Where Is My IP? Find Your Public, Private & Local IP Address

Few people think about their IP address until something stops working — whether you’re setting up a home server, troubleshooting a Wi-Fi glitch, or just curious what your internet provider sees when you go online. This guide walks you through locating your public, private, and local IP addresses on any device — no technical degree required.

Total IPv4 addresses: Approximately 4.3 billion · Common private IP range: 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, 172.16.x.x · Dynamic IP change frequency: Ranges from every 24 hours to weeks, depending on ISP · Average public IPs per household: 1 (shared via router) · IPv4 exhaustion date: Global pool exhausted in 2011

Here is the essential set of IP address numbers you will encounter when working on your network.

Those ranges and version numbers define how every device on the internet talks to every other — a foundation most of us never see.

What is my public IP?

Find your public IP online

1. Open a web browser and search for “what is my IP.” The search engine will display your public IP address
2. Use a dedicated site like WhatIsMyIPAddress.com (IP lookup tool) — it shows both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses instantly

Find your public IP via command line

1. Open Terminal (Mac/Linux) or Command Prompt (Windows).
2. Type curl ifconfig.me (or curl ifconfig.co) and press Enter. The terminal returns your public IP
3. On Windows, you can also use curl ifconfig.me if curl is installed, or try nslookup myip.opendns.com resolver1.opendns.com

Find your public IP on a router

1. Log into your router’s web interface (typically 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
2. Navigate to the WAN or Internet status page. Your public IP is listed there
3. Write it down if you need to track changes over time.

What is my private IP?

Find private IP on Windows

1. Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
2. Type ipconfig and look for “IPv4 Address” under your active network adapter
3. Alternatively, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Properties and find the IPv4 address

Find private IP on Mac

1. Click the Apple menu > System Settings > Network.
2. Select your active connection (Wi‑Fi or Ethernet) and click Details.
3. Go to the TCP/IP tab — your IPv4 address appears there
4. In Terminal, type ipconfig getifaddr en0 (for Wi‑Fi) to get the IP immediately

Find private IP on Linux

1. Open a terminal and type ifconfig or ip addr show.
2. Look for the “inet” entry under your network interface (e.g., eth0 or wlan0) — it is your private IP (Cyberciti – Linux ip command (sysadmin tutorial))

What is my static IP?

Check if your IP is static

1. Note your current public IP (use any online tool).
2. Check again in a week. If the number has not changed, your IP is likely static
3. Alternatively, call your ISP to confirm your account’s IP assignment type.

Request a static IP from ISP

1. Contact your internet service provider and ask about static IP address plans.
2. Most residential ISPs offer a static IP for an extra monthly fee (typically less than $10)
3. Once approved, you will receive a fixed public IP that does not change.

Configure static IP on device

1. On Windows, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Properties > Edit under IP assignment.
2. Switch from “Automatic (DHCP)” to “Manual,” then enter your desired static IP, subnet mask (255.255.255.0), and default gateway
3. On Mac, go to System Settings > Network > Advanced > TCP/IP and choose “Manually” from the Configure IPv4 dropdown.

What is my local IP address?

Find local IP on Windows with ipconfig

1. Open Command Prompt (Windows + R, type cmd).
2. Type ipconfig. The IPv4 address listed under your active adapter is your local (private) IP

Find local IP on Mac with Network Utility

1. Open Network Utility from Applications > Utilities.
2. Select the active network interface (e.g., Wi‑Fi) and note the IP address displayed
3. Or use Terminal: ipconfig getifaddr en0 for Wi‑Fi

Find local IP on Android and iPhone

1. iPhone: Settings > Wi‑Fi > tap the (i) icon next to the network name — your IPv4 address is listed under “IP Address”
2. Android: Settings > Network & Internet > Wi‑Fi > tap the gear next to your network. Your IP appears under “IP address” or in advanced settings

What is my IP on my phone?

Find IP on iPhone

1. Open Settings > Wi‑Fi.
2. Tap the blue (i) icon next to your connected network.
3. Your local IP address is displayed next to “IP Address” (IPv4)

Find IP on Android

1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi‑Fi.
2. Tap the network you are connected to. Scroll down to “IP address” under the Advanced section

Find IP on tablet

1. iPads follow the same process as iPhones: Settings > Wi‑Fi > tap the (i) icon.
2. Android tablets: Settings > Network & Internet > Wi‑Fi > tap the network name to see the IP

Mobile IP addresses are just as important as desktop ones — especially when troubleshooting guest network access or checking which device is using all the bandwidth.

Perspectives from the field

“Addresses from the private IP ranges (10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, 192.168.0.0/16) are not routable on the public internet. They are used exclusively within a local network.”

IETF – RFC 1918 (internet standards body)

“Typical dynamic IP lease times range from 24 hours to 7 days, depending on the ISP’s configuration. After the lease expires, the router may get a new address.”

Network engineer at a major ISP (anonymous, quoted in industry training materials)

For anyone managing a home network, the choice between dynamic and static IP is clear: dynamic is cheaper and simpler for everyday use, but static gives you control when you need a fixed address for servers, cameras, or remote access.

Related reading: How to find your public and private IP address · Find your local IP address on any device

Frequently asked questions