How to Find the IP Address of Your PC or Mac

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Easy ways to find out your PC or Mac's IP address
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If you need to check your computer's IP address, there are a few easy ways to do it. If you need your external (public) IP address, which identifies your computer on the internet, you can find it quickly using Google. To see your local (private) IP address, you can run a quick command in the Windows Command Prompt or check your Mac's Network settings. This wikiHow guide will walk you through the simple steps of finding your computer's IP address on any PC or Mac.

Things You Should Know

  • Find your public IP address by searching for "What's my IP address?" in Google.
  • To find your local IP address on Windows, open the Command Prompt, type "ipconfig," and press Enter.
  • To find your local IP address on a Mac, open System Settings, select Network, choose your network, and click "Details."
Section 1 of 3:

Using Google (Public IP Address) PC or Mac

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  1. into Google. This is the quickest way to find the IP address that identifies you to the outside world, also known as your public IP address. Once you press Enter or Return , you'll see your IP address at the top of the page.
    • In most cases, all of the devices on your home or office network will appear to have the same public IP addresses. This is because most home and small office routers automatically assign private IP addresses to all of the devices on the network so they can communicate with each other.
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Section 2 of 3:

Local (private) IP Address on a Windows PC

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  1. This opens the Start menu and activates the Windows search bar.
    • This method will help you find your local (private) IP address on Windows 10 and 11, as well as older versions like Windows 7 & 8.
  2. This opens the Command Prompt window.
  3. This command displays your IP configuration, including your local (private) IP address.
  4. You'll see your computer's IP address next to "IPv4 Address" in the section for your connection.
    • For example, if you have a wireless internet connection, your IP address will appear under "Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi" or similar.
    • If your local network uses IPv6, the address next to "Link-local IPv6 address" is your IPv6 IP address.
    • The IP address that appears next to "Default Gateway" is your router's IP address , which is helpful if you need to connect to your router to change your Wi-Fi password or do other administrative tasks.
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Section 3 of 3:

Local (private) IP Address on a Mac

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  1. You can get there by clicking the Apple menu at the top-left corner of the screen and selecting System Settings .
    • System Settings is only available on macOS Ventura and later. If you're using macOS Monterey or earlier, click the Apple menu and select System Preferences instead.
    • This method will display your local (private) IP address, which is the IP address that identifies your Mac on your local network. This address is usually different from your public IP address , which is the address that identifies your Mac (and other devices on your network) on the internet.
  2. On macOS Ventura and later, you'll see this in the left panel.
    • On earlier Mac versions, click the Network globe icon in the System Preferences window.
  3. If you're connected wirelessly, click the Wi-Fi option. Or, if using a wired connection, select your Ethernet connection.
    • If you're using macOS Monterey or earlier, you'll see your IP address in the panel. If you're using Wi-Fi, it'll appear under "Status: Connected." For wired, you'll see the address next to "IP Address" below the status.
  4. If you're using macOS Monterey or earlier, you can skip this step, as you'll already see your IP address on this window. On Ventura and later, click the button near the top of the window.
  5. Your IP address appears next to "IPv4 Address" or "IPv6 Address" near the top of the TCP/IP tab.
    • Your router's IP address is just below your computer's IP address next to "Router."
    • You can also see your Mac's IP address by running the command ipconfig in a Terminal window.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    When we scan documents on the copier to send to our computers, the document goes to a folder but then tells us the server cannot be found. How can I make sure it goes to my PC?
    Allan Cramer
    Community Answer
    You would want to look into port settings on your computers to ensure the connections are correct. It's usually located in "Devices and Printers." As for ports, they are unique to your computer and the other device. If the ports are wrong, the data isn't getting transferred correctly. Think of it like trying to fit a cube in a circle hole, the cube being your data and the hole being the port to your computer.
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