What Is an IP Address? Find Your Public and Private IP

An IP address identifies a network interface so devices can route Internet Protocol traffic to and from it. Your phone or computer can have a private address on the local network and appear online through a different public address assigned to the router or connection.

IPv4 and IPv6

IPv4 uses four decimal groups, such as 192.168.1.25. IPv6 uses a longer hexadecimal format, such as 2001:db8::1, and provides a much larger address space. A device may use both protocols at the same time.

Private, public, static, and dynamic addresses

• Private IP: used inside a home, school, or company network. Routers commonly assign it automatically, and the same private range can be reused on unrelated networks.
• Public IP: the address Internet services see for your connection. Multiple devices may share it through a router, carrier-grade NAT, proxy, or VPN.
• Dynamic IP: can change when the lease, connection, or provider configuration changes.
• Static IP: remains deliberately fixed or reserved. It is useful for servers and predictable network management but must be configured correctly.

“Private” does not mean encrypted, and a public IP does not normally reveal a person's precise street address. It can indicate a provider and approximate area, and providers may associate it with a customer at a particular time.

Find your public IP address

On any connected device, search the web for what is my IP or use a reputable IP-check service. The result reflects the current internet exit point, which may be your router, mobile carrier, workplace gateway, proxy, or VPN—not necessarily the individual device.

If IPv4 and IPv6 are both active, a service may show either or both. Disconnecting a VPN can change the result, but do so only if it is safe for the network you are using.

Find a private IP address in Windows

Settings

1. Open Settings > Network & internet.
2. Select Wi-Fi or Ethernet, then open the active connection's properties.
3. Read the IPv4 and IPv6 address fields.

Command Prompt

Open Command Prompt, run ipconfig, and locate the active adapter. Ignore disconnected adapters and loopback entries. The Default Gateway is usually the router, not the computer's address.

Find a private IP address on macOS

Open System Settings > Network, select the active connection, and choose Details. The TCP/IP page shows the assigned address and router. In Terminal, ipconfig getifaddr en0 often returns the address for the primary Wi-Fi interface, although interface names can differ.

Find a private IP address on iPhone or iPad

Open Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the information button beside the connected network, and read the IPv4 or IPv6 section. A Private Wi-Fi Address is a randomized hardware address, not the IP address.

Find a private IP address on Android

Open Settings, select the connected Wi-Fi network, and view its details or Advanced section. Menu names differ by manufacturer. The address may also appear under About phone > Status, but make sure you are reading the active Wi-Fi or mobile interface.

Why an address may change

DHCP leases, router restarts, switching between Wi-Fi and cellular, VPN connections, and ISP policies can all produce a different address. If you need a local device to retain the same address, a DHCP reservation on the router is often safer than manually assigning a static value that could conflict.

For local connection problems, see how to fix an IP address conflict. To understand address assignment and name lookup, read what DHCP does and how DNS works.

Share IP information carefully

An IP address is not a password, but it is still useful network metadata. Avoid posting it publicly with account, location, or router details. Never give remote-control access or run commands from someone who claims an IP address alone proves your computer is compromised.