How-to

How to Find Your IP Address on Windows

Last updated July 4, 2026

To find your IP address on Windows, open Settings → Network & internet, select your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection, and open its properties to read the IPv4 address. Or press Win + R, run cmd, and type ipconfig. For your public IP, use the checker on our home page.

Windows actually gives you two IP addresses: a public IP that the internet sees, and a local (private) IP that only exists inside your home or office network (see public vs private IP addresses for why). This guide covers both on Windows 11 and Windows 10, plus how to fix the confusing cases.

Find your public IP address (instant)

Your public IP is the one assigned by your ISP and shared by every device behind your router. The quickest way to see it is to open our What Is My IP Address tool. It shows your public IPv4 and IPv6 address, location and ISP instantly, and we never log or store it. No commands needed. Windows has no built-in screen that shows this address.

Find your local IP address via Settings

The local IP is what your router hands to your PC. To find it through the Windows 11 interface:

Open Settings (press Win + I).
Go to Network & internet.
Select Wi-Fi, then click [your network name] properties (or Ethernet → [adapter] properties if you're wired).
Scroll to IPv4 address; that's your local IP, usually something like 192.168.1.42.

On Windows 10 the path is almost identical: Settings → Network & Internet → Status → Properties, then read the IPv4 address field.

Find your local IP address via Command Prompt

The classic method works on every version of Windows and is the fastest if you are comfortable with a terminal:

Press Win + R, type cmd and press Enter.
Type ipconfig and press Enter.
Find your active adapter (Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter) and read the IPv4 Address line.

The same output also shows your Default Gateway: that is your router's IP address (see below).

Find your local IP address via PowerShell

If you prefer PowerShell, one command returns just the addresses:

Open PowerShell (right-click Start → Terminal or Windows PowerShell).
Run Get-NetIPAddress -AddressFamily IPv4, or simply ipconfig.

Find your IPv6 address on Windows

Both methods above show IPv6 too, as long as your network supports it. In Settings, the same connection properties screen lists an IPv6 address field directly below the IPv4 one. In Command Prompt, ipconfig prints an IPv6 Address line (your global address) and a Link-local IPv6 Address starting with fe80::, which only works inside your own network.

Don't be surprised to see more than one: Windows generates a Temporary IPv6 Address that rotates periodically for privacy, and outgoing connections usually use that one. A globally routable IPv6 address typically starts with a 2 or 3. Our IP checker shows which public IPv6 address websites actually see from your PC.

Find your router's IP address (default gateway)

Your router's local address, the one you type into a browser to open its admin page, appears as the Default Gateway in the ipconfig output. It is commonly 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. For the full walkthrough on every device, see our how to find your router's IP address guide.

Troubleshooting: wrong or confusing addresses

My IP starts with 169.254. That is an APIPA address, which Windows assigns itself when it cannot reach your router's DHCP server. It means the connection is broken, not that you have a strange IP. Restart the router, re-plug the cable or rejoin the Wi-Fi, then run ipconfig /release followed by ipconfig /renew.

ipconfig lists a wall of adapters. Every physical and virtual network interface gets an entry: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, plus things like vEthernet (WSL) or Hyper-V and VirtualBox adapters if you use virtualization. Those virtual adapters have real-looking addresses (often 172.x.x.x) that never touch the internet. Ignore anything without a Default Gateway; the adapter that has one is carrying your traffic.

A VPN is connected. VPN software adds its own adapter with an address from the VPN's internal range (often 10.x.x.x). Your local Wi-Fi or Ethernet IP stays the same, but websites and our checker will see the VPN server's public IP instead of your ISP's. Disconnect the VPN if you need your real public address.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my IP address on Windows without Command Prompt?

Press Win + I to open Settings, go to Network & internet, select Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and open your connection's properties. The IPv4 address listed there is your local IP. For the public IP the internet sees, open any browser and use a web-based checker like ours.

Why does ipconfig show several IP addresses?

Each network adapter gets its own address, so a PC with Wi-Fi, Ethernet, a VPN, and virtual adapters from WSL or Hyper-V can easily show four or more. The one carrying your internet traffic is the adapter that also lists a Default Gateway.

Is the IP address in ipconfig my public IP?

No. ipconfig only shows local addresses like 192.168.1.42, which exist inside your network. Your public IP is assigned by your ISP to your router and is only visible from outside your network, which is why you need a web-based checker to see it.

What does a 169.254.x.x address mean on Windows?

It is an APIPA address that Windows assigns itself when no DHCP server answers, and it means your PC is not really connected. Restart your router, then run ipconfig /release followed by ipconfig /renew in Command Prompt to request a fresh address.

How do I find my IPv6 address on Windows?

Run ipconfig and read the IPv6 Address line under your active adapter, or open the connection properties in Settings. Addresses starting with fe80:: are link-local and only work on your own network; a globally routable IPv6 address usually starts with a 2 or 3.

Does my Windows PC have the same public IP as my phone?

On the same Wi-Fi network, yes: every device behind your router shares one public IP. On cellular data your phone uses a completely different address assigned by its carrier, so the two only match while the phone is on your Wi-Fi.