How to find your IP address
An IP address is a unique number that identifies a device connected to the internet. IP which stands for "Internet Protocol," is a set of rules that dictates how information is shared on the internet. An IP address is how and where that information should go. If the IP address is like a physical mailing address, IP is the part that tells you how to get there.
Every device actually has two IP addresses: the public/external address which is used to communicate with the wider internet and the private/internal address, which communicates with your local network aka your personal internet router.
Knowing your IP addresses is useful for a few different reasons, such as setting up a file server, adding a printer, or communicating with local devices on the same network. Because your IP address shares your location, it is also a way to understand how your personal information is shared. This is also why more and more people opt to use a VPN or "virtual private network" which obscures your actual location.
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How to find your public/external IP address
Simply Google "what is my IP address" and the result will appear at the top of the page.
How to find your private/internal IP address
On a Mac
- 2 min
- Mac desktop or laptop
Step 1: In "System Preferences" go to "Network."
Step 2: In this window, you'll find your IP address right under the network status.
On Windows
- 2 min
- Windows desktop or laptop
Step 1: Open "Network & Internet," then click "Properties" in WiFi or ethernet, depending on your connection.
Step 2: In "Properties," scroll down to find IPv4 address. That is your local IP address.
On an iPhone/iPad
- 2 min
- iPhone or iPad
Step 1: Go to "Settings," then "WiFi," then select the network you're connected to.
Step 2: Your IP address is displayed in the section called IPv4 address.
On an Android/tablet
- 2 min
- Android smartphone or tablet
Step 1: Go to your WiiFi network settings, then select the network you're connected to.
Step 2: You'll find your IP address along with the other network information.
Topics Cybersecurity
Cecily is a tech reporter at Mashable who covers AI, Apple, and emerging tech trends. Before getting her master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she spent several years working with startups and social impact businesses for Unreasonable Group and B Lab. Before that, she co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in South America, Europe, and Asia. You can find her on X at @cecily_mauran.
