Before you start: local IP or public IP?
A local IP identifies your device inside the network you are currently using. It often begins with 192.168, 10, or a value from 172.16 through 172.31. A public IP identifies the internet-facing connection. You can see the latter immediately on the View My IP homepage.
Local addresses can change when you join another Wi-Fi network or when the router renews its assignments. Make sure the device is connected to the network where you intend to use the address.
Find your local IP address on Windows
Using Settings
- Open Settings, then choose Network & internet.
- Select the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection.
- Open its properties and look for IPv4 address or IPv6 address.
Using Command Prompt or PowerShell
Open a terminal, enter ipconfig, and find the active adapter. The value beside IPv4 Address is the local IPv4 address. Default Gateway is normally the router’s address, not the computer’s.
Find your local IP address on a Mac
Using System Settings
- Open System Settings and select Network.
- Choose the connected Wi-Fi or Ethernet service.
- The connection details show the assigned IP address. Open Details and then TCP/IP for the router and additional settings.
Using Terminal
For Wi-Fi on many Macs, ipconfig getifaddr en0 prints the local IPv4 address. Interface names can differ, especially with adapters. Use ifconfig to list interfaces and look for an inet value on the active one. Ignore 127.0.0.1, which is the loopback address.
Find your local IP address on Linux
Open a terminal and run ip address or its short form, ip a. Find the active interface and read the value after inet for IPv4 or inet6 for IPv6. The suffix such as /24 describes the network prefix and is not part of the host address itself.
The command hostname -I can provide a quick list of assigned addresses, but it may include addresses from virtual machines, containers, or VPNs. The interface view gives more context when several values appear.
Find your local IP on iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings and select Wi-Fi.
- Tap the information button beside the connected network.
- Under the IPv4 Address section, read IP Address. The same screen lists the subnet mask and router.
If the device uses mobile data rather than Wi-Fi, the address arrangement is controlled by the carrier and may not appear in the same way.
Find your local IP on Android
Names vary by manufacturer, but the path usually begins in Settings → Network & internet or Connections → Wi-Fi. Select the connected network, then expand its details or advanced information to find the IP address, gateway, and network prefix.
Some Android versions also show assigned addresses under About phone → Status. Prefer the active Wi-Fi network’s detail screen when you need the address for that specific network.
Do not confuse your device address with the router address
The default gateway or router is the local address that devices use to leave the network. It may be something like 192.168.1.1. Your device should have another address in the same network, such as 192.168.1.42.
If you are connecting to a printer or file server, find the address on that device rather than using the gateway. If you are opening the router’s administration page, the gateway is usually the value you want.
Troubleshooting unexpected results
- You see 127.0.0.1: that is loopback, meaning “this same device,” not the LAN address.
- You see several addresses: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, VPNs, containers, and virtual machines can each create an interface. Use the one connected to the relevant network.
- The address stops working later: DHCP may have assigned a different one. Use a router reservation when another device must find this host reliably.
- A website shows a different value: it is showing your public address. Read the public versus private IP guide for the full distinction.