The fastest way to find a website's IP address

The simplest method is to use your computer's built-in command line tool. On Windows, open Command Prompt and type nslookup example.com (replace example.com with the actual domain). 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 software installation required.

Both methods show you the same information: the numerical address (like 93.184.216.34) that points to the server hosting that website. The command line approach is faster once you're comfortable with it; the website approach is more straightforward if you rarely need to do this.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users can open Command Prompt and type nslookup domain.com to see a website's IP address in seconds.
  • Mac and Linux users can open Terminal and type dig domain.com for the same result.
  • Free lookup websites like whatismyipaddress.com and mxtoolbox.com show IP addresses without requiring any software or account.
  • A website can have multiple IP addresses if it uses a content delivery network or load balancing, so you may see more than one result.

Using the command line on Windows

Open Command Prompt by pressing the Windows key, typing cmd, and pressing Enter. A black window will open. Type nslookup google.com (or any domain you want to look up) and press Enter. Within a second or two, you'll see output that includes "Address:" followed by the IP address.

The output also shows the name server that answered your query. This is normal and expected — it's just the server that translated the domain name into an IP address. The IP address itself is what you're looking for, and it will be a series of four numbers separated by dots, like 142.250.185.46.

Using the command line on Mac or Linux

Open Terminal (on Mac, search for Terminal in Spotlight; on Linux, right-click the desktop or use your application menu). Type dig example.com and press Enter. The output is longer than Windows nslookup, but the IP address appears in the "ANSWER SECTION" next to the domain name.

If dig is not installed on your Linux system, you can use nslookup example.com instead, which works the same way as Windows. Both commands query your system's DNS resolver to translate the domain name into its IP address.

Using free online lookup tools

Visit whatismyipaddress.com, scroll to the "IP Lookup" section, type the domain name in the search box, and click the search button. The result shows the IP address, the country where the server is located, and sometimes the internet service provider (ISP) that owns the address.

Other reliable options include mxtoolbox.com (click "DNS Lookup" from the menu), dnschecker.org, and ipaddress.com. All of them work the same way: enter a domain, get back an IP address. Some also show additional details like the mail server addresses (MX records) or name servers associated with the domain, which can be useful if you're troubleshooting email or DNS issues.

What to do if you see multiple IP addresses

Some websites show more than one IP address because they use a content delivery network (CDN) or load balancing. A CDN spreads website traffic across multiple servers in different locations so the site loads faster for visitors around the world. When you look up the domain, you might see several different addresses depending on which server the lookup tool queries.

This is normal and not a problem. If you need the primary server address, try the lookup a few times and note which address appears most often. If you're troubleshooting a specific issue, you may need to contact the website owner or their hosting provider to find out which server handles which function.

Why you might need a website's IP address

Website owners and system administrators look up IP addresses to troubleshoot connection problems, verify that a domain points to the correct server, or check whether a website has moved to a new host. If a site is down, knowing its IP address lets you test whether the server itself is responding or whether the problem is with the domain name system.

Security researchers and IT professionals also use IP lookups to investigate suspicious websites or understand the infrastructure behind a domain. If you're setting up email forwarding or configuring DNS records for your own domain, you'll need to know the IP addresses of your mail servers and web servers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find the IP address of a website that's behind a proxy or VPN?

No. A proxy or VPN hides the actual server IP address and shows you the proxy's address instead. This is intentional — it's how proxies and VPNs protect privacy. You'll see the IP of the proxy service, not the website's real server.

Is finding a website's IP address legal?

Yes. IP addresses are public information — they have to be, or the internet couldn't route traffic to websites. Looking up an IP address is no different from looking up a phone number in a directory. Using that information to attack or harass someone is illegal, but the lookup itself is completely legal.

Why does the IP address change when I look it up multiple times?

Large websites often use multiple servers and rotate between them. Each time you query, you might get a different address from the same pool. This is load balancing — it spreads traffic so no single server gets overwhelmed. The domain name stays the same; the IP address behind it can vary.

What's the difference between IPv4 and IPv6 addresses?

IPv4 addresses are the traditional format (four numbers separated by dots, like 192.168.1.1). IPv6 is the newer format with more available addresses, written as eight groups of hexadecimal numbers separated by colons. Most websites still use IPv4, but IPv6 is becoming more common. Lookup tools show whichever format the domain uses.

Can I use a website's IP address to visit it directly?

You can type an IP address into your browser's address bar and visit the server, but you may not see the website you expect. Many servers host multiple websites on the same IP address, so the server needs the domain name to know which site to show you. Visiting by IP alone often returns an error or a default page.