The fastest way to find your Raspberry Pi's IP address

If your Raspberry Pi is already running and connected to your network, the quickest method is to check your router's connected devices list. Log into your router's admin panel (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in your browser), look for a section called "Connected Devices," "DHCP Clients," or "Device List," and find the entry labeled "raspberrypi" or whatever hostname you gave it. The IP address will be listed next to it.

If you have a monitor and keyboard plugged into your Raspberry Pi, you can also type hostname -I directly into the terminal and it will display the IP address immediately. This works whether your Pi is connected by ethernet cable or WiFi.

If neither of those options works for you, the methods below cover other ways to locate it depending on what you have available.

Key Takeaways

  • Your router's admin panel shows all connected devices and their IP addresses — this is the fastest method if you can access your router settings.
  • If you have a keyboard and monitor attached to your Raspberry Pi, typing hostname -I in the terminal displays the IP address instantly.
  • On Windows, Mac, or Linux computers on the same network, you can use command-line tools like arp -a or nmap to scan for your Pi without physical access.
  • Raspberry Pi Imager (the official tool for setting up new Pis) can show connected devices on your network if you have it installed.
  • If your Pi is brand new and you do not know its hostname, searching for "raspberrypi.local" or "raspberrypi" in your router's device list usually finds it.

Using your router to find the IP address

Your router keeps a record of every device connected to it, including your Raspberry Pi. To access this list, open a web browser on any computer or phone connected to your network and type your router's IP address into the address bar. Common addresses are 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, or 10.0.0.1 — if none of those work, check the sticker on the back of your router or your router's manual.

Once you are logged in (you may need your router's username and password, often printed on the device itself), look for a menu option labeled "Connected Devices," "DHCP Clients," "Attached Devices," or "Device List." The exact wording varies by router brand. Your Raspberry Pi will appear in this list with its hostname (usually "raspberrypi" unless you renamed it) and its IP address next to it.

This method works regardless of whether your Pi is running or what operating system it has installed, as long as it is powered on and connected to the network.

Finding the IP address from the Raspberry Pi itself

If you have a monitor, keyboard, and mouse connected to your Raspberry Pi, you can find the IP address without touching your router or another computer. Boot up your Pi and log in, then open a terminal window (usually found in the applications menu or by right-clicking the desktop).

Type hostname -I and press Enter. The terminal will display one or more IP addresses — the first one is usually the address you need. If your Pi is connected by ethernet cable, there will typically be one address. If it is connected by WiFi, you may see both an ethernet address (if the port is active) and a WiFi address.

You can also type ip addr show for more detailed information about each network connection, though hostname -I is simpler if you just need the address itself.

Scanning your network from another computer

If your Raspberry Pi is running but you do not have a monitor attached, you can scan your network from a Windows, Mac, or Linux computer to find it. The method depends on which operating system you are using.

On Windows: Open Command Prompt (search for "cmd" in the Start menu) and type arp -a, then press Enter. This shows all devices your computer has recently communicated with on the network. Look for an entry with "raspberrypi" in the name or a manufacturer listed as "Raspberry Pi Foundation." The IP address will be in the first column.

On Mac or Linux: Open Terminal and type arp -a (Mac) or ip neigh (Linux), then press Enter. The output format is different but the information is the same — look for an entry with "raspberrypi" or the Raspberry Pi Foundation listed.

If the arp command does not show your Pi, it may not have communicated with your computer yet. In that case, try using nmap (available on all three operating systems) to actively scan your network. On Windows, you can download Nmap from nmap.org. On Mac, install it with brew install nmap if you have Homebrew. On Linux, use your package manager. Once installed, type nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24 (replacing the first three numbers with your network range if needed) to scan all devices on your network and find your Pi.

Using Raspberry Pi Imager to find connected devices

If you have Raspberry Pi Imager installed on your computer (the official tool for setting up new Raspberry Pis), it has a built-in feature to show devices already on your network. Open Imager, click the "Choose Device" button, and look for an option that says "Use custom" or shows a list of detected devices. Some versions of Imager display connected Pis with their IP addresses in this menu.

This method only works if Imager is installed on your computer and your Pi is already powered on and connected to the network. It is most useful if you have multiple Pis and need to identify which one is which.

What to do if you still cannot find your Pi

If none of the above methods work, start by confirming that your Raspberry Pi is actually powered on and connected to your network. Check that the power cable is plugged in and that the ethernet cable (if you are using one) is firmly connected to both the Pi and your router. If you are using WiFi, make sure the Pi was set up to connect to your network before you powered it off.

If your Pi is brand new and you have not set it up yet, it may not have a network connection configured. In that case, you will need to connect a monitor and keyboard to complete the initial setup before it can connect to your network.

Try the router method first — it is the most reliable because it does not depend on the Pi being fully booted or your computer having communicated with it recently. If your router does not show a device called "raspberrypi," check whether you renamed the Pi during setup, as it may appear under a different name in the device list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find my Raspberry Pi's IP address if it is not connected to the internet?

Yes. Your Raspberry Pi does not need internet access to have an IP address on your local network. As long as it is connected to your router by ethernet or WiFi and powered on, it will have an IP address that you can find using any of the methods above.

Why does my Raspberry Pi have a different IP address every time I restart it?

Your router is assigning a new address each time because your Pi is set to use DHCP (automatic IP assignment). If you want the same address every time, you can set a static IP address in your Pi's network settings or reserve an address in your router's DHCP settings. Both methods require accessing your Pi's terminal or your router's admin panel.

What is the difference between the IP address shown by hostname -I and the one in my router?

They should be the same. If they are different, your Pi may be connected to multiple networks (for example, both ethernet and WiFi at the same time). Use the address that matches the connection method you are actually using.

Can I use my Raspberry Pi's hostname instead of its IP address?

Yes. You can usually reach your Pi by typing "raspberrypi.local" in a browser or SSH command instead of the IP address, as long as your network supports mDNS (most home networks do). If you renamed your Pi, use the new name instead of "raspberrypi."