Your IP address is how devices find each other on a network — and there are actually two you might need: the public one your whole home shares on the internet, and the private one your specific device uses on your local network. Which you need depends on what you're doing, from setting up a game server to troubleshooting a printer.
This guide covers how to find both kinds of IP address on any device, and what your IP really tells the world.
What you need
- ✓The device whose IP you want.
- ✓A clear idea of whether you need the public or private one.
- ✓A browser or your device's network settings.
Step-by-step
- 1
Know the difference: public vs private
Your public IP is the single address your internet provider assigns to your home network — every device shares it when talking to the internet. Your private (local) IP is unique to each device on your home network. Setting up remote access usually needs the public one; connecting to a local printer or device needs the private one.
- 2
Find your public IP the easy way
The simplest method: search 'what is my IP' or use a 'what is my IP' tool. The site sees the address your connection presents to the internet and shows it back to you instantly — no settings needed.
- 3
Find your private IP on Windows
Open Command Prompt and type ipconfig, then look for the 'IPv4 Address' under your active connection (usually starting 192.168. or 10.). Or go to Settings › Network & Internet › Properties to see it.
- 4
Find your private IP on Mac
Open System Settings › Network, select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet), and the local IP address is shown in the details. Or hold Option and click the Wi-Fi icon for a quick view.
- 5
Find your IP on a phone
For your public IP, just use a 'what is my IP' site in the browser. For the private IP, on iPhone go to Settings › Wi-Fi › tap your network › IP Address; on Android, Settings › Network/Wi-Fi › your network › details.
- 6
Understand what your IP reveals
Your public IP can indicate your rough geographic area (city/region) and your internet provider, but not your exact home address or your identity. It's not secret, but it isn't the privacy risk people sometimes fear — it's mostly just how the internet routes traffic to you.
Examples
- Setting up a game server needed the public IP (from a 'what is my IP' check); connecting a laptop to a home printer needed the printer's private IP (192.168.x.x).
- A private IP like 192.168.1.34 identifies one device on the home network; the public IP is shared by every device in the house.
Tips
- →Public IP is shared by your whole home; private IP is per-device.
- →For your public IP, a 'what is my IP' check is the fastest way.
- →Private IPs usually start 192.168. or 10. on home networks.
- →Your public IP shows rough location and provider, not your identity.
- →Public IPs can change over time unless your provider gives a static one.
Common mistakes
- Confusing public and private IP. Remote access needs your public IP; local device connections need the private one.
- Thinking your IP reveals your address. It shows a rough area and provider, not your exact home or identity.
- Expecting the public IP to stay fixed. It can change unless you have a static IP from your provider.
- Looking in the wrong place. Use a website for the public IP and device settings for the private one.
Conclusion
Finding your IP is easy once you know which one you need: a 'what is my IP' check for the public address your home shares online, or your device's network settings for the private address unique to that device. Your public IP shows only a rough area and provider — useful for setup, not a secret to guard.