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Find your IP address easily windows

Find Your IP Address Easily in Windows: A Simple Guide

Knowing your IP address can be crucial for various reasons, from troubleshooting network issues to setting up remote connections or configuring network devices. Windows provides several straightforward methods to find both your local (private) IP address and your public IP address. This guide will walk you through the easiest ways to locate this information on your Windows PC.

Understanding Your IP Addresses: Private vs. Public

Before you start, it’s helpful to know that you typically have two IP addresses:

  • Private IP Address: This is the address assigned to your device within your local network (e.g., your home Wi-Fi). It’s used for communication between devices on that same network.
  • Public IP Address: This is the address that the outside world (the internet) sees. It’s assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to your router.

This guide will show you how to find both.

How to Find Your IP Address Easily in Windows (Private IP)

There are several built-in tools in Windows to quickly find your private IP address.

Using Windows Settings

This is often the most user-friendly method, especially in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

  1. Open Settings:
    • Click the Start button (the Windows logo) in the taskbar.
    • Select the Settings app (the gear icon). Alternatively, you can press the Windows key + I on your keyboard.
  2. Navigate to Network Settings:
    • In the Settings window, click on Network & internet.
  3. View Connection Properties:
    • If you are connected via Wi-Fi: Click on Wi-Fi in the left-hand menu (or on the main page), then click on the name of the Wi-Fi network you are connected to (or click on Properties next to your connected Wi-Fi network name).
    • If you are connected via Ethernet (a wired connection): Click on Ethernet in the left-hand menu (or on the main page), then click on your Ethernet connection.
  4. Find Your IP Address:
    • Scroll down the properties page. Your IP address will be listed next to IPv4 address. You might also see an IPv6 address.

Using the Command Prompt

The Command Prompt offers a quick way to get network information, including your IP address.

  1. Open Command Prompt:
    • Click the Start button.
    • Type cmd or Command Prompt into the search bar.
    • Click on the Command Prompt app from the search results.
  2. Run the IPConfig Command:
    • In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter
  3. Locate Your IP Address:
    • Look through the output for your active network adapter (e.g., “Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi” or “Ethernet adapter Ethernet”).
    • Your private IP address will be listed next to IPv4 Address. You’ll also see other details like the Subnet Mask and Default Gateway.
    • For more detailed information, you can use the command ipconfig /all.

Using the Control Panel (More common in older Windows versions, but still accessible)

  1. Open Control Panel:
    • Click the Start button.
    • Type Control Panel in the search bar and select it from the results.
  2. Navigate to Network and Sharing Center:
    • In the Control Panel, click on Network and Internet (if viewing by category), then Network and Sharing Center. If viewing by icons, click directly on Network and Sharing Center.
  3. View Connection Status:
    • On the left side, click on Change adapter settings.
    • Right-click on your active network connection (e.g., “Wi-Fi” or “Ethernet”) and select Status.
  4. View Details:
    • In the Status window, click the Details… button.
    • Your private IP address will be listed next to IPv4 Address.

How to Find Your Public IP Address Easily in Windows

Your public IP address isn’t typically shown directly in Windows settings because it’s assigned to your router by your ISP. The easiest way to find it is by using an external service.

Using a Web Browser

  1. Open any web browser on your Windows PC (e.g., Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox).
  2. Go to a search engine like Google or Bing.
  3. Type “what is my IP address” into the search bar and press Enter.
  4. The search engine will usually display your public IP address directly at the top of the search results. Alternatively, you can visit websites specifically designed to show your public IP, such as whatismyip.com or ipchicken.com.

Knowing how to find your IP address easily in Windows, whether it’s your private IPv4 address for local network tasks or your public IP for external connections, is a fundamental networking skill. With these simple methods, you can quickly retrieve this information whenever you need it.