Your device’s IP address is an important piece of information that you probably don’t think about much. You will occasionally need it for a network-related setup (when you’re trying to punch a hole in your network to access the contents of your NAS box, run a web server, or connect Your own VPNjust to give a few examples) so understanding how to find it is important. You also have two different ones. Somehow.
What is the difference between your external and internal IP addresses?
On a typical home network – one where you access the Internet through your cable modem that is connected to your tough WiFi router– you have both and external IP address and a internal IP address.
In simple terms, an external IP address enables devices on the Internet to find you. It’s like calling the company someone works for when you’re trying to reach them. The external IP address in this case would be the company’s telephone number.
Your internal IP address is what your router gives out to all of the devices connected to it. It takes over the entire “routing”, hence the name, for data packets entering and leaving your network. Think of this as the receptionist for this company who has to handle all incoming calls. They hear what you are saying and relay you to the person you want to reach and also protect this person– to expand the metaphor – by allowing non-random people to access their direct phone number.
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I have it? Somehow? Let us continue.
How to find your external IP address
This one is easy. Visit the always helpful website “WhatIsMyIP.com. ”At the top of the page you can see your external IPv6 and IPv4 addresses. You will likely only care about the latter for now, but you will (Someday) use the former for all network activities you do.
If you want it to be even easier, there is too ipconfig.me. Click on it and all you will see is your IPv4 address. That’s it. Nothing else. The simple IPv6 version of this page can be found in the amazingly named one icanhazip.com. It’s that easy.
How to find your internal IP address
Getting your internal IP address is a little more complicated than clicking a hyperlink, but it’s not that difficult.
How to find your internal IP in Windows
Open the command prompt from your Windows start menu. Type in “ipconfig“And press Enter. Look for the line that says “IPv4 Address”. The number opposite this text is your local IP address.
You might also feel like using a utility like BgInfo or a bigger app like Rain gauge to display your IP address on your desktop at any time. It’s probably an exaggeration unless you’re an IT specialist or network administrator, but it’s certainly an option.
How to find your internal IP on a Mac
First, click on the Apple icon in the top left corner of your desktop and open System Preferences. Then click on Network. Find your connection type – Wifi or Ethernet – and click on it. (It should have a green dot when it’s active.)
If you look to the right, you will see a sentence that looks like this: “… is connected to ….. and has the IP address …”. The following number is your laptop’s IP address.
If that’s too much work, you can always use the cleverly named utility “IP in the menu bar“To do just that – type your IP address right into your macOS menu bar. It doesn’t get much easier here either.
How to find your internal IP on Android
I have a Google Pixel 3 XL so I am describing the instructions to find an IP address on it. Your Android device will be similar, but these instructions may not match exactly depending on what you’re using.
Tap the Settings app and tap Network & Internet. Tap on Wi-Fi which I assume you are using because who connects their smartphone to ethernet? Tap the gear icon to the right of the wireless network you’re connected to, then tap Advanced at the bottom of the next screen. Scroll down a bit and you will see your device’s IPv4 address.
How to find your internal IP on iOS
Tap your Settings app, then tap Wi-Fi. Tap the “i” with a circle in it to the right of the network you’re connected to, and you’ll see your IPv4 address right there – and your IPv6 address right below it.
This is how you can find your internal IP on all your other devices
When in doubt, your device’s IP address is likely listed somewhere in the network configuration options in the settings menu – whether it’s your smart TV, network-attached storage box, game console, or whatever. If you can’t find the IP address this way, you can always go the other way around and work through your router. Somewhere in your router’s settings is a list of all the devices connected to it. Assuming you can find the name of your device – or you know its MAC address – you should be able to look up its internal IP address.
This story was originally published by Adam Dachis in 2011. It was updated with new information and techniques by David Murphy in May 2019 and again on October 21, 2020 and again on June 10, 2021 to update outdated links and bring the content to the current Lifehacker style.
