How to Find Your Public and Private IP Address on Any Device

Nowadys understanding your IP addresses is essential. When it comes to your computer, phone, or tablet, you have both a public IP address visible to the internet and a private IP address used within your local network.

This article will guide you on finding both your public and private IP addresses on any device.

What’s the Difference Between Public and Private IP Address?

1. Public IP Address: Your public IP address is visible to people outside your network. Whenever you browse the internet, download files, or stream music, remote servers can see your public IP address.
   It’s important to note that all devices connected to the internet through the same router will appear to have the same public IP address to the outside world. Here are some key points about your public IP address:

• It allows remote servers to identify and interact with your device.
• For activities like hosting game or media servers or allowing remote connections to your computer, knowing your public IP address is crucial.
• Your public IP address is also visible to others when you connect to online services like gaming servers.
• If you are concerned about your privacy, you can use a VPN to add an extra layer of anonymity.

2. Private IP Address: Your device’s private IP address is used to identify it on your local network. Each device connected to your network, such as your phone, computer, or printer, has its own unique private IP address. Here are some important details about private IP addresses:

• Private IP addresses are assigned by your router and are not visible or reachable from outside the network.
• While devices on your local network may appear to have the same IP address to the outside world, they each have their own unique private IP addresses.
• Your router also has its own private IP address, known as the default gateway, which you may need for making changes to your network settings.

Finding Your IP Addresses:

1. Open any web browser and go to https://www.google.com.
2. Type “What’s my IP address?” in the search bar and press Enter or Return. You can also try variations like “my IP address” or “What’s my IP?”
3. Look for your public IP address at the top of the search results page.

• Your public IPv4 address will be displayed as a 4-octet number, such as 107.178.192.0.
• If you have an IPv6 address, it will be longer and may contain letters and numbers, like 2001:0db8:3c4d:0015:0000:0000:1a2f:1a2b.

Note: If you check your public IP address on a mobile device using your mobile data plan, you will see the IP address assigned by your mobile provider. If you’re connected to Wi-Fi, you’ll see the public IP address of your Wi-Fi network.

How to Find Your Private IP Address on Windows

Now follow these steps to find your private IP address on different versions of Windows. Knowing your private IP address can be useful for troubleshooting network issues or configuring specific settings. We will provide a step-by-step guide for Windows 11 and Windows 10, also an earlier versions of Windows.

Finding Your Private IP Address on Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start menu or screen.
2. On Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8, the Start menu or screen will appear.
3. Type “cmd” and press Enter. This opens a Command Prompt window.
4. In the Command Prompt window, type “ipconfig” and press Enter.
5. Your networking information will be displayed. Look for your private IP address under your wireless or ethernet adapter.
   • If you’re connected via Wi-Fi, locate your IP address under the “Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi” heading.
   • For a wired ethernet connection, find the IP address under the “Ethernet adapter” heading.
   • If your network uses IPv4, the IP address will be next to “IPv4 Address.”
   • If your network uses IPv6, the IPv6 address will appear next to “Link-local IPv6 Address.”
   • If both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses are listed, the IPv4 address is the one you’re looking for.

Alternative Methods to Find Your Private IP Address Windows 11:

1. Click the Windows Start menu and go to Settings > Network & internet.
2. Choose either Wi-Fi or Ethernet, depending on your connection type.
3. Find your IP address under the “Properties” section.

Windows 10:

1. Click the network icon on your taskbar (Wi-Fi bar symbol or a small computer icon).
2. Click your connection—select the Wi-Fi network name for Wi-Fi or choose your ethernet network for a wired connection.
3. Look for your IP address under the “Properties” section.

How to Find Your IP Address on macOS

Learning how to find your IP address on your macOS device can be useful for various reasons. Whether you need it for troubleshooting network issues or configuring specific applications, accessing your IP address is a fundamental step. Let’s see how you can find your IP address on different versions of macOS.

I. Accessing System Settings or System Preferences
To begin, follow these steps to open the appropriate settings on your macOS device based on the version you are using:

• For macOS Ventura and later:

  1. Open the Apple menu located at the top-left corner of your screen.
  2. Select “System Settings” from the options presented.

• For macOS Monterey and earlier:

  1. Open the Apple menu located at the top-left corner of your screen.
  2. Select “System Preferences” from the options presented.

II. Navigating to the Network Settings
Once you have accessed the appropriate settings, proceed as follows:

1. Click on the “Network” option, which can be found either in the left panel (Ventura) or as an icon within the System Preferences window (Monterey and earlier).

III. Selecting your Network Connection
Next, locate your network connection and select it. For example, if you are connected to Wi-Fi, choose the Wi-Fi option from the available connections.

IV. Finding Your IP Address
The process of finding your IP address varies slightly depending on the version of macOS you are using:

• For macOS Ventura and later:

  1. Under your selected network connection, you will see a “Details” button in the right panel. Click on it.
  2. Your IP address will be displayed in the details window that appears.

• For macOS Monterey and earlier:

  1. In the right panel, your IP address will be directly displayed alongside other network information.

• For older versions of OS X:

  1. Click on the “TCP/IP” tab at the top of the window.
  2. Look for the “IP Address” entry, which will indicate your IP address.

How to Find Your Linux Computer’s IP Address Using Terminal

Knowing your Linux computer’s IP address can be essential for various network-related tasks. Whether you prefer the command-line approach or a graphical interface, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in!

Using Terminal to Find the IP Address

If you’re comfortable with the Terminal and prefer the command-line approach, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open a Terminal Window To open a Terminal, press Ctrl + Alt + T simultaneously. This keyboard shortcut usually works across different Linux distributions.

Step 2: Display the IP Address In the Terminal window, type the command hostname -1 and press Enter. This command will retrieve and display the private IP address of your Linux desktop or server.

Note: The ifconfig command, previously used to display IP information, is now deprecated.

Finding IP Address Using Graphical Interface (Ubuntu Linux)

If you prefer a graphical interface and are using Ubuntu Linux, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Activities Overview Click on the Activities Overview button (usually located in the top-left corner of the screen) or press the Super key (Windows key) to open the Activities Overview.

Step 2: Access the Settings Type “settings” in the search bar of the Activities Overview. From the search results, click on the “Settings” application to open it.

Step 3: Navigate to Network Settings In the Settings window, select your connection type from the left sidebar. For example, if you are connected via Wi-Fi, click on “Wi-Fi” or “Network” > “PCI Ethernet” for an Ethernet connection.

Step 4: Retrieve IP Address Once you’ve selected your connection type, you should see the network settings for that connection. Look for the gear icon next to your connection and click on it. The IP address of your Linux computer should be displayed in the settings.

Remember, the command hostname -1 in the Terminal provides a straightforward method to obtain your IP address, while Ubuntu users can navigate through the Settings menu for a graphical alternative.

How to Find Your IP Address on Android

Whether you need it for troubleshooting network issues or connecting to certain devices, finding your IP address on an Android device can be a valuable skill. In this article, we will guide you through the process of finding your IP address on an Android 7 device. Please note that the steps may vary slightly depending on your specific Android interface.

1. Accessing the Settings App

To begin, locate the Settings app on your Android 7 device. You can find it in your app list or by swiping down from the top of the screen and tapping the gear-shaped icon in the quick settings panel.

2. Navigating to Network & Internet

Once you have opened the Settings app, scroll down or search for the “Network & Internet” option. Note that the name may vary slightly depending on your device. Some Android interfaces may label it as “Wireless & Networks.”

3. Accessing Wi-Fi Settings

Tap on the “Wi-Fi” option within the Network & Internet section. If you cannot find this option, look for “Internet” instead, as it may be labeled differently on certain devices.

4. Identifying the Connected Wireless Network

Within the Wi-Fi settings, you will see a list of available wireless networks. Locate and tap on the network to which your Android device is currently connected.

5. Retrieving the IP Address

On some Android devices, the IP address will be visible immediately after selecting the connected network. Look for the “IP Address” label, which will display your device’s unique IP address. If the IP address is not visible, proceed to the next step.

6. Accessing Advanced or Configure Options

If the IP address is not immediately visible, tap on the “Advanced” or “Configure” option. In case these options are not present, look for three dots at the top-right corner of the screen and tap on them to reveal additional settings.

7. Locating the IP Address

Within the advanced settings, scroll down or explore the options until you find the “IP Address” field. The IP address should be listed next to it. If necessary, scroll through the settings page to locate the IP Address entry.

8. Alternative Methods

If the previous steps do not work on your Android 7 device, there are alternative methods to find your IP address. One option is to open the Settings app and navigate to “About phone” or “System” and then tap on “Status.” Within the Status section, you should be able to find the IP address of your device.

How to Find Your iPhone’s IP Address

Now follow these steps to locate your iPhone’s IP address within the Settings app.

1. Accessing the Settings App: To begin, locate the Settings app on your iPhone. It can usually be found on your Home screen or in the app library. Look for the familiar gear-shaped icon labeled “Settings” and tap on it to launch the app.
2. Navigating to the Wi-Fi Settings: Once you’re in the Settings app, scroll through the list of options until you find “Wi-Fi.” Tap on it to access the Wi-Fi settings.
3. Locating the Network Information: Within the Wi-Fi settings, you’ll see a list of available wireless networks. Locate the network to which your iPhone is currently connected, and tap on the small ⓘ icon next to its name. This icon represents additional network information.
4. Finding the IP Address: Upon tapping the ⓘ icon, you’ll be taken to the network details page. Scroll down through the available options until you reach the “IP Address” section. Here, you will find your iPhone’s IP address on the local Wi-Fi network.