In this article, we will explore multiple methods to find your IP address on Windows and Mac.
Types of IP Addresses
There are generally 2 types of IP addresses. One is your private IP address and other is your public IP address. Let’s take a look at the difference between both. Public IP: This IP address is uniquely assigned to each device connected to the internet. It allows your device to access and communicate with websites and retrieve. When sending data requests to website your public IP is send along with other info, so websites know exactly who is requesting the data and where to send it back. Private IP: A private IP address is a non-unique identifier assigned to devices within a local network. This means that other devices can have the same private IP address but in a particular network only your device will have that. The purpose of this is to allow devices within the same network to communicate with each other. Devices and websites outside of your network will not be able to access your private IP, making it more secure.
Locating Your Public IP Address
When it comes to locating your public IP address the process is very simple. When you connect to the internet and interact with a browser or website, they access your public IP. Hence, regardless of the device (Windows or Mac) simple open your browswer and search “What’s my IP?.” On the new page that loads up your public IPv4 or IPv6 address will be displayed.
Find Your IP Address on Windows
While locating public IP address is very simple, finding out your private IP address is a bit more technical. The methods below are for Windows 10 and 11. If you’re using Windows 7 or 8 for some reason, update your systems to the latest versions for proper support as both have reach end-of-life and are unsecure.
1. Using Command Prompt
The easiest method to locate your IP address on a Windows system is through the Command Prompt.
2. Through Network & Internet
You can also check your IP address withing the Settings app in Windows. The steps are essentially the same for both Windows 10 and 11, with only a visual difference. So we’ve attached their screenshots together.
3. Using Control Panel
Find Your IP Address on Mac
If you’re on macOS Ventura or later, you can lookup your IP address directly thanks to the new updates made by Apple.
Old macOS Versions
If you have a Mac running macOS Monterey or below, you won’t be able to just search the IP address with Spotlight. Instead, you’ll have to follow a slightly longer method that’s still easy:
Scenarios You May Need To Know Your IP Address In
Troubleshooting network issues: If you’re experiencing issues with your internet connection, knowing your IP address can help you diagnose and troubleshoot the problem with your internet service provider or network administrator.Setting up a network: When setting up devices on a network, such as printers, file servers, gaming consoles, other PCs knowing your IP address can be important for establishing a connection between said devices.Remote Desktop Access: If you are not in physical contact with your system but need to access it you can do so through a software by using the IP address of your computer.Hosting a website or server: If you’re hosting a website, or any other online service on your own hardware, knowing your IP address is necessary to direct incoming traffic from other users onto your server.
Protecting Your IP Address
Something a bit off topic that I wanted to discuss about is the protection of your IP address. As discussed above all the websites you visit, online orders you place, messages you send in short, all your digital activity has your IP address linked to it. All these big companies use this data to do geological targeted advertising to you. Now while this may not exactly be harmful, but your privacy is at stake especially in case of a data breach. Hence, it is fundamental that whenever you visit the internet, you take special precautions. The best precaution would be to use a trusted VPN while using the internet. VPNs work redirecting your traffic through another IP address from some other part of the world, masking your original IP from websites and keeping your location hidden.
