How to Find Your IP Address — Windows, Mac, iPhone & Android (2026)
Quick Answer — What Is My IP Address?
The fastest way to find your public IP address: open any browser and search "what is my ip" on Google. It shows your IP right at the top.
For your private (local) IP: on Windows, open Command Prompt and type ipconfig. On Mac, open Terminal and type ifconfig.
Your IP address is like your device's mailing address on the internet. You actually have two kinds — a public IP (visible to the internet) and a private IP (used inside your home or office network). This guide shows you how to find both, on any device.
Table of Contents
- Public vs Private IP — What's the Difference?
- How to Find Your Public IP Address (Any Device)
- How to Find IP Address on Windows 10 & 11
- How to Find IP Address on Mac
- How to Find IP Address on iPhone
- How to Find IP Address on Android
- How to Find IP Address on Linux
- How to Find Your Router's IP Address
- IPv4 vs IPv6 — What's the Difference?
- FAQ
Public vs Private IP — What's the Difference?
| Feature | Public IP | Private IP |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Your address on the internet | Your address on your local network (home/office) |
| Who assigns it | Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) | Your router |
| Example | 203.45.167.89 | 192.168.1.105 |
| Visible to websites? | Yes | No |
| Changes? | Usually changes periodically (dynamic IP) | Usually stays the same on your network |
| Shared? | Shared by all devices on your network | Unique per device on your network |
How to Find Your Public IP Address (Any Device)
Your public IP is the same regardless of which device you check from (as long as you're on the same network). Here are the quickest ways:
1 Google It (Easiest)
Open any browser and search:
Google shows your public IP address directly at the top of the search results. No need to visit any website.
2 Use Command Line
Open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux) and run:
203.45.167.89
Or use curl icanhazip.com or curl ipinfo.io/ip — they all do the same thing.
Windows How to Find IP Address on Windows 10 & 11
1 Using Settings (No Command Line)
- Press Win + I to open Settings
- Click Network & internet
- Click Wi-Fi (or Ethernet if wired)
- Click your connected network name
- Scroll down to IPv4 address — that's your private IP
2 Using Command Prompt (ipconfig)
This is the classic method every IT person uses.
- Press Win + R, type
cmd, press Enter - Type
ipconfigand press Enter
Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.105
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
The IPv4 Address is your private IP. The Default Gateway is your router's IP.
ipconfig /all for detailed info including DNS servers, DHCP status, and MAC address. At Medha Cloud, this is the first command we run when troubleshooting any network issue for our managed IT clients.
3 Using PowerShell
This gives you a clean list of all network adapters and their IP addresses.
Mac How to Find IP Address on Mac
1 Using System Settings
- Click the Apple menu (top-left) → System Settings
- Click Network in the sidebar
- Click Wi-Fi (or Ethernet)
- Click Details next to your connected network
- Your IP address is shown under IP address
2 Using Terminal (ifconfig)
- Open Terminal (Cmd + Space, type "Terminal")
- Type
ifconfigand press Enter
inet 192.168.1.42 netmask 0xffffff00 broadcast 192.168.1.255
The grep command filters out the noise and shows only your actual IP addresses.
3 Quick Way — Option+Click Wi-Fi
Hold the Option key and click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar. A detailed dropdown appears showing your IP address, router IP, security type, channel, and more. No need to open Settings or Terminal.
iPhone / iPad How to Find IP Address on iPhone
- Open Settings
- Tap Wi-Fi
- Tap the (i) icon next to your connected network
- Your IP address is shown under IP Address
You'll see both your IPv4 and IPv6 addresses here. The IPv4 one (like 192.168.x.x) is what you usually need.
Android How to Find IP Address on Android
- Open Settings
- Tap Network & internet (or Connections on Samsung)
- Tap Wi-Fi
- Tap the gear icon next to your connected network
- Your IP address is shown under IP address
On some Android versions, you can also go to Settings → About Phone → Status → IP Address.
Linux How to Find IP Address on Linux
Method 1: ip addr (Modern)
inet 192.168.1.50/24 brd 192.168.1.255 scope global dynamic eth0
Method 2: hostname -I (Quickest)
192.168.1.50
This gives you just the IP with no extra output. The cleanest option.
How to Find Your Router's IP Address
Your router's IP (also called the default gateway) is what you type into a browser to access the router's admin panel.
| Platform | Command / Method | Common Router IPs |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | ipconfig → look for "Default Gateway" | 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 |
| Mac | Option+Click Wi-Fi icon, or netstat -nr | grep default | 192.168.1.1 or 10.0.0.1 |
| iPhone | Settings → Wi-Fi → (i) → Router | 192.168.1.1 |
| Android | Settings → Wi-Fi → gear icon → Gateway | 192.168.1.1 |
| Linux | ip route | grep default | 192.168.1.1 |
IPv4 vs IPv6 — What's the Difference?
| Feature | IPv4 | IPv6 |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 192.168.1.105 | 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334 |
| Length | 32 bits (4 groups of numbers) | 128 bits (8 groups of hex) |
| Total addresses | ~4.3 billion (running out) | ~340 undecillion (practically unlimited) |
| What you'll see | Most common — used by most home routers | Increasingly used by ISPs and mobile networks |
Static vs Dynamic IP — Do I Need a Static IP?
Most home internet connections use a dynamic IP — your ISP changes it periodically (every few hours or days). This is fine for normal use.
You need a static IP if you're:
- Running a server (web server, game server, email server)
- Setting up remote desktop access
- Using IP-based security whitelists (like DataForSEO API access)
- Hosting a VPN
Contact your ISP to get a static IP — it usually costs $5-15/month extra. For businesses, we recommend static IPs for any production infrastructure. Our Windows Server support team can help configure static IPs and DNS for your organization.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find my IP address without internet?
Your private IP works without internet — it's assigned by your router. Use ipconfig (Windows) or ifconfig (Mac) even when offline. However, you need an internet connection to find your public IP since it's assigned by your ISP.
Can someone find my location from my IP address?
They can find your approximate city and ISP, but not your exact address. IP geolocation is accurate to the city level, not the street level. Using a VPN hides your real IP and shows the VPN server's location instead.
Why does my IP address keep changing?
Most ISPs assign dynamic IPs — they change periodically. This is normal. If you need a fixed IP (for hosting, remote access, etc.), ask your ISP for a static IP address.
Is my IP address the same on Wi-Fi and mobile data?
No. When you're on Wi-Fi, your phone uses your home network's public IP. When you switch to mobile data (4G/5G), your carrier assigns a completely different public IP. Your private IP also changes.
How do I find someone else's IP address?
You generally can't find a specific person's IP address (and shouldn't try to). However, if someone sends you an email, their IP may be in the email headers. Website owners can see visitor IPs in server logs. For IT troubleshooting, use ping hostname or nslookup domain.com to find a server's IP.
What is 127.0.0.1?
That's the localhost or loopback address. It always refers to "this computer." It's used for testing and development — when you run a local web server, you access it at 127.0.0.1 (or localhost). It's not your actual network IP.
What is 192.168.1.1?
That's typically your router's IP address (default gateway). Type it into your browser to access your router's admin panel. If it doesn't work, try 192.168.0.1, 10.0.0.1, or check your default gateway using the methods above.
Topics
Sreenivasa Reddy G
Founder & CEO • 15+ years
Sreenivasa Reddy is the Founder and CEO of Medha Cloud, recognized as "Startup of the Year 2024" by The CEO Magazine. With over 15 years of experience in cloud infrastructure and IT services, he leads the company's vision to deliver enterprise-grade cloud solutions to businesses worldwide.
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