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A quick and easy guide for locating your Mac computer’s IP using System Settings or the Terminal
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When your Mac is connected to a network, it is assigned an address on the network called an IP address. The IP address is four sets of digits separated by periods, with up to three digits per set. If the Mac is connected to a local network as well as the internet, then it will have an internal IP address which marks its location on the local network, and an external IP, which is the IP address of your internet connection. Follow this guide to find both.
Quick Steps
- Go to Apple Menu > System Settings > Network .
- Select your connection type, then click Details next to your current network.
- Locate your Mac’s private IP address next to the IP address header.
Steps
Section 1 of 3:
Finding Your Internal IP in System Settings
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Click the Apple icon on the upper-left corner of the screen. To find your internal (or private) IP address, you can simply look in your Mac’s settings. To get started, open the Apple menu .
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Select System Settings . In older versions of macOS, click System Preferences instead.Advertisement
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Click Network . You’ll see this option in the menu bar on the left side of the window.
- In older versions of macOS, look for Network in the main System Preferences window.
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Select your connection. Typically, you will be connected to the network via Wi-Fi (wireless) or Ethernet (wired). The connection you are using will say Connected next to it. Click on your connection to see more information.
- In older versions of macOS, your IP address will be listed directly beneath your connection status, in smaller print. You’ll see this as soon as you select your connection.
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Click Details next to your network. Once you click your connection type, a new menu will open listing your available networks. The one you’re currently connected to will appear at the top. Click the Details button next to it.
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Locate your IP address. Near the bottom of the Details menu, you’ll see two headers: one that says IP address and another that says Router . The numbers next to these headers are your Mac’s private IP address and your router’s private IP address, respectively.
- You can also see your IP address by clicking on the TCP/IP tab on the left side of the Details window. This tab displays additional information too, such as your IPv6 address (a longer IP address that contains a mixture of numbers and letters).
- For earlier versions of macOS, find your IP address by going to Apple menu > System Preferences > Network > Your Connection > Advanced > TCP/IP . You’ll see your Mac’s IP address next to the IPv4 header and your router’s address next to Router .
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Section 2 of 3:
Finding Your Internal IP Using the Terminal
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Open the Terminal . This can be found in the Utilities section of your Applications folder.
- You can also find it by clicking the Spotlight search icon at the top of your screen and typing in terminal .
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Use the ipconfig command. The correct command will depend on whether your connection is wireless (Wi-Fi) or wired (e.g., Ethernet or cable).
- Wi-Fi connection: Type or copy and paste the command ipconfig getifaddr en0 , then press Return .
- Wired connection: Type or copy and paste ipconfig getifaddr en1 and press Return .
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Copy your IP address. Your Mac’s local IP address will be displayed directly below the command you entered.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionCan my computer be hacked through my IP address?Community AnswerDepending on how your computer is connected to the Internet and the type of security in place, your computer may vulnerable for a hack. In reality, chances of your computer being hacked from your known IP address is very unlikely. The trouble of hacker trying to gain access to your computer doesn't justify hacking into your computer unless you have billions of dollars in your bank account accessible from your personal computer. The most easiest way for hackers to gain access to your computer is through virus, not by attacking an IP address.
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Questionhow to find the iP address on IOS?Joseph BillCommunity AnswerIf you want to find the IP Address go to Settings>Wi-Fi> Then look for your current network. It should tell you the IP address.
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Tips
- If you want the Terminal window to be handier, drag it to the dock.Thanks
- When you are finished with the terminal, press Command + Q to quit.Thanks
- If you’re concerned about privacy, you can hide your IP address using a VPN, proxy server, or private web browser (such as Tor ).Thanks
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Warnings
- When using an IP information site from an ISP that uses a transparent web proxy (such as AOL), be aware that the reported IP address may be that of the ISP's web proxy and not your actual IP address.Thanks
- For security and privacy reasons, don’t give out your IP address to people you don’t know and trust.Thanks
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About This Article
Article Summary
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To find your internal IP address on a newer Mac, first click on the Apple icon on the upper-left corner of the screen. From here, click on “System Preferences…” in the drop down menu that appears. Then, click the “Network” icon in the box that opens. Once you’ve opened the Network settings, choose the connection you’re using on the left side of the screen, which is usually either wired Ethernet or wireless AirPort. After choosing your connection you will see a number in the middle of the screen, which is your IP Address. To learn how to find your internal IP address on older Macs, read on!
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