Open Command Prompt and run ipconfig

The fastest way to find your IP address is to open Command Prompt and type a single command. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and press Enter. A black window will open with a blinking cursor.

Type ipconfig and press Enter. Command Prompt will display a list of network adapters on your computer. Look for the section labeled "Ethernet adapter" or "Wireless LAN adapter" — whichever one you use to connect to the internet. Your IPv4 Address appears on a line that starts with "IPv4 Address". This is your local IP address, the one your router assigns to your device.

If you see multiple adapters listed, you may have both wired and wireless connections. Only the one you are actively using to reach the internet matters. If you are on WiFi, find the wireless adapter. If you are plugged in with an Ethernet cable, find the Ethernet adapter.

Key Takeaways

  • Type ipconfig in Command Prompt to see your local IP address under "IPv4 Address" in your active network adapter.
  • Your local IP address (usually starting with 192.168 or 10.0) is what your router uses to identify your device on your home network.
  • To find your public IP address — the one the internet sees — type ipconfig /all and look for "Default Gateway", then visit a website like whatismyipaddress.com in your browser.
  • Run Command Prompt as administrator if you need detailed network information that a standard window will not show.

The difference between local and public IP addresses

The address you see under "IPv4 Address" is your local IP address. This is the address your router uses to send data to your device inside your home network. It usually starts with 192.168 or 10.0. Every device on your network has its own local IP address, and they are not visible to the outside internet.

Your public IP address is different. This is the address that websites and online services see when you connect to them. It is assigned by your internet service provider and is shared by all devices in your home — they all appear to the internet as coming from the same public address. You cannot see your public IP address in the ipconfig output. To find it, open a web browser and visit a site like whatismyipaddress.com, which will display it for you.

Using ipconfig /all for more detailed information

If you need more than just your IP address, type ipconfig /all instead of plain ipconfig. This command shows additional details about each network adapter, including your MAC address (a unique identifier for your network card), your DHCP server, and when your IP address lease expires.

The "Default Gateway" line in this output is your router's IP address. If you ever need to log into your router to change WiFi settings or port forwarding rules, you would type this address into a web browser. The "DNS Servers" lines show which servers your computer uses to translate website names into IP addresses.

Finding a specific device's IP address on your network

If you want to find the IP address of another device on your network — a printer, another computer, or a phone — you can use the arp -a command in Command Prompt. This displays a list of all devices your computer has recently communicated with and their IP addresses.

Type arp -a and press Enter. The output shows IP addresses in the left column and MAC addresses on the right. If you know the MAC address of the device you are looking for (often printed on a label on the device itself), you can match it to find the IP address. This method works best if the device has recently sent or received data on your network.

Releasing and renewing your IP address

Sometimes your computer's IP address gets stuck or stops working properly. You can release your current IP address and request a new one from your router using two commands in sequence. Type ipconfig /release and press Enter, then type ipconfig /renew and press Enter.

The first command tells your router to stop assigning that IP address to your device. The second command asks your router for a new one. Your computer will usually receive a new address within a few seconds. This can fix connection problems where your device can see the network but cannot reach the internet. You may need to run Command Prompt as administrator for these commands to work.

Running Command Prompt as administrator

Some ipconfig commands require administrator permissions. If a command does not work or returns an error, close Command Prompt and open it again as administrator. Press the Windows key, type cmd, right-click on "Command Prompt" in the results, and select "Run as administrator". Click "Yes" when Windows asks for permission.

Administrator mode gives Command Prompt full access to your network settings. Most basic ipconfig commands work without it, but releasing and renewing your IP address, or running advanced network diagnostics, may require it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my IP address start with 192.168 or 10.0?

These ranges are reserved for private networks. Your router automatically assigns addresses in these ranges to devices on your home network. They are not routable on the public internet, which is why every home network can use the same range without conflict.

Will my IP address change if I restart my computer?

Usually not. Your router remembers which device you are and assigns you the same local IP address each time you connect, as long as you stay on the same network. However, if you do not connect for a while, your router may reassign that address to another device, and you will get a different one next time.

Can I find someone else's IP address using Command Prompt?

Command Prompt can only show you IP addresses of devices on your own network or devices you have recently communicated with. You cannot use it to find the IP address of someone on the internet. Websites and online services do not expose the IP addresses of other users for privacy and security reasons.

What if ipconfig shows multiple IPv4 addresses?

Some devices have multiple network adapters or virtual network connections. Look for the adapter you are actually using — usually "Ethernet adapter" if you are plugged in, or "Wireless LAN adapter" if you are on WiFi. The others can be ignored unless you are specifically trying to troubleshoot a different connection.