The short answer
You have two kinds of IP address:
- Public IP: the address the internet sees for your whole home or mobile connection. To find it, search "what is my IP" in Google or Bing, or visit a site such as ifconfig.me or icanhazip.com.
- Private (local) IP: the address your router gives each device on your home network, usually starting with 192.168., 10. or 172.16 to 172.31. You find it in your device's network settings (below).
What an IP address is
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a number that identifies a device or connection on a network, so data can be delivered to the right place, much like a postal address.
- IPv4 looks like 203.0.113.42: four numbers from 0 to 255, separated by dots.
- IPv6 looks like 2001:db8:85a3::8a2e:370:7334: longer, using letters and numbers separated by colons. It was introduced because the world ran out of IPv4 addresses.
Public vs private IP
Your router has one public IP address from your internet provider. Every device behind it (phones, laptops, the TV) gets its own private address, and the router translates between them. That is why every device in your house shows the same public IP to websites.
| Public IP | Private IP | |
|---|---|---|
| Who assigns it | Your internet provider | Your router |
| Who can see it | Every website and service you use | Only devices on your network |
| Typical form | Anything outside the private ranges | 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, 172.16 to 31.x.x |
| Changes when | The provider reassigns it | The router reassigns it |
How to find your private IP
Windows 11
- Open Settings > Network & internet.
- Click Wi-Fi (or Ethernet), then your connection's Properties, or Hardware properties on Wi-Fi.
- Look for IPv4 address.
Faster: press Windows + R, type cmd, press Enter, then type ipconfig and press Enter.
Mac
- Open System Settings > Wi-Fi (or Network).
- Click Details next to your network.
- The IP address is shown on the TCP/IP tab.
iPhone and iPad
Settings > Wi-Fi > tap the (i) next to your network. Look under IPv4 address.
Android
Settings > Network & internet (or Connections) > Wi-Fi > tap the gear or your network name. The IP address is often under Advanced or Network details. Menus vary by manufacturer.
How to find your router's IP
Your router's address, called the default gateway, is how you reach its settings page. It is often 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1.
- Windows: run ipconfig and look for Default Gateway.
- Mac: System Settings > Wi-Fi > Details > TCP/IP, then Router.
- iPhone: in the Wi-Fi (i) screen, look for Router.
Typing it into a browser opens the router's admin page. Our home Wi-Fi security checklist covers what to change once you are in.
What your IP address reveals
A public IP address can reveal:
- Your internet provider.
- An approximate location, often your city or region. IP location databases are frequently wrong by tens of kilometres, and on mobile data they may show a city far away.
It does not reveal your name, your exact address or what you are doing on encrypted (https) websites. Matching an IP to a customer requires your provider's records, which they normally release only under a legal order.
Websites use your IP to estimate your country (for language, prices and content rights), to fight fraud, and to block abusive traffic.
How to hide or change your IP
- VPN: routes your traffic through a server elsewhere, so sites see the VPN's IP instead of yours. See what a VPN does, and whether you need one.
- Private relay features: iCloud Private Relay on Apple devices hides your IP from websites in Safari.
- Mobile data: switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data gives you a different public IP.
- Restart your router: on many home connections this gives you a new public IP, though not always.
- Tor Browser: hides your IP by routing traffic through several volunteer servers. It is slower and some sites block it.
Common IP problems
- "IP address conflict": two devices have the same private IP. Restart the router and the device.
- 169.254.x.x address: your device could not get an address from the router. Restart both, and check the Wi-Fi password. Our guide to finding your Wi-Fi password helps if you have forgotten it.
Key takeaways
- Search "what is my IP" to see your public IP; check network settings for your private IP.
- Every device at home shares one public IP but has its own private IP.
- An IP reveals your provider and rough location, not your identity.
- A VPN or private relay hides your public IP from websites.