How to find your laptop's IP address

Your laptop has two IP addresses you might need: a local IP address that identifies it on your home or office network, and a public IP address that identifies your entire network to the internet. The local address is what you'll use most often — to connect a printer, access files from another device, or troubleshoot network problems. Finding either one takes less than a minute and requires no special tools.

The steps differ slightly between Windows, Mac, and Linux, but all three operating systems let you find this information through built-in settings or a command-line tool. You don't need administrator access or any additional software.

Key Takeaways

  • Your local IP address appears in your network settings and usually starts with 192.168 or 10.0 on home networks.
  • Windows users can find it fastest through Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi or Ethernet, or by typing ipconfig in Command Prompt.
  • Mac users can open System Settings > Network and see the IP address listed for their active connection.
  • Your public IP address (the one the internet sees) is different from your local address and can be found by searching "what is my IP" in any browser.

Finding your IP address on Windows

The fastest way on Windows is through the Settings app. Click the Start button, then go to Settings > Network & Internet. If you're connected by Wi-Fi, click Wi-Fi on the left side and then click your network name under "Known networks". Your IP address appears next to "IPv4 address". If you're using an ethernet cable, click Ethernet instead and you'll see the same information.

If you prefer the command line, open Command Prompt by pressing Windows key + R, typing cmd, and pressing Enter. Type ipconfig and press Enter. Look for "IPv4 Address" under the connection you're using — it will be a series of four numbers separated by periods, like 192.168.1.105.

Finding your IP address on Mac

On Mac, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions). Click Network on the left side. Your active connection — either Wi-Fi or Ethernet — will be highlighted. Click it and your IP address appears next to "IPv4 Address".

You can also use the command line if you prefer. Open Terminal (find it in Applications > Utilities or search for it with Spotlight). Type ifconfig and press Enter. Look for "inet" followed by a series of numbers — that's your local IP address. You'll see multiple entries if you have multiple network connections; the one you're actively using will be listed under your current connection type.

Finding your IP address on Linux

On Linux, the command line is usually the fastest route. Open a terminal and type ip addr show or ifconfig (depending on your distribution). Look for "inet" followed by your IP address. It will appear under the connection you're using — usually eth0 for ethernet or wlan0 for Wi-Fi.

If your desktop environment has a graphical settings panel, you can also find it there. In GNOME (used by Ubuntu and many other distributions), click the system menu in the top-right corner, then click the Wi-Fi or network icon, and select "Show Details". Your IP address will be listed under the connection name.

Understanding local versus public IP addresses

The address you find in your network settings is your local IP address — it only works on your home or office network. This is the address you use when you're connecting a printer, accessing a security camera on your network, or sharing files with another device in the same room. It typically starts with 192.168, 10.0, or 172.16.

Your public IP address is different. It's assigned by your internet service provider and identifies your entire network to the outside world. Websites see this address when you visit them, and it's what your router uses to send data back to your laptop. To find your public IP, open any web browser and search for "what is my IP address" — the first result will show it. You can also visit websites like whatismyipaddress.com. Your public IP changes periodically (usually every few months) unless you pay your ISP for a static address.

Why you might need your IP address

You'll need your local IP address when you're setting up devices on your network or troubleshooting connection problems. If a printer isn't showing up on your laptop, you might need to enter your laptop's IP address into the printer's settings. If you're accessing a security camera or network storage device, you'll type the device's IP address into your browser's address bar. Some games and applications also let you connect directly to another player's laptop using their local IP address.

Your public IP address is less something you need to know and more something websites already know about you. It's useful mainly for troubleshooting with your internet service provider — if your connection drops, they may ask for your public IP to look up what happened on their end. It's also what determines your approximate location when you visit location-based websites.

What to do if your IP address keeps changing

Your local IP address can change if you restart your router or if your laptop disconnects and reconnects to the network. If you need a device to stay at the same address — like a printer or security camera — you can set a static IP address in your router's settings. This tells your router to always assign the same address to that device.

To do this, log into your router's admin panel (usually by typing 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into a browser, or through your router manufacturer's app). Look for a section called DHCP, Static IP, or Reserved Addresses. You'll enter your device's name and the IP address you want it to keep. The exact steps vary by router model, so check your router's manual or manufacturer's website for specific instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my IP address the same as my MAC address?

No. Your IP address is a number that identifies your device on a network (like 192.168.1.105). Your MAC address is a different identifier built into your network card that only works on local networks. They serve different purposes and look completely different.

Can someone find my location from my IP address?

Your public IP address can reveal your approximate location — usually your city or region, not your exact address. Your local IP address (the one starting with 192.168) only works on your home network and tells nothing to the outside world. Websites see your public IP, not your local one.

Why does my IP address show 127.0.0.1?

That's your loopback address, also called localhost. It's a special address that always refers to your own computer. It appears when you're testing something on your laptop itself, not connecting to your network. Your actual network IP address will be different.

Do I need to write down my IP address?

You don't need to memorize it, but it's useful to write down if you're setting up a device that needs to connect to your laptop specifically. For most everyday tasks, you won't need it. Your devices find each other automatically on your home network.