The quickest way to find your IP address

Your IP address is a number that identifies your device on the internet — like a mailing address for data. You have two of them: a public IP (what websites see) and a private IP (what your home network uses). The fastest way to find your public IP is to visit a site like whatismyipaddress.com or ipchicken.com in any browser. Both show your public IP instantly, no account needed.

Finding your private IP takes a few more steps because it depends on your device type and operating system. Your private IP matters when you need to log into your router, set up a printer on your home network, or troubleshoot connection problems. The steps differ between Windows, Mac, and Linux, and between devices on WiFi versus wired connections.

Key Takeaways

  • Visit whatismyipaddress.com or ipchicken.com in your browser to see your public IP address instantly.
  • Your private IP address (the one your home network uses) requires different steps on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
  • On Windows, open Command Prompt and type ipconfig to see your private IP next to "IPv4 Address".
  • On Mac or Linux, open Terminal and type ifconfig or ip addr to find your private IP.
  • Your public IP can change when you restart your router or reconnect to the internet; your private IP usually stays the same on your home network.

Finding your public IP address

Your public IP is what the outside internet sees when you visit a website or send data. Websites log this number, which is why it matters for privacy and security. To find it, open any web browser and go to whatismyipaddress.com. The site displays your public IP at the top of the page in large text. You do not need to enter anything or create an account.

Other sites that show your public IP include ipchicken.com, myip.com, and iplocation.net. All of them work the same way: you visit the site, and your IP appears on the page. If you visit one of these sites from your phone on mobile data instead of WiFi, you will see a different public IP — that is your mobile carrier's IP, not your home network's.

Finding your private IP on Windows

Your private IP is the address your device uses inside your home network. To find it on Windows, open Command Prompt. Click the Start menu, type cmd, and press Enter. A black window opens with a blinking cursor.

Type ipconfig and press Enter. A list of information appears. Look for the section labeled with your network connection name (usually "Ethernet" if you are wired, or "Wireless LAN adapter WiFi" if you are on WiFi). Next to "IPv4 Address" you will see a number like 192.168.1.100 or 10.0.0.50. That is your private IP address.

Finding your private IP on Mac

On Mac, open Terminal. You can find it by clicking the Spotlight icon (magnifying glass) in the top right, typing terminal, and pressing Enter. A black window opens.

Type ifconfig and press Enter. A long list of network information appears. Look for the section that matches how you are connected — en0 usually means WiFi, and en1 or en2 usually means a wired connection. Under that section, find the line that starts with inet (not inet6). The number after inet is your private IP address, typically something like 192.168.1.105.

Finding your private IP on Linux

On Linux, open a terminal window. The method depends on your desktop environment, but usually you right-click the desktop and select "Open Terminal" or you press Ctrl+Alt+T.

Type ip addr and press Enter. You will see a list of network interfaces. Look for the one labeled wlan0 (WiFi) or eth0 (wired connection). Under that section, find the line starting with inet. The number after inet and before the forward slash is your private IP address.

Why you might need each IP address

Your public IP matters when you are concerned about privacy or when a website blocks access based on location. Websites can see your public IP and use it to estimate where you are. Some services restrict content by country or region using this number. Your public IP also appears in server logs if you visit a website, send an email, or use an online service.

Your private IP matters when you need to access your router's settings, set up devices on your home network, or troubleshoot connection problems. If your printer is not connecting to WiFi, you might need your private IP to reach the printer's settings page. If you want to log into your router to change the WiFi password, you usually type your private IP into a browser address bar (often something like 192.168.1.1).

What happens when your IP address changes

Your public IP can change when you restart your router, when your internet service provider assigns you a new one, or when you switch networks (like moving from home WiFi to a coffee shop). Most home internet plans have a dynamic IP, meaning it changes periodically. Some people pay extra for a static IP that stays the same, but this is uncommon for home use.

Your private IP usually stays the same on your home network because your router assigns it to your device. However, if you restart your router or if your device has not connected in a while, you might get a different private IP the next time you connect. If you need a private IP to stay constant (for example, to always reach a printer at the same address), you can set a static private IP in your router settings, but that is a separate process beyond finding your current address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my IP address the same on WiFi and wired connection?

Your public IP is the same whether you use WiFi or a wired connection, because both go through the same internet connection. Your private IP will be different — your router assigns separate private IPs to each device based on how it connects.

Can someone find me using my IP address?

Your public IP can be used to estimate your general location (usually your city or region, not your exact address). It does not reveal your home address or personal identity by itself. However, combined with other information, it can be part of tracking. This is one reason people use VPNs for privacy.

Why do I have two IP addresses?

Your private IP lets devices on your home network talk to each other without going through the internet. Your public IP is what the outside internet uses to send data back to your home network. Your router translates between them, so websites only see your public IP.

What if ipconfig or ifconfig does not show my IP?

Make sure you are connected to your network first. If you are on WiFi, check that you are connected to the correct network. If you are still not seeing an IP, your device may not have a network connection. Try restarting your device or reconnecting to WiFi.

Do I need to hide my IP address?

Whether you need to hide your IP depends on your privacy concerns. Your public IP is visible to every website you visit and can be used for location tracking. A VPN hides your public IP from websites. Your private IP only matters inside your home network and does not need hiding unless you are concerned about devices on your own network.