Whether you’re setting up a printer, troubleshooting a network issue, or configuring remote access, finding your IP address in Windows takes just a few seconds once you know where to look. The tricky part is knowing which IP address you actually need — your PC has more than one, and they serve different purposes.
Quick answer: The fastest way is Command Prompt: press Windows key + R, type cmd, press Enter, then type ipconfig and press Enter. Your local IP address appears next to IPv4 Address under your active network adapter (WiFi or Ethernet). To find it through Settings instead, go to Settings > Network & internet, select WiFi or Ethernet, choose your connected network, and look for IPv4 address near the bottom.
Below is every method for finding your IP address, the difference between local and public IP addresses, and what to do if the number you find doesn’t look right.
Local IP vs. Public IP: Which One Do You Need?
| Type | What It Is | When You Need It |
|---|---|---|
| Local (private) IP | The address your router assigns to your PC on your home or office network | Setting up a printer, file sharing, or local network troubleshooting |
| Public (external) IP | The address your internet provider assigns to your entire network, visible to the outside internet | Remote access setup, hosting a server, or troubleshooting with your ISP |
| IPv6 address | A newer, longer address format running alongside IPv4 on most modern networks | Usually not needed for everyday tasks, but relevant for some advanced networking |
If you’re not sure which one a task requires, it’s almost always the local IP address — public IP is only relevant when something outside your network needs to reach your PC directly.
Method 1: Find Your Local IP Address Using Command Prompt (Fastest)
- Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog
- Type
cmdand press Enter (or select OK) - In the Command Prompt window, type
ipconfigand press Enter - Look under your active network adapter — labeled something like Wireless LAN adapter WiFi or Ethernet adapter Ethernet — and find the line reading IPv4 Address
The same window also shows your Subnet Mask and Default Gateway (which is your router’s own IP address), both useful if you’re troubleshooting beyond just finding your own address.
For more detail — including your DNS servers, DHCP status, and adapter description — run ipconfig /all instead. It shows considerably more information, which is useful for deeper troubleshooting but also easier to misread if you’re just looking for one number.
Method 2: Find Your Local IP Address Using Windows Settings
On Windows 11
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings
- Select Network & internet
- Select WiFi or Ethernet, depending on your connection type
- Select your connected network name (for WiFi) or select Properties next to your connection (for Ethernet)
- Scroll down to the Properties section and find IPv4 address
On Windows 10
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings
- Select Network & Internet
- Select Status in the sidebar
- Select Properties under your active connection
- Scroll down to find IPv4 address
Method 3: Find Your Full Network Configuration in Settings
If you want to see more than just the IP address — subnet mask, gateway, and DNS servers all in one place — Windows 11 has a dedicated page for this.
- Open Settings > Network & internet
- Select Advanced network settings
- Select Hardware and connection properties
- Find your active adapter in the list and review its full set of properties, including IPv4 address and Default gateway
Method 4: Find Your IP Address Using PowerShell
PowerShell offers a more detailed, modern alternative to ipconfig, particularly useful if you’re comfortable with the command line.
- Search for PowerShell in the Start menu and open it
- Type the following command and press Enter:
Get-NetIPConfiguration -Detailed- Look for IPv4Address under your active adapter, along with IPv4DefaultGateway for your router’s address
Method 5: Find Your IP Address Using the Classic Control Panel
This method still works identically across Windows 11 and 10, and it’s a familiar path for anyone used to older versions of Windows.
- Press Windows key + R, type
ncpa.cpl, and press Enter to open Network Connections directly - Right-click your active WiFi or Ethernet adapter and select Status
- Select Details
- Find IPv4 Address in the list
How to Find Your Public (External) IP Address
Your public IP address isn’t something Windows generates directly, since it’s assigned by your internet provider to your whole network, not to your PC individually.
- Open any web browser
- Search “what is my IP address”, or visit a dedicated IP-checking website
- The number displayed is your current public IP address
Keep in mind that most home internet connections use a dynamic public IP, meaning it can change periodically — if you need a public IP address that stays the same permanently, that typically requires requesting a static IP from your internet service provider, often at an additional cost.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
My IP Address Starts With 169.254
This specific range indicates your PC failed to get an address from your router and assigned itself a fallback address instead, meaning it currently isn’t properly connected to your network.
- Restart your router and your PC
- Confirm your network cable is firmly connected, or that you’re connected to the correct WiFi network
- Run
ipconfig /releasefollowed byipconfig /renewin Command Prompt (as administrator) to request a fresh address from your router
ipconfig Shows Multiple IP Addresses and I’m Not Sure Which One Is Mine
This is normal if you have more than one active network adapter — for example, both WiFi and a virtual adapter from a VPN. Look specifically under the adapter matching how you’re actually connected (WiFi or Ethernet), and ignore adapters labeled for VPNs, virtual machines, or Bluetooth unless that’s specifically what you’re troubleshooting.
My Local IP Address Keeps Changing
This is expected behavior on most home networks, since routers typically assign addresses dynamically (DHCP) and may give your device a different address after a restart or extended time offline. If you need your local IP to stay the same — for a device you connect to remotely, for example — setting up a static or reserved IP through your router’s settings resolves this.
My Public IP Address Looks Different From What I Expected
If you’re using a VPN, your visible public IP address will reflect the VPN server’s location, not your actual physical location or your home network’s real IP. Disconnecting the VPN temporarily, if you need to check your genuine public IP, resolves this discrepancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the fastest way to find my IP address on Windows? Open Command Prompt (Windows key + R, then type cmd) and run ipconfig. Your local IP address appears next to IPv4 Address under your active network adapter within seconds, making it faster than navigating through Settings menus.
What’s the difference between my local IP and public IP address? Your local IP address is assigned by your router and only identifies your PC on your home or office network. Your public IP address is assigned by your internet provider and represents your entire network to the wider internet — the two serve completely different purposes.
How do I find my IP address without using Command Prompt? Go to Settings > Network & internet, select WiFi or Ethernet, choose your connected network, and look for IPv4 address near the bottom of the page. This works identically well without ever opening a command-line tool.
Why does my IP address start with 169.254? This means your PC couldn’t get an address from your router and assigned itself a fallback address, indicating a network connection problem. Restarting your router and PC, or running ipconfig /release followed by ipconfig /renew, usually resolves it.
Does my IP address change every time I restart my PC? Not necessarily, but it’s common. Most home routers assign IP addresses dynamically, which can result in a different address after a restart or extended time offline, unless you’ve specifically set up a static or reserved IP for that device.
How do I find my public IP address? Open a web browser and search “what is my IP address,” or visit a dedicated IP-checking website. Unlike your local IP, your public IP isn’t generated by Windows directly — it’s assigned by your internet provider to your entire network.
Why does my public IP address look wrong or unfamiliar? If you’re connected to a VPN, your visible public IP reflects the VPN server’s location rather than your actual network. Disconnecting the VPN temporarily shows your genuine public IP address if that’s specifically what you need to check.
Finding your IP address often comes up alongside other network tasks. If you’re setting up remote access to your PC, our guide on connecting to your PC remotely on Windows covers a related setup that uses your local IP address directly. And if you’re configuring a VPN and want to understand how it affects your visible IP, see our guide on setting up a secure VPN connection in Windows for the full process.