What an IP address is and why you might need it

Your computer's IP address is a number that identifies it on a network — like a mailing address for data. It looks like four numbers separated by dots, such as 192.168.1.5. You need this number when you're troubleshooting network problems, setting up a printer or router, connecting to a work network remotely, or giving technical support to someone else.

There are two types. Your local IP address (also called private IP) is what your computer uses inside your home or office network. Your public IP address is what the internet sees when you browse — it's assigned by your internet provider. Most of the time, you're looking for the local one.

Finding it takes less than a minute and requires no special software. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, or Linux.

Key Takeaways

  • Your local IP address is a four-number sequence (like 192.168.1.5) that identifies your computer on your home or office network.
  • On Windows, open Command Prompt and type ipconfig to see your IP address listed as "IPv4 Address".
  • On Mac, go to System Settings, click Network, select your connection, and look for "IP Address" in the details.
  • On Linux, open a terminal and type hostname -I or ip addr to display your IP address.
  • If you need your public IP address instead, search "what is my IP" in any browser to see what the internet sees.

Finding your IP address on Windows

The fastest way on Windows is through Command Prompt. Click the Start button, type cmd into the search box, and press Enter. A black window opens.

Type ipconfig (all one word, no spaces) and press Enter. You'll see a list of network information. Look for the section labeled with your connection type — usually "Ethernet adapter" if you're plugged in with a cable, or "Wireless LAN adapter" if you're on Wi-Fi. Under that section, find the line that says IPv4 Address. The number next to it is your local IP address.

If you prefer not to use Command Prompt, you can also find it through Settings. Open Settings, go to Network & Internet, select your connection type (Wi-Fi or Ethernet), and click on the connection name. Scroll down to "IP settings" and you'll see "IPv4 address" listed there.

Finding your IP address on Mac

On Mac, open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions). Click Network in the sidebar on the left.

You'll see a list of connection types on the left side — Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or others. Select whichever one you're currently using. On the right side, you'll see connection details. Look for the line labeled IP Address. That's your local IP address.

If you're using an older Mac and the sidebar doesn't appear, click the lock icon at the bottom left first to unlock the settings, then the Network option should be visible in the main list.

Finding your IP address on Linux

Open a terminal window. The keyboard shortcut is usually Ctrl+Alt+T, though this varies by Linux distribution.

Type hostname -I and press Enter. Your local IP address will appear on the next line. This is the simplest method and works on nearly all Linux systems.

If that doesn't work, try ip addr instead. This shows more detailed network information. Look for the section labeled with your connection name (often "eth0" for wired or "wlan0" for Wi-Fi). Your IP address appears next to "inet" in that section.

Understanding what you're looking at

When you find your IP address, it will be four numbers between 0 and 255, separated by dots. Common examples are 192.168.1.5, 10.0.0.3, or 172.16.0.50. These are all private IP addresses — they only work inside your network.

You may also see an IPv6 address listed, which looks like a longer string of letters and numbers separated by colons (like fe80::1). This is a newer address format. For most home and office networks, you'll use the IPv4 address (the four-number one).

The Subnet Mask and Default Gateway you see listed are related settings that your network uses to route data. You usually don't need to worry about these unless you're configuring network settings.

Finding your public IP address

If you need to know what IP address the internet sees when you browse, that's your public IP address. It's different from your local one and changes periodically depending on your internet provider.

To find it, open any web browser and search for "what is my IP". The first result will show your public IP address. You can also visit websites like whatismyipaddress.com or similar services — they all show the same number.

Your public IP address is what websites see when you visit them, and it's what you'd give to someone if they needed to connect to your computer from outside your network. Your local IP address is only useful inside your own network.

What to do once you have your IP address

Once you've found your IP address, write it down or take a screenshot if you need it for troubleshooting. If you're setting up a printer, router, or other device, you may need to enter this number into that device's settings.

If you're helping someone else with a technical problem, your IP address is one of the first pieces of information they'll ask for. Keep it handy while you're troubleshooting.

Remember that your local IP address can change if you restart your router or if your network settings change. If you need a permanent address for a specific device, you can set a static IP address in your router settings, but that's a separate process and usually only necessary for devices like printers or servers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my IP address change if I restart my computer?

Your local IP address usually stays the same after a restart, but it can change if you restart your router or if your network settings change. If you need an address that never changes, you can set a static IP in your router settings, though this is rarely necessary for regular computers.

Is it safe to share my IP address?

Your local IP address is only useful inside your own network, so sharing it doesn't create a security risk. Your public IP address is already visible to every website you visit, so sharing it is also safe. Neither one gives someone access to your files or passwords.

What if I see multiple IP addresses listed?

If you have multiple network connections (Wi-Fi and Ethernet, for example), each one gets its own IP address. Find the one that matches the connection you're actually using right now. If you're on Wi-Fi, look under the Wi-Fi section; if you're plugged in with a cable, look under Ethernet.

Can I change my IP address myself?

Your local IP address is assigned by your router automatically. You can change it through your router settings if needed, but this is rarely necessary. Your public IP address is assigned by your internet provider and changes on its own periodically — you cannot change it directly.

Why does my IP address start with 192.168 or 10.0?

These are standard ranges reserved for private networks. Every home and office network uses addresses from these ranges, so your address starting with 192.168 or 10.0 is completely normal and expected. It means your router is working correctly.