How to Find Your IP Address?

Finding your IP address is a simple but also an important task for anyone using the internet. Whether you’re troubleshooting network issuessetting up a new deviceor securing your online activityknowing your IP address is a key step.

In this articlewe’ll show you how to find your IP address on different devices like WindowsMacand Linux.

What is an IP Address?

An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is like the home address of your device on the Internet. Just as your home has an address so people can find itevery device connected to a network—like your phonecomputeror smart speaker—has an IP address so other devices can communicate with it.

To learn more about IP addresses in detailRead our full article here.

Types of IP Address

A.) IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4)

This widely used standard operates with a 32-bit address format. It’s represented as a set of four numbers separated by dots (e.g., 192.168.0.1)where each number ranges from 0 to 255.

B.) IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6)

As a newer and more advanced versionIPv6 uses a 128-bit address formatallowing for a vastly larger pool of unique addresses. Its longer structure is displayed as a series of alphanumeric segments separated by colons (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334)designed to support the increasing number of devices globally

For detailed informationrefer to this article – IPv4 vs. IPv6

Public vs. Private IP Addresses

BroadlyIP addresses are classified as public and private:

• Private IP Addresses are used within local networkssuch as your home Wi-Fiand are not accessible from the internet.
• Public IP Addresses are assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and are essential for connecting devices to the internet.

Finding Your Public IP Address Using a Browser

An easy way to find your public IP address is by using a web browser. Several websites can instantly identify and display your public IP address.

You can visit these sites on any device—whether it’s your mobile or computer.

1. Google Search: Simply search for "My IP" on Googleand your public IP address will appear at the top of the results.
2. WhatIsMyIP: Visit WhatIsMyIP to view your public IP address.
3. WhatIsMyIPAddress: Another reliable site is WhatIsMyIPAddresswhich provides your public IP along with additional information

Example Result:

Note: If the snippet with your IP address doesn’t appear immediatelyscroll to the bottom of the page to locate it.

How to Find Your IP Address on Windows?

 Step 1 - Click Start or click in the search box and type cmd.

 Step 2 - Click on the Command Prompt. In the Windows cmd type "ipconfig" and press enter.

• You can find your IP Address after ipconfig command output as respectively.
• If you’re connected to the internet by an Ethernetthen the IP Address will appear in the Ethernet adapter Ethernet Section.
• If you’re connected through Wi-Fi to the internetthen the IP Address will appear in the Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi section.
• If you’re connected to both networks simultaneouslythen both IP addresses are displayed.

How to Find Your IP Address on Linux?

Method 1: Using the ip Command

Step 1 - Open Linux Terminal or use (Ctrl+Alt+T).

Step 2 - Run the Command: "ip a"

This will display all network interfaces and their details. Look for the line that starts with inet under your active network interface (such as eth0 for Ethernet or wlan0 for Wi-Fi). The IP address will be displayed next to inet (e.g.inet 192.168.1.10/24).

Method 2: Using the ifconfig Command (Older Method)

Step 1 - Open Linux Terminal.

Step 2 - Click on the Terminaland type "ifconfig" and press Enter.

The IP Address in Linux Terminal is listed next to the eth0wlan0 name as shown below.

How to Find Your IP Address on MacOS?

Method 1: Using System Preferences

• Step 1 - Open the Apple Menu.
• Step 2 - Open System Preferences.
• Step 3 - Click on Network Paneand select the active network connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
• Step 4 - IP address will be displayed on the right side under the Status section.

Method 2: Using Terminal

• Step 1 - Open the Terminal app by going to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
• Step 2 - To find your local IP addresstype the following command: "ifconfig"
• Step 3 - Look for the en0 (Wi-Fi) or en1 (Ethernet) section. Under thisfind the line starting with inet (this is your local/Private IP address).

Example: inet 192.168.x.x

Note: To find your public IP addressyou can use the following command: "curl ifconfig.me"

How to Find My IP Address on My Phone

For iPhone (iOS):

1. Open Settings: Tap the Settings app on your home screen.
2. Wi-Fi Settings: Tap Wi-Fi.
3. Connected Network: Tap the information icon (i) next to your connected Wi-Fi network.
4. IP Address: Under the "IPV4 Address" sectionyou'll see your IP address listed.

For Android:

1. Open Settings: Tap the Settings app on your phone.
2. Network & Internet: Tap Network & Internetthen select Wi-Fi.
3. Connected Network: Tap your connected Wi-Fi network.
4. IP Address: Scroll down to find your IP address under "Advanced" or "IP address."

If you’re using mobile data (and not Wi-Fi)your public IP address is assigned by your carrierand it is typically the same for all devices on the network. You can find it by searching "What is my IP" in a browseror using any IP lookup website.

Conclusion

Finding your IP address is a simple task that can be done in various ways depending on the device you're using. Whether you're on a Windows PCMacor mobile devicethere are quick steps to help you locate your IP address.

Understanding your IP address is essential for troubleshooting network issuesconfiguring devicesand ensuring secure online activities. With the right methods and tools, it's relatively easy to access and manage your IP address for a smooth and safe digital experience.