How to Find My IP Address on Any Device

Find your public IP address

Your public IP address identifies your network on the internet and can reveal your general location. You can find it using a search engine, a free IP checker website, a voice assistant, or your computer’s command-line interface — all of which quickly display the IP address (Internet Protocol address) your network uses to connect online.

Here are the best ways to find your IP address on most common devices.

Ask a search engine

When you visit a search engine, your device sends it a request with your IP address, meaning you can just ask your search engine to show that public IP address back to you.

Here is how to find your public IP address using a search engine:

1. Open a web browser (e.g., Chrome, Safari, Edge).

2. Go to a search engine like Google or Bing.

3. Type “What is my IP address” into the search bar and hit Enter.

4. Your public IP address will appear at the top of the results page.

If you use a VPN, proxy, mobile network, or shared Wi-Fi, the search engine displays the network’s public IP address, not your device’s exact internal (also referred to as “private”) IP address.

Check with your voice search assistant

If you want a quick, hands-free way to check your IP address, you can ask your voice assistant, for example Google Assistant, Siri, or Alexa — here’s how:

1. Make sure your device is connected to the internet.

2. Activate your voice assistant by using the pre-set command, for instance, “Hey, Google?”

3. Ask, “What is my IP address?”

The assistant will respond with your public IP address, based on the network your device is using to connect to the internet.

Keep in mind that IP addresses can be quite long, so seeing it written on a screen may be easier to copy than having it spoken aloud if you actually need to use it for something. If you’re just curious what your IP is or if your VPN is working, this method is probably enough.

Use your computer’s command-line interface

You can find your public IP address using Command Prompt on a Windows PC or Terminal on a Mac. Your computer’s command-line interface offers a quick, precise IP check and doesn’t rely on third-party websites. It’s also useful for troubleshooting network issues or verifying IPs when using VPNs or proxies.

Via Windows Command Prompt

1. Press Windows key + R.

2. Type “cmd” and hit Enter.

3. In the Command Prompt window, type, “nslookup myip.opendns.com resolver1.opendns.com” and hit Enter.

4. Your public IP address will be listed next to Address.

Via Mac Terminal

1. Press Ctrl + Space to open Spotlight Search.

2. Type, “Terminal” and hit Enter.

3. Type, “curl ifconfig.me” then hit Enter.

4. Your public IP will be displayed.

Log in to your router

You can view your public IP address directly in your router’s settings. This shows the IP assigned to your entire network, which is helpful for network management, port forwarding, remote access, or troubleshooting.

You’ll need to know your router’s IP address (commonly 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) to log in to your router’s settings. You can usually find this information, plus your default admin username and password, printed on a label on your router.

Here’s how to use your router’s settings to check your IP address:

1. Make sure your device is connected to your home or office network.

2. Open a web browser, type your router’s IP address into the web address bar, then hit Enter.

3. Log in using your router’s admin username and password.

4. Go to the Status, Internet, or WAN section (the exact section depends on the router manufacturer). From there, look for Public IP, WAN IP, or Internet IP address.

Find your local IP address

The process for checking your local IP address varies depending on your specific device and network settings. Finding it takes a bit more detective work than finding your public IP, as your local IP address isn’t visible to the wider internet.

Regardless of method or device, your local IP usually appears as IPv4 or IPv6. IPv4 addresses are 32-bit, meaning there are a limited number of unique addresses available, most of which have been used already. IPv6 is the newer standard and uses 128-bit, providing an exponentially larger number of unique combinations. You may have one or both addresses.

Get your IP address on Windows

On Windows, you can find your local IP via Command Prompt (which shows all active network adapters at once), Network Settings (for more detailed information), or the taskbar (for quick access).

Via Command Prompt

1. Press Windows key + R.

2. Type, “cmd” and hit Enter.

3. Type, “ipconfig” then hit Enter.

4. Look for the IPv4 Address and/or IPv6 Address under your active network connections.

Via Network Settings

1. Go to Windows Start > Settings > Network & internet.

2. Select Properties next to your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).

3. Look for the IPv4 Address and/or IPv6 Address.

Using Windows taskbar

You can also open the Network Settings information above through the taskbar. Here’s how:

1. Click the network icon in the taskbar.

2. Select the right arrow next to your active internet connection.

3. Click the Properties icon (i). The Network Settings screen will open and you can check your IPv4 or IPv6 address.

Find your local IP address on a Mac

You can find your local IP on a Mac in two main ways: through System Settings for a simple, visual approach or using Terminal for a quick command-line method.

Using System Settings

1. Open the Apple menu > System Settings > Network (in the left panel) > Wi-Fi (or Ethernet for wired connections) > Details

2. Scroll down to IP address to find your local IP address.

Using the Mac Terminal

On a Mac, your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection is assigned a device code (en0, en1, etc.). You need to identify the code related to your connection first, then you can find your local IP address.

1. Press Ctrl + Space to open Spotlight Search.

2. Type, “Terminal” and hit Enter.

3. Type, “networksetup -listallhardwareports” and hit Enter.

4. Find Wi-Fi or Ethernet under Hardware Port and note the Device code e.g., en0 or en1.

5. Type, “ipconfig getifaddr en0” (replace en0 with the correct device code, as required). Press Enter to see your local IP.

Locate your IP address on your phone

You can find your IP address on an iOS or Android device via your phone’s network settings. The exact labels vary by device, but the steps are broadly the same — open the details of your connected Wi-Fi network and look for IPv4 or IPv6.

Via iPhone settings

The iPhone IP address lookup should work the same way for most iPhone and iPad models and iOS versions.

1. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.

2. Tap the information icon (i) next to the connected network.

3. Scroll to IP Address to see your IPv4 or IPv6.

Via Android settings

The steps for checking a local IP address on Android differ based on the phone manufacturer and Android version. We’ll show you where to find your IP address on a Samsung Galaxy S24. If you can’t follow these steps on your device, try opening your Android settings and typing “IP address” into the settings search bar.

1. Go to Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi.

2. Tap Settings (the gear icon) next to your connected Wi-Fi network.

3. Tap View more, then scroll to IP address, where you’ll see your IPv4 and/or IPv6.

Check your router’s IP address

Knowing your router’s local IP is useful for accessing its settings to manage your network, set up port forwarding, troubleshoot internet connectivity, or change Wi-Fi settings. You can access your router’s IP address in two ways, through your PC's command-line interface or via network settings on a device connected to your router. Your method of choice depends on whether you’re connected via Ethernet or Wi-Fi.

Ethernet connection

• On Windows: Open Command Prompt, type “ipconfig” then hit Enter. Look for Default Gateway — this is your router’s local IP.

• On Mac: Open Terminal, type “route -n get default” then hit Enter. The IP address will be listed as Gateway.

Wi-Fi connection

1. Go to your device’s Network Settings > Wi-Fi settings. Select your active Wi-Fi network, then click the settings cog, properties symbol, or information (i) symbol.

2. Look for Router or Gateway — this shows your router’s local IP.

Public vs local IP address: which is which?

An IP address is a series of numbers that computers use to identify a device or server to help send data. The “IP” in IP address is short for “Internet Protocol,” which is the set of rules networks use to send that data.

IP addresses can be public (also called external) or local (also called internal or private).

• Public IP address: This is how websites identify you and know where to send information.

• Local IP address: This is how different devices on the same local network identify one another.

What’s my public IP address?

Your public IP address is assigned to your home network by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). It’s how they determine which customer is requesting which website and connect them accordingly. The easiest way to find your public IP address is to Google, “What’s my IP?”

When you enter the address of a website, for example, google.com, a Domain Name System (DNS) looks up the site’s IP address. Your request is then sent to that IP address, and it typically includes your IP address so the website knows where to send the response back.

What’s my local IP address?

Your local IP address is defined by your router, which assigns a unique local IP address to each device on your home network, such as your computers, phones, tablets, and smart devices. Your local IP is more private — because it can’t be seen outside of your network. The easiest way to find your local IP address on most devices is to search for “IP address” in your Network settings search bar.

Is my public or local IP more secure?

Your local IP address is more secure than your public IP, because it’s invisible to anyone outside your home network. In contrast, your public IP is visible to a website whenever you visit it.

You generally need to know only your local IP if you’re tinkering on your home network, like when you’re setting up a local server or troubleshooting printing problems.

However, your public IP is associated with your online activity, and advertisers, hackers, or cybercriminals may be able to track your browsing, purchases, messages, and even show location-based ads if they can see it. Using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can mask your public IP, helping you stay more private online.

Prevent snoops from finding your IP address

Without any protection, it’s relatively simple for advertisers, hackers, and your ISP to identify your public IP and associated data, like your location, browsing history, and other digital breadcrumbs you leave behind as you use the internet. Masking your IP address with a VPN helps keep your location and personal information more private.

If you’d like to take back your online privacy, install AVG Secure VPN. With server locations worldwide and military-grade 256-bit AES encryption, AVG Secure VPN offers an unparalleled level of online privacy. Encrypt your connection, hide your IP, and ensure that online trackers stay off your digital scent. Install AVG Secure VPN today and enjoy private, secure browsing.