IP Address Basics

How to Find My Local IP Address on Any Device

IP Address BasicsUpdated October 16, 20267 min readBy Muhsen Sakka

A resident finds the address assigned to a device inside a local network, illustrating where to find a local IP.

How to find my local IP address: open the network details for the Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection you are using and copy its IPv4 address. On Windows 11, go to Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi or Ethernet → your connected network. On a Mac, go to System Settings → Network → your connection → Details → TCP/IP. Phone and Linux steps are below. This is the address your device uses on your local network, not the public IP you see in Loqmi’s IP tool.

Which IP address do you need?

“My IP” can mean several different numbers. Your computer, phone, router, and internet connection each play a different part, a bit like a building with room numbers, a front desk, and a street address. The right one depends on what you are trying to reach.

A device, router, and website each have an address. Use the device's local IP address for local connections. — Use the device address for local connections, the router address for its settings, and the public IP for what websites receive.

If you need to…	Use this address	Where to find it
Connect to a printer or computer on the same Wi-Fi	The target device’s local IPv4 address	That device’s active network details
Open your router’s settings	Router or Default Gateway	Your device’s network details; see how to log into your router
See the address a website receives	Public IP address	Loqmi’s IP tool
Give a router a destination for a port-forwarding rule	The local IP of the device running the service	That device’s active network details

For IPv4 internet traffic, a home router often uses NAT (Network Address Translation) so devices with local addresses share one public address. Think of the router as a receptionist: outgoing calls use the company number, while desks inside keep their own extensions. So the address a website sees can differ from your PC or phone’s local IP. Public address blocks are coordinated by IANA and delegated through Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) to Internet service providers (ISPs). Your router’s DHCP service assigns local addresses.

If you want a clearer comparison, read public vs. private IP addresses.

How to find my local IP address on Windows 11

Use Settings to check one connection, or run ipconfig for adapter details.

Windows Settings

Open Settings, then select Network & internet.
Select Wi-Fi and your connected network, or choose Ethernet for a wired connection.
Find IPv4 address in the connection properties. That is the local IPv4 for the connection you picked.

These steps follow Microsoft’s Windows network guide. If both Wi-Fi and Ethernet are connected, use the one that reaches your target.

Command Prompt or Windows Terminal

Open Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal.
Run ipconfig.
Under the connected Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter, read IPv4 Address.

ipconfig lists several adapters at once, so skip any block marked disconnected. Do not mistake Default Gateway for the PC’s address, because that field is the router. Microsoft Learn’s ipconfig reference confirms the command’s output.

Find your local IP on Mac or Linux

macOS

Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
Select Network, then select the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection.
Choose Details, open TCP/IP, and read IP address.

Apple’s Mac network instructions cover the current settings and DHCP options. If you prefer Terminal, ipconfig getifaddr en0 often returns the Wi-Fi IPv4 address, though interface names can vary on a Mac. Settings are less likely to send you on an interface-name scavenger hunt.

Linux

On Ubuntu, open Settings → Network or Wi-Fi, then the details of the active connection. Desktop labels vary, so Terminal is the more consistent option.

Open Terminal.
Run ip address show up (or the shorter ip addr).
Find the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet interface and read the address after inet for IPv4. An inet6 line is IPv6.

The ip utility reports addresses assigned to network interfaces. Ubuntu’s networking documentation explains interface and route information. Avoid copying 127.0.0.1. That loopback address means “this same computer,” so another device cannot use it to reach this computer.

Find the local IP address on an Android phone or iPhone

This local address applies only to Wi-Fi. For the public address on cellular, use an external lookup.

Android

Open Settings, then Network & internet → Internet on stock Android or Pixel.
Tap the connected Wi-Fi network or its gear/settings button.
Open network details and look for IP address.

Samsung and other Android phones may use different menus, and a common Samsung route is Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi → gear beside the connected network → View more. Menu wording changes by maker and version, so search Settings for “IP address” if the labels do not match. Google’s Android Wi-Fi help shows where to manage the connected network. A setting called Randomized MAC address is not the phone’s IP.

iPhone or iPad

Open Settings → Wi-Fi.
Tap the information button beside the connected network.
Under IPv4 Address, read IP Address. The separate Router field is the gateway.

Apple’s iPhone Wi-Fi guide covers the network information screen. Private Wi-Fi Address refers to a MAC address privacy feature, not the local IP you are looking for.

Read the result without picking the wrong device

A local IPv4 address often falls in a range reserved by RFC 1918: 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, or 192.168.0.0/16. The slash and number show the prefix length. A familiar prefix is a clue, like a familiar face in a crowd, not proof that you picked the right adapter.

The connected network adapter has the active local address while disconnected adapters remain unused. — A device can list addresses for several adapters, so check the one connected to the network you are using.

What you see	What it usually identifies	When to use it
IPv4 address	Device on its local IPv4 network	Local sharing, printer setup, or a local service
IPv6 address	IPv6 address on that interface; it may be local-only or internet-routable	When the app or network instructions specifically ask for IPv6
Default Gateway or Router	The next-hop router on that network	Router settings or a route check
DNS server	A server that looks up names such as websites	Name-resolution troubleshooting, not identifying your PC

Wi-Fi, Ethernet, VPNs, virtual machines, and IPv4/IPv6 can add addresses. Think of each interface as a doorway: pick the one that reaches your target. If an app asks for IPv6, do not substitute IPv4.

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) automatically assigns a local address, which can change after reconnecting or switching networks. For a printer or camera that needs a steady address, use a router DHCP reservation instead of guessing a manual one. See static vs. dynamic IP addresses.

Troubleshoot a missing or unexpected local IP

Symptom	Likely reason	Try this
No IPv4 address appears	Adapter is disconnected or DHCP has not completed	Reconnect to Wi-Fi, check the cable, and wait for the network to finish connecting. If several devices are affected, check the router or access point.
Address begins `169.254`	IPv4 link-local fallback; the device did not get a DHCP address	Check Wi-Fi access, cable, and the router’s DHCP service. RFC 3927 defines this range for communication on the local link.
Loqmi shows a different number	Public and local IP addresses describe different sides of the connection	Use device settings for local tasks; use Loqmi to see the public address sites receive.
Several addresses are listed	Multiple adapters, VPN, or IPv4 and IPv6 are enabled	Match the active interface and protocol to the task. A VPN address may be for the VPN network.
The right address still will not connect	Guest Wi-Fi isolation, firewall, wrong port, or stopped service	Confirm both devices are on a network that allows local communication and that the intended service is running. Do not disable the firewall broadly.

An address in 169.254.0.0/16 is an automatic link-local fallback. It points to local connectivity or address assignment. A guest network may intentionally isolate devices, so two connected devices can still be unable to reach each other. In that case the router is a bouncer doing its job, and its address book is fine.

To compare, note your Wi-Fi IPv4 address, then open Loqmi’s IP tool on the same connection. It reports the public IP that sites see from outside. The speed test checks internet performance. It does not inspect local addresses or prove local devices can reach each other.

Key takeaways

Find the local IP in the details of the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection. On Windows, ipconfig is a quick alternative.
Use the device’s address for local connections, Router or Default Gateway for router settings, and Loqmi for the public IP websites see.
When several IPv4 or IPv6 addresses appear, match the active interface and protocol to the task.
A 169.254 IPv4 address often means the device did not receive a usable DHCP assignment; check the local connection and DHCP service.
Use a router DHCP reservation when a local device needs a predictable address, and check network isolation or the running service before changing firewall settings.

Frequently asked questions

Can a website show the local IP address of my phone or computer?

A normal website can see the public address used for its connection, but it cannot reliably read the local address assigned to every network interface on your device. Check the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet details in system settings. Loqmi’s homepage is useful for seeing the public IP alongside your local result, not for discovering the local one.

Why does my phone have a different IP address at work and at home?

Each Wi-Fi network has its own address range and usually assigns a local address through DHCP. Your phone therefore gets an address for the network it has joined, and that address can change when you reconnect. The home address will not identify the phone on your office Wi-Fi or mobile connection.

What is the difference between an IP address and a MAC address?

An IP address helps deliver traffic across an IP network and can change with the network or DHCP assignment. A MAC address identifies a network interface on its local link, though modern devices can use randomized or private MAC addresses. The iPhone’s Private Wi-Fi Address setting and Android’s randomized MAC option refer to MAC addresses, not the IP field.

Can I use my local IP address to connect from outside my home?

Usually not by itself. A private local address is meant for the local network and is not routed across the public internet. Remote access needs an appropriate secure method and may involve a public IP, router configuration, or a VPN. Do not expose a service or change firewall rules unless you understand the access being enabled.