How to Find an IP Address

An IP address is a method of providing information about the location you need to access within a network. Every device in a network has its own 'private' IP address, while the entire network shares a 'public' IP address on the internet. Although the device's IP address may change each time you turn it on, the router's IP address or the 'default gateway' remains fixed and determines the IP addresses of other devices in the network. The method of finding an IP address depends on the device you're using.

Find your public IP address if you want your internet network to identify your IP. This is the IP address of your computer or network as it appears on the internet. If you need a direct connection from your network to your computer, you must use the public IP address. Public IP addresses are often used for setting up game servers, proxy servers, or FTP servers.

• Click here to find your public IP address.

Find a private IP address when you need the IP of a specific device within the network. This is the IP address assigned to a device in the network. Every device connected to a network has its own unique IP address, allowing the router to direct information to the correct device. The private IP address of a device is not visible on the internet. Choose the method that suits your device:

• Windows
• Mac
• Android
• iPhone

Find the router IP/Default Gateway when you need to change your home network. This is the IP address of the network router, which allows access to the router's configuration page. The router's IP address serves as the foundation for all the IP addresses of devices on the network. The method of finding it depends on whether you're using Windows or Mac:

• Windows
• Mac

Open a web browser on your computer or device. You can use any connected device to identify the public IP address of your network.

• Ensure that the device is connected to the network. For example, if using a smartphone and not connected to Wi-Fi, you'll find the IP address of the mobile data network instead of the Wi-Fi network.

Access Google. Using Google is one of the simplest ways to find your IP address. Many other websites can also assist you with this. Almost every search engine can retrieve your IP address.

Type "my ip" and search. The public IP address will appear right at the top of the search results.

Find your public IP address. The public IP address is displayed at the very beginning of the search results on Google. This is the address your network uses on the internet.

Click on the Start button. This opens the Start menu or Screen.

Type "cmd" and press .↵ Enter to open the Command Prompt. After opening the Start menu or Screen, type "cmd" and press ↵ Enter to launch the Command Prompt.

• On Windows 7 and later versions, you can select Command Prompt from the Start menu.

Type .ipconfig and press ↵ Enter. This will display all the network information. You might need to expand the Command Prompt window to view the full details.

Locate the active network adapter. Most computers have one or two adapters, depending on the setup. If the computer can connect both wirelessly and via Ethernet cable, it will have at least two adapters. Look at the adapter names in the list to find the one you need.

• If the adapter is not in use, for example, if the Ethernet port isn't connected to a cable, the Media state will show Media disconnected.

Look for the .IPv4 Address . This is the private IP address of the device. You will need this address if you are troubleshooting or reconfiguring the local network. Every device on the network will have its own unique IP address, though they will be similar in structure.

Click on the Apple menu and select "System Preferences". This opens the System Preferences menu.

Click on the "Network" option. A new window will appear, listing the network adapters on the left side of the screen.

Select the active network adapter. Typically, the active adapter is automatically selected. If there are multiple adapters, choose the one you want to check the IP address for. If the adapter is not currently connected, the message next to it will appear in red.

Locate the IP address. The private IP address of the Mac will be listed under the "IP Address" section.

• For older OS X versions, you need to click on the "TCP/IP" tab at the top of the window to view the "IP Address" section.

Scroll down to the bottom of the Advanced menu and locate the "IP address" field. This field will display the device's private IP address.

Select the "Wi-Fi." option. This will open a list of available wireless networks.

Click the ⓘ button next to the network name. This will display detailed information about the wireless network your device is connected to.

Look for the "IP Address" entry. This is usually located at the beginning of the list and shows the IP address of your iPhone.

Click the Start button and type "cmd." This will open the Command Prompt window.

Type ipconfig and hit ↵ Enter. A list of all network adapters will appear.

Look for the Default Gateway of the active adapter. Identify your network adapter by its name. The Default Gateway will show the router's IP address.

• Inactive adapters will display Media disconnected.

Click on the Apple Menu and select "System Preferences."

Click on the "Network" option.

Select the network adapter. The one you're currently connected to will be highlighted in green.

Look for the "Router" entry. The IP address listed under this heading is the address of the router/default gateway.