How to Find the Public or Private IP Address on Any Device

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Find the IP address on any device or website and more
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An IP address is a unique number that is assigned to every device connected to the internet. Your public IP address is assigned to your modem or router by your internet service provider (ISP). All devices connected to your modem or router on your local network have the same public IP address. Your private IP address is the address your modem or router assigns to each device connected to your local area network. This wikiHow article teaches you how to find your public and private IP address on all devices, as well as how to find the IP address of a website and more, with expert tips from computer and technology specialist Luigi Oppido.

Finding an IP Address

  • Go to Google and type “What is My IP” in the search field to find your public IP address.
  • Find the IP address on a computer by typing “ipconfig /all” in the Command Prompt on Windows.
  • Go to System Settings > Network > Wi-Fi (or Ethernet ) > Details to see your IP on Mac.
  • Type “ping” followed by a website URL in the Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac) to find a website’s IP address.
Method 1
Method 1 of 8:

Finding Your Public IP Address

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  1. You can easily use Google to find your public IP address. Go to google.com in your browser.
  2. This will prompt Google to display your public IP address for you. You will find your public IP address listed in the box near the top of the search results.
    • This box may not appear at the very top of the search results. If you don’t see it right away, scroll down a little.
    • Alternatively, you can use an IP lookup website to find your public IP address. According to Oppido, you can find your IP address at Canyouseeme.org . [1] Another website you can use is whatismyipaddress.com , which will tell you your public IPv4 and IPv6 addresses.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 8:

Finding Your Private IP on Windows

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  1. 1
    Open the Command Prompt on Windows. According to Oppido, the easiest way to find your private IP address on Windows is to use the Command Prompt (CMD). This will work on all versions of Windows, including older versions. Use the following steps to open the Command Prompt on Windows: [2]
    • Click the Windows Start menu.
    • Type CMD .
    • Double-click the Command Prompt .
  2. 2
    Type ipconfig /all and press ↵ Enter . This will display all the information related to your IP configuration.
  3. 3
    Scroll down and find your private IP addresses. You can find your IPv4 address listed next to “IPv4 Address.” Your IPv6 address is listed next to “IPv6 Address.”
    • Alternatively, you can find your IP address by going to Windows Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi (if using a wireless network) or Network (if using a wired network). Then click the [network name] properties button. This will display your IP address in the network properties screen. [3]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 8:

Finding Your Private IP on Mac

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  1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear. You can find the IP address of your Mac using the Settings menu.
  2. 2
    Click System Settings… . It will be in the middle of the Apple menu. This opens the Settings menu.
    • If you are using an older version of macOS, click System Preferences instead.
  3. 3
    Click Network . It’ll be in the menu bar to the side. You may have to scroll down to find it.
    • If you are using an older version of macOS, it'll be a globe-shaped icon in the middle of the System Preferences window.
  4. 4
    Click the connection type you are using. If you are connected via a wireless network, click Wi-Fi . If you are using a wired connection, click Ethernet i nstead. Your active internet connection will have a green dot next to it.
    • If you are using an older version of macOS, click Advanced followed by the TCP/IP tab instead.
  5. 5
    Click Details . It’ll be next to your network connection name at the top. You will see your IPv4 address listed next to “IP Address.”
    • Click the TCP/IP tab on the left side of the window to see your router’s IPv4 address as well as your computer and router’s IPv6 addresses.
  6. 6
    Use the Terminal to find your IP address (optional). Alternatively, you can use the Terminal to find your public and private IP addresses on a Mac. Use the following steps to do so: [4]
    • Click the magnifying glass/Spotlight icon in the upper-right corner of your desktop.
    • Type terminal into the search bar.
    • Open the Terminal.app .
    • Enter one of the following commands to find your IP address:
      • Wireless connection: ipconfig getifaddr en0
      • Wired connection: ipconfig getifaddr en1
      • Public IP address: curl ipconfig.me
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Method 4
Method 4 of 8:

Finding Your Private IP on iPhone

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  1. Tap the grey app with gears on it to do so. You'll usually find this app on your iPhone's Home Screen.
  2. It's near the top of the screen.
  3. 3
    Tap the info or “i” icon next to your Wi-Fi network name. This will display information about your network.
  4. 4
    Find your IP address. Your IPv4 address will be listed next to “IP Address” below the “IPv4 Address” header. Your IPv6 address will be listed below the “IPv6 Address” header. You may need to tap it to view your IPv6 address.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 8:

Finding Your Private IP on Android

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  1. 1
    Open your Android's Settings menu. To do so, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Quick Access menu. Then tap the Gear icon in the upper-right corner.
  2. 2
    Scroll down and tap About phone or About tablet . It is generally near the bottom of the settings menu.
    • On some Android devices, you may be able to find your IP address in the “About” section of your phone or tablet.
  3. 3
    Tap Status or Status Information . This displays various types of information about your phone.
  4. 4
    Find your IP address. Your IPv4 and IPv6 addresses will be listed below “IP Address” on the status screen.
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Method 6
Method 6 of 8:

Finding a Website’s IP Address

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  1. 1
    Use IPLocation to find a website’s IP address. IPLocation is an IP lookup tool that you can use to find the IP address of a website as well as information about specific IP addresses. Go to the website and enter the domain name for the website (i.e., “www.wikihow.com”) in the search bar and click or tap IP Lookup to display the IP address of the website.
  2. 2
    Use the Command Prompt or Terminal to ping a website. You can use the Command Prompt (CMD) or Terminal on Mac/Linux to ping a website and find its IP address. To do so, open the Command Prompt or Terminal and type ping followed by the website URL and press Enter (i.e., ping www.google.com ). This will ping the website several times and return the website’s IP address each time.
    • To open the Command Prompt on Windows, click the Windows Start button and type cmd . Then click the Command Prompt icon.
    • To open the Terminal on Mac, click the Magnifying Glass/Spotlight icon on your desktop. Type {kbd|terminal}} in the search bar and open the Terminal app.
    • To open the Terminal on Linux, press Ctrl + Alt + T .
  3. 3
    Use a mobile app to ping a website. There are a variety of apps you can download from the Google Play Store on Android or the App Store on iPhone or iPad that you can use to ping a website. This will display the website’s IP address. Some apps include the following:
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Method 7
Method 7 of 8:

Other Ways to Find an IP Address

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  1. 1
    Check a server’s logs. If you are the administrator for a website or online application, you can generally check the IP address for all users who visit your website or connect to your app by checking the server logs. The way you do this is different depending on the type of server you have.
    • Many servers print out server logs as plain text files that you can view using a text editor program such as Word, Notepad, TextEdit, or VIM. You may also be able to view the server logs using Event Viewer.
    • Some servers may have strict security measures that may prevent you from viewing the server logs.
  2. 2
    Check a blog commenter’s IP address. Many blog platforms, such as WordPress, allow the administrator to check the IP address of anyone who leaves a comment on the blog. To do so, log in to the administrative portal or dashboard and go to the comments section of the blog. You can usually find the IP address listed next to the “Author” section.
  3. 3
    Check the header of an email. Not all email service providers allow you to view the IP address of a sender in the header; however, you may be able to find the IP address of a sender sending an email from a work email or an advertising email. Use one of the following steps to view an email header : [5]
    • Gmail: Click the icon with three dots (â‹®) in the upper-right corner of the email. Then click Show original .
    • Outlook : Open an email and click File > Properties . Check the header information below “Internet headers.” [6]
    • Apple Mail : Log in at icloud.com/mail and open an email. Click the icon with three dots (•••). Click Show all headers . [7]
    • Yahoo Mail : Open an email message and click the icon with three dots (â‹®). Click View Raw Message .
  4. 4
    Use an IP tracking tool. Websites like Grabify and IP Logger allow you to create a shortened URL for a website, blog, or online store. The service will also log the IP address of anyone who clicks the shortened link. You can send the shortened link to someone over email, text message, or direct message. [8]
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Method 8
Method 8 of 8:

Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. 1
    What information can you gain from an IP address? According to Oppido, you can find a person’s general location, including the country and city they reside in. In some cases, you may be able to find their zip code, neighborhood, or general area they live in. You can also find a person’s internet service provider using their IP address. [9]
    • Since it’s very easy to spoof an IP address, the info you get from an IP address might not be accurate. The person might be using a VPN or a proxy to mask their real IP.
  2. 2
    Can you find personal information from an IP address? No, you cannot find any identifiable information from an IP address. An IP address will not reveal a person’s name, social security number, or exact address. However, if there is suspicious activity, law enforcement may be able to subpoena this information from the internet service provider.
  3. 3
    Is it illegal to trace an IP address? No, it is not illegal to track an IP address. An IP address is publicly available information. However, if you are tracking an IP address for the purpose of harassment or criminal activity, then it could be illegal. [10]
  4. 4
    What is the difference between an IPv4 and an IPv6 address? An IPv4 address is an older 32-bit protocol that uses a decimal format divided into 4 octets (i.e., “192.168.1.1”). This allows for up to 4.3 billion unique addresses. IPv6 is a newer 128-bit protocol that uses 8 4-digit characters in hexadecimal format, divided by a colon (i.e., “2001:A001:3238:DFE1:0063:B002:C003:FEFB”). This allows for many more unique address (3.4x1038 to be exact). [11]
  5. 5
    Is there any way to hide your IP address? Yes, you can easily hide your IP address by using a virtual private network (or VPN) . A VPN filters all your internet traffic through an encrypted server. This blocks your internet service provider and people connected to the same local network from being able to monitor your internet traffic. Furthermore, a VPN can spoof your geolocation, making it appear as though you are in an entirely different location or a different country.
    • There are many VPN services available. Some are free, but you will want to opt for a paid subscription for the best service.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Are you able to find an IP address on qooh.me?
    Community Answer
    There is no visible IP in the members list, but I don't suggest visiting the website without using a VPN or some type of proxy, because this website doesn't even have a digital certificate or a secured address.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 7
  • Question
    How can I find an IP address really fast if my account is being hacked?
    Community Answer
    That depends on the account. Your account usually resides on a server, this server holds the IP addresses from the computers that login. This means that you have to contact the company (the server's owner) behind the website/program that you have an account with. I don't think they'll share that information, they will probably tell you to reset/change your password.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ Luigi Oppido. Computer & Tech Specialist. Expert Interview
      2. ↑ Luigi Oppido. Computer & Tech Specialist. Expert Interview
      3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/essential-network-settings-and-tasks-in-windows-f21a9bbc-c582-55cd-35e0-73431160a1b9
      4. ↑ https://macpaw.com/how-to/find-ip-address-on-mac
      5. ↑ https://www.mailjet.com/blog/deliverability/how-to-read-email-headers/
      6. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/view-internet-message-headers-in-outlook-cd039382-dc6e-4264-ac74-c048563d212c
      7. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/icloud/view-all-email-headers-mmcc887ce9/icloud
      8. ↑ https://whatismyipaddress.com/get-ip
      9. ↑ Luigi Oppido. Computer & Tech Specialist. Expert Interview
      1. ↑ https://whatismyipaddress.com/3-ways-you-can-get-someones-ip-address
      2. ↑ https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/computer-networks/differences-between-ipv4-and-ipv6/

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