How Do I Find My IP Address? A Simple Guide for Windows, macOS, and Online

Ever wondered, “How Do I Find My Ip Address?” You’re not alone. Whether you’re troubleshooting network issues, setting up a home server, or just curious about your device’s identity on the internet, knowing your IP address is often necessary. Think of it as your device’s digital street address. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to find your IP address on Windows, macOS, and even online.

Finding your IP address is easier than you might think, and the method varies slightly depending on your operating system. Let’s start with the most common, Windows:

Finding Your IP Address on Windows

The quickest way to find your IP address on Windows 7, Windows 10, and Windows 11 is through the Command Prompt. Here’s how:

Open Command Prompt:
- Windows 7: Click the Start Menu, type cmd in the search box, and press Enter.
- Windows 10 & Windows 11: Right-click the Windows button in the bottom-left corner of your screen (or press Windows key + X) and select Command Prompt (or Windows Terminal in Windows 11, which works similarly).
Type the Command: In the black and white Command Prompt window, type ipconfig /all and press Enter. Make sure there is a space between ipconfig and /all.
Locate Your IPv4 Address: Scroll through the information displayed. You’ll be looking for the section that corresponds to your network adapter.
- For a wired (Ethernet) connection, find the section labeled “Ethernet adapter Ethernet“.
- For a wireless (Wi-Fi) connection, look for “Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi“.
Under the correct adapter section, you will find “IPv4 Address“. This is your computer’s local IP address on your network.

It’s important to note that if a technician asks for your Ethernet card’s IP address, they are typically referring to the IPv4 address listed under the “Ethernet adapter” section. Ignore any sections that mention “Virtual” adapters, as these are not used for your primary internet connection.

Finding Your IP Address on macOS

For those using a Mac, finding your IP address is just as straightforward using the Terminal application:

Open Terminal: Go to Finder, then Applications, then Utilities, and double-click Terminal. Alternatively, you can press Command + Spacebar to open Spotlight, type “Terminal”, and press Enter.
Type the Command: In the Terminal window, type ifconfig and press Enter.
Locate Your IP Address: Look for the network interface you are using.
- For Ethernet, it’s usually labeled en0.
- For Wi-Fi, it’s typically en1.
Under the correct interface, find “inet” followed by a series of numbers. This is your IP address.

Finding Your Public IP Address Online

The methods above show you your local IP address, which is used within your home or local network. To find your public IP address, the address that the internet sees, you can use a simple online tool:

Open a Web Browser: Use any web browser like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.
Visit a “What Is My IP” Website: In the address bar, type “what is my ip” into a search engine like Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo and press Enter. Alternatively, you can directly visit websites like:
- whatismyip.com
- ipchicken.com
- icanhazip.com
These websites will instantly display your public IP address at the top of the page. This is the IP address associated with your internet connection as seen by the outside world.

Understanding IP Addresses: IPv4 vs. IPv6

You might have noticed references to “IPv4” and “IPv6”. These are two versions of the Internet Protocol. IPv4 is the older version and uses a 32-bit address (like the ones you typically find with ipconfig or ifconfig). IPv6 is the newer version, using a 128-bit address, designed to address the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses. While IPv4 addresses are still widely used, IPv6 is becoming increasingly common.

Conclusion

Finding your IP address, whether local or public, is a simple process that can be done in just a few steps on Windows, macOS, or using online tools. Understanding your IP address can be helpful for various networking tasks and troubleshooting. Now that you know how to find it, you’re better equipped to manage your devices on the internet.