How to find your PC's IP address

Your PC has an IP address assigned by your router or network administrator. On Windows, the fastest way is to open Command Prompt, type ipconfig, and press Enter — your IPv4 address appears as a four-number sequence like 192.168.1.5. On Mac, go to System Settings > Network, select your connection, and look for the IP address field. On Linux, open a terminal and type ip addr show or hostname -I. Each method takes under a minute.

You may see two different addresses: a local IP address (used inside your home or office network) and a public IP address (how the internet sees you). Most of the time you need the local one. If you need your public IP, visit a site like whatismyipaddress.com or type "what is my IP" into a search engine.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, open Command Prompt and type ipconfig to see your local IP address instantly.
  • On Mac, check System Settings > Network and look for the IP address field next to your connection name.
  • On Linux, type ip addr show or hostname -I in a terminal to display your local IP.
  • Your local IP (like 192.168.1.5) is different from your public IP, and you usually need the local one for home network tasks.

Finding your IP address on Windows

Open the Start menu and type cmd or command prompt. Click the Command Prompt app when it appears. At the blinking cursor, type ipconfig exactly and press Enter. A list of network information will appear.

Look for the section labeled with your connection type — usually Ethernet adapter if you are plugged in with a cable, or Wireless LAN adapter if you are on Wi-Fi. Under that section, find the line that says IPv4 Address. The number next to it (typically starting with 192.168 or 10.0) is your local IP address. Write it down if you need it for a printer, router settings, or remote access.

If you prefer not to use Command Prompt, you can also right-click the network icon in your system tray (bottom right corner), select Open Network & Internet settings, then click Advanced network options and scroll down to find your IP address listed there.

Finding your IP address on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions). Click Network in the sidebar. On the right side, you will see your current connection — either Wi-Fi or Ethernet — with a green dot next to it.

Click that connection name. A panel will open showing connection details. Look for the line labeled IP Address. The four-part number displayed there is your local IP address. If you need more details, click the Advanced button to see additional network settings.

Alternatively, you can open Terminal (found in Applications > Utilities) and type ifconfig | grep inet. This shows all IP addresses on your Mac, though the output is less organized than the Settings method.

Finding your IP address on Linux

Open a terminal window. Type ip addr show and press Enter. The output will list all network interfaces on your system. Look for the section labeled inet followed by a four-part number — that is your local IP address. Ignore lines labeled inet6, which are IPv6 addresses used on some networks.

If that command does not work on your system, try hostname -I instead, which displays just the IP address without extra information. Both commands work on most Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian.

Understanding local versus public IP addresses

Your local IP address is assigned by your router and only works inside your home or office network. It is what you use to connect to your printer, access your router settings, or reach another computer on the same Wi-Fi. These addresses always start with 192.168, 10.0, or 172.16.

Your public IP address is assigned by your internet service provider and is how websites and online services see you. It changes periodically (sometimes daily, sometimes monthly, depending on your ISP). You need your public IP only if you are setting up remote access from outside your network or troubleshooting internet connectivity issues.

To find your public IP, you do not need Command Prompt or terminal — just open any web browser and search for "what is my IP" or visit a site like whatismyipaddress.com. The result appears instantly at the top of the page.

Why you might need your IP address

Common reasons to find your IP address include connecting to a network printer, accessing your router's settings page, setting up remote desktop access, or troubleshooting network problems with your internet service provider. If someone asks for your IP address, they almost always mean your local IP (the one you see in Command Prompt or System Settings), not your public one.

If you are having network trouble and your ISP support team asks for your IP, give them your public IP. If you are trying to print to a network printer or access a device on your home network, use your local IP instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my IP address the same every time I turn on my computer?

Your local IP usually stays the same unless you restart your router or your lease expires (typically after several days or weeks). Your public IP changes less predictably — some ISPs change it daily, others monthly. If you need a stable IP for remote access, ask your ISP about a static IP option, though this usually costs extra.

Can I change my IP address?

You can change your local IP through your router settings, though most people never need to. For your public IP, you can restart your modem and wait a few minutes, though there is no may provide it will change. Some VPN services let you appear to have a different public IP, but that is a different tool for a different purpose.

What if ipconfig does not show my IP address?

Make sure you typed the command correctly — it is ipconfig, not ipconfig.exe or other variations. If you still see no IP address, your network connection may be disconnected. Check that your Wi-Fi is on or your ethernet cable is plugged in, then try the command again.

Why do I see multiple IP addresses when I run ipconfig?

If you have multiple network adapters (Wi-Fi, ethernet, virtual adapters, or VPN connections), each one gets its own IP address. Look for the adapter you are actually using — the one with a green dot or active status — and use that IP address.