Both tools are free and built into your operating system, so there's nothing to download.

Online lookup tools that require no installation

Visit whatismyipaddress.com, scroll to the "IP Lookup" section, type the domain name in the search box, and click the magnifying glass. Within a second or two, you'll see the IP address displayed prominently on the page. The site also shows the location and hosting provider associated with that IP.

Mxtoolbox.com offers a similar service under its "Lookup Tools" menu — select "A Record Lookup" and enter the domain. Dnschecker.org is another option that shows results from multiple DNS servers at once, which can be useful if you're troubleshooting DNS problems.

These sites are free and don't require you to create an account. They work on any device with a web browser, including phones and tablets.

Why a website might have more than one IP address

Some websites use a content delivery network (CDN) — a service that spreads the website's files across servers in different locations. When you look up the domain, you might get a different IP address than someone in another country, because the CDN routes you to the server closest to you. This is normal and intentional.

Shared hosting is another reason. If a website is hosted on a shared server with dozens of other sites, multiple domains point to the same IP address. Looking up the IP won't tell you which domain it belongs to — you'd need to reverse-lookup the IP address to see all the domains on that server.

What to do if the lookup doesn't work

If you type a domain and get no results, check that you spelled it correctly. Common mistakes include including "www." when you shouldn't (type google.com, not www.google.com) or forgetting the top-level domain like .com or .org.

If the domain is very new, it may not have propagated through all DNS servers yet. Wait a few hours and try again. If a website is offline or the domain has expired, the lookup will fail — this is expected and not a problem with your tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find a website's IP address if it uses HTTPS?

Yes. HTTPS (the secure version of HTTP) doesn't hide the IP address — it only encrypts the data sent between you and the server. The lookup methods above work exactly the same for HTTPS websites as they do for regular ones.

What's the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?

IPv4 addresses look like four numbers separated by dots (192.168.1.1). IPv6 addresses are longer and use letters and numbers separated by colons (2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334). Most websites have both. IPv6 is the newer standard, but IPv4 is still more common. Both work the same way for your purposes.

Is it legal to look up a website's IP address?

Yes. IP addresses are public information — they have to be, or the internet couldn't work. Anyone can look up any website's IP address using the methods above. This is not hacking or illegal activity.

Why would I need to know a website's IP address?

Common reasons include troubleshooting network problems, checking if two domains are hosted on the same server, or verifying that a website is actually hosted where it claims to be. System administrators and IT professionals use this information regularly.