The quickest way to find your IP address

Your IP address is a number assigned to your device by your internet provider or network. The fastest way to see it depends on what device you're using, but most people can find it in under a minute by visiting a website that displays it for you.

Open any web browser and go to whatismyipaddress.com or ipchicken.com. The moment the page loads, your public IP address appears on the screen — usually a number like 203.45.67.89. That's the address your internet provider assigned to your home network, and it's what websites see when you visit them.

If you need your private IP address instead (the one your device has on your home network), you'll need to dig into your device settings. This is different from your public IP and is only visible to devices on your own network.

Key Takeaways

  • Your public IP address shows up instantly on websites like whatismyipaddress.com and is what the internet sees when you browse.
  • Your private IP address lives in your device settings and is only used by devices on your home network.
  • Windows computers show their private IP through Settings > Network, while Mac users find it in System Settings > Network.
  • On phones and tablets, the private IP is buried deeper in Wi-Fi settings but follows the same basic path on both Android and iOS.
  • Your IP address changes when you restart your router or move to a different network, so checking it again later may show a different number.

Finding your private IP on Windows

If you need the IP address your device uses on your home network, Windows stores it in the Network settings. Click the Windows Start button, type Settings, and open the Settings app. Then go to Network & internet on the left side.

Look for Wi-Fi if you're connected wirelessly, or Ethernet if you're plugged in with a cable. Click whichever one you're using. On the next screen, you'll see a section called Properties — scroll down and look for IPv4 address. That's your private IP address on your network. It usually starts with 192.168 or 10.0.

If you prefer the command line, you can also open Command Prompt (search for cmd in the Start menu), type ipconfig, and press Enter. Your private IP appears next to IPv4 Address in the results.

Finding your private IP on Mac

On a Mac, open System Settings from the Apple menu. Click Wi-Fi on the left side, then click Details next to the network you're connected to. Your private IP address appears in the window that opens, labeled as IP Address.

If you're using an Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi, go back to System Settings, click Network on the left, select Ethernet, and your IP address will be displayed there. Like Windows, your Mac's private IP usually starts with 192.168 or 10.0.

Finding your private IP on iPhone and iPad

On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, then tap Wi-Fi. Find the network you're connected to and tap the information icon (a small circle with an "i" in it) next to the network name. Your private IP address appears on the next screen next to IP Address.

This only works when you're connected to Wi-Fi. If you're using cellular data, you won't see a private IP address because you're not on a home network — you're on your carrier's network instead.

Finding your private IP on Android

On Android, the path varies slightly depending on your phone's manufacturer, but the general route is the same. Open Settings, then look for Wi-Fi or Network & internet. Tap the network you're currently connected to, and your private IP address should appear on the next screen.

Some Android phones label it IP address, while others call it IPv4 address. If you don't see it immediately, look for an option like Advanced or More details on the same screen. Like all private IPs, it will start with 192.168, 10.0, or 172.16.

Understanding public versus private IP addresses

Your public IP address is assigned by your internet service provider and is visible to every website you visit. It's how websites know where to send information back to you. This address changes periodically — sometimes weekly, sometimes monthly — depending on your provider's setup. When you restart your router, you often get a new public IP.

Your private IP address is assigned by your home router to each device on your network. It's only visible to other devices in your home and to your router itself. Websites cannot see your private IP. This address stays the same until you restart your router or manually change it in your router's settings, which most people never need to do.

If you're troubleshooting a connection problem or setting up a device on your home network, you need your private IP. If you're checking what address websites see when you visit them, you need your public IP.

Why you might need to know your IP address

Most people never need to look up their IP address. But if you're setting up a printer on your home network, accessing a security camera remotely, or troubleshooting why a device won't connect, knowing your IP address helps. Some online services also ask for your IP address for security reasons, or you might want to check if your location is being tracked.

If you're concerned about privacy, remember that your public IP can reveal your approximate location (usually your city or region, not your exact address). Using a VPN masks your public IP by routing your traffic through another server, so websites see the VPN's IP instead of yours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my IP address change?

Your public IP address changes when you restart your router or after a period of time set by your internet provider — usually days or weeks. Your private IP address stays the same until you restart your router or change it manually in your router settings. Both change when you move to a different network.

Can someone find me using my IP address?

Your public IP reveals your approximate location (usually your city), but not your exact address or identity. Websites can see your public IP, but they cannot determine your street address from it alone. If you're concerned about location tracking, a VPN hides your public IP from websites.

Why do I have two different IP addresses?

Your public IP is assigned by your internet provider and is what the internet sees. Your private IP is assigned by your router and is only used on your home network. Every device on your network has its own private IP, but they all share the same public IP when connecting to the internet.

What if I can't find my IP address in settings?

Make sure you're connected to the network first — you can't see a private IP if you're not connected to Wi-Fi or Ethernet. On Windows, try the Command Prompt method instead. On Mac or mobile devices, restart the Settings app and try again. If you only need your public IP, use whatismyipaddress.com instead.

Is my IPv6 address the same as my IPv4 address?

No. IPv4 and IPv6 are two different formats for IP addresses. IPv4 looks like 192.168.1.5, while IPv6 looks like 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334. Most home networks use IPv4, but newer networks support both. You may see both listed in your settings.