How to Find Your IP Address on Your Laptop or PC

Wondering what your IP address is? Whether you’re a beginner or a tech-savvy user, knowing how to locate your IP address is an essential skill. Your IP address is a unique identifier assigned to your device when connected to the internet.

It allows devices on a network to communicate with each other, facilitating web browsing, email, online gaming, and much more. There are a few different types of IP addresses: public (external) and private (internal). Public IP addresses are used on the internet, while private IP addresses are used within your local network.



In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to find both your public and private IP address on various devices like a laptop or PC. By the end of this article, you will know exactly how to identify your device’s IP address, whether you’re on Windows, macOS, or using a mobile device. Let's get started!

What is an IP Address?

An IP address (Internet Protocol Address) is a unique set of numbers or characters that identifies your device on a network. It works like an address for your device on the internet or a local network, allowing other devices and websites to send data to your computer.

There are two main types of IP addresses:

  • IPv4: The most common type, consisting of four numbers separated by periods (e.g., 192.168.1.1).
  • IPv6: A newer format, providing a much larger address space, which looks like a series of alphanumeric characters separated by colons (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334).

Why You Need to Know Your IP Address

Your IP address is crucial for various reasons:

  • Troubleshooting: If you’re having issues with your internet connection, knowing your IP address can help when contacting your ISP (Internet Service Provider).
  • Network Configuration: You may need your IP address to set up home networks or enable certain features such as remote desktop connections.
  • Online Privacy: Knowing your IP address helps you understand your privacy settings when browsing online. Many websites can track your activities based on your IP address.

How to Find Your Private IP Address

Your private IP address is the one used within your local network, such as when connecting to your home router. This address is unique only within your network and not accessible from the internet.

1. How to Find Your Private IP Address on Windows 10 and 11

Finding your private IP address on Windows is simple and can be done in a few different ways.

Method 1: Using Command Prompt

  1. Press the Windows key + R to open the "Run" dialog box.
  2. Type cmd and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.
  3. In the Command Prompt window, type ipconfig and press Enter.
  4. Scroll through the results until you find the “IPv4 Address” under your active network connection. This is your private IP address.

Method 2: Using Network Settings

  1. Click the Start menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Network & Internet.
  3. If you are connected to Wi-Fi, click on Wi-Fi in the left menu and then click Network and Sharing Center.
  4. Under “Connections,” click on the network you’re connected to.
  5. In the new window, click Details. Here, you’ll see your private IP address listed next to “IPv4 Address.”

2. How to Find Your Private IP Address on macOS

For macOS, finding your private IP address is just as easy.

Method 1: Using System Preferences

  1. Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen.
  2. Select System Preferences from the drop-down menu.
  3. Choose Network.
  4. If you are connected via Ethernet, select Ethernet in the left column. If you are connected via Wi-Fi, select Wi-Fi.
  5. Your IP address will be displayed on the right side of the window under “Status.”

Method 2: Using the Terminal

  1. Open the Terminal application from the Utilities folder.
  2. Type ifconfig and press Enter.
  3. Look for the inet field under the active network interface (such as en0 for Ethernet or en1 for Wi-Fi). This will show your private IP address.

How to Find Your Public IP Address

Your public IP address is the one visible to the outside world when you browse the internet. Websites, services, and any external communication with the internet can see your public IP address.

1. How to Find Your Public IP Address Using a Web Browser

One of the easiest ways to find your public IP address is by using a web service. Here are the steps:

  1. Open a web browser on your PC or laptop (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Edge).
  2. Go to a public IP checker website. Some popular websites are:
  3. Once the website loads, it will display your public IP address.

2. How to Find Your Public IP Address Using Command Line

For Windows:

  1. Open Command Prompt.
  2. Type the following command:
    3. nslookup myip.opendns.com resolver1.opendns.com
  3. This will return your public IP address.

For macOS:

  1. Open Terminal.
  2. Type the following command:
    3. dig +short myip.opendns.com @resolver1.opendns.com
  3. Your public IP address will be displayed in the Terminal window.

Common Questions About Finding IP Addresses

1. What is the Difference Between Public and Private IP Address?

  • Public IP Address: This is the address your device uses to communicate with the outside world. It’s assigned by your ISP and is the same for all devices connected to the internet through your router.
  • Private IP Address: This is used for communication within your local network. Each device (like a laptop or smartphone) gets a unique private IP address within your home or office network.

2. Why Do I Need My IP Address?

You may need your IP address for several reasons:

  • Network Troubleshooting: Diagnosing network issues such as slow speeds or connection problems.
  • Remote Access: Configuring remote desktop tools or connecting to your home server from outside.
  • Security: Some security software requires you to specify an IP address for whitelisting or blocking.

3. Can Someone Track Me Using My IP Address?

Yes, someone can track the general location of your device based on your IP address, but they can’t pinpoint your exact physical location. However, this tracking can be used for targeted ads or in some cases by hackers or cybercriminals. To protect your privacy, you can use a VPN to mask your real IP address.

Conclusion

Finding your IP address is a simple but essential task for troubleshooting, configuring networks, and maintaining your online security. Now that you know how to locate both your private and public IP addresses, you can easily access this information whenever needed. Whether you’re on a Windows PC, macOS laptop, or using a web browser, these methods will help you find the address you need.

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