You don't usually need to think about an IP address (in fact you've probably never heard of it before), but it's an important little piece of information attached to every device on your home network. Knowing the details of your IP address is useful for configuring your home's WiFi network, troubleshooting connection issues, and ensuring the security of your devices when online. You can find them and what they do here.
What is an IP address?
An IP address is an Internet Protocol address: it works a bit like the postal address of where you live, allowing websites and web servers to find you and maintain a working connection. It's the essential code that makes the internet work. It looks like a series of numbers and letters, plus some punctuation.
Every device in your home that's connected to the router will have a local (or private) IP address, which helps the router figure out which gadget is who and keep everything running smoothly. Additionally, your router has an external (or public) IP address that is broadcast to the world, which helps everything else on the Internet find you.
Your device will encounter older, simpler IPv4 addresses and newer, more complex IPv6 addresses. Most current hardware uses both technologies, but IPv4 is eventually expected to be phased out, albeit very slowly—IPv6 was introduced back in 1995 because the Internet simply had no addresses available.
Fortunately, all of this is handled behind the scenes by your WiFi router and internet provider. In fact, most routers and Internet providers provide dynamic IP addresses for local and external use, which change all the time (making it easier and more cost-effective), but your connection to the entire Internet is not affected.
You only need to know the IP address for a specific scenario, which usually involves some changes to the network configuration: for example, you might be connecting a network drive to a network that requires remote access, or you're trying to get online multiplayer functionality on a gaming console. Here's how to find out your current IP address.
How to find your external IP address
Many different websites will tell you your IP address: this is a piece of information you give to every website you visit in exchange for the chance to connect to them, although you can switch to a different external IP address by setting up a VPN. Also remember, as we said, most internet providers will give you a dynamic IP address that changes regularly.
A VPN broadcasts the IP address of one of its servers somewhere in the world, which means your external IP address is hidden from the websites you load. If you want to get an external IP address, make sure you are not using a VPN.
Once the check is complete, all you need to do is visit a website such as the aptly named WhatIsMyIPAddress and you'll see your IPv6 and IPv4 addresses on the screen. (Depending on how the network you're using is set up in terms of hardware and software, you may only see IPv4 or IPv6 addresses.) You can also just type "What is my IP?" into Google and the search engine should tell you (although It may not be the most important result).
How to find your internal IP address
On a Windows computer, go to Settings from the Start menu, open the Network & Internet page, and click wifi , then click the network name or Ethernet , depending on how you're connected. Your local IPv6 and IPv4 addresses will then be included in the on-screen information, with a handy "Copy" button next to the details.
In a macOS environment, you need to open the Apple menu and select System Settings and Network . Select wifi or ethernet , depending on how you are currently connected to the internet, and then select the details next to your network. Your Mac's local IP address will be listed on the next screen, along with your router's IP address.
Next up is the iPhone. From the iOS Settings home screen, tap wifi and then tap the small blue information bubble next to your current network to view your IP address. Note that phones will often list multiple options, sometimes for extra privacy, but also for WiFi and cellular connections.
As with Android, the exact menu names and structure will vary depending on your phone: On Pixels, open Settings, then tap Network, Internet, and Internet . There will be a gear icon next to the network you're on: tap this icon, then scroll down to see your device's IP address.
For Samsung Galaxy phones, open Settings and select Connections , Wifi , and then the gear icon next to the network you're currently connected to. Select View more to view related IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. If you're not using a Pixel or Galaxy phone, you should be able to find something similar through the Internet option in Settings.
