What’s My IP Address? Check Public & Private IP

You’ve probably typed “what’s my IP address” into a search bar — and got a number that didn’t mean much. It’s your device’s identity on the network, and understanding the difference between public, private, and router IPs helps you troubleshoot connections and protect your privacy.

Number of active IP addresses (IPv4): ~4.3 billion total address space ·
Average devices per household: 11 connected devices ·
Percentage of users who check IP weekly: 15% according to recent surveys ·
Default private IP range for most routers: 192.168.0.0/16 (65,536 addresses)

Four key numbers frame the IP address landscape:

How do I check what my IP address is?

Using a web browser (public IP)

• Your public IP is assigned by your ISP and is the address the internet sees. Simply search “what is my IP address” in any browser, and a tool will display it immediately (Avira (cybersecurity publisher)).
• These services show only your public egress address — not the private IP assigned to your device (Matillion (data integration platform)).

The catch: what you see online is your router’s public face, not your laptop’s local address. That distinction trips up most people.

Using command line on Windows, macOS, Linux

• On Windows, open Command Prompt and run ipconfig. The IPv4 Address line shows your private IP for the active network (WhatIsMyIPAddress.com (network tools provider)).
• On macOS, use ifconfig in Terminal or go to System Settings > Network to see the local address (WhatIsMyIPAddress.com).
• On Linux, ip addr shows interface details including the private IPv4 (Matillion).

What information your IP reveals

• A public IP can reveal your general geographic region (city level) and your ISP, but not your exact street address (Avira).
• Private IPs reveal nothing about your location — they only identify the device within your home network.

The implication: your public IP is a rough location tag; your private IP is invisible to the outside world. Sharing your public IP is the equivalent of giving out your neighborhood name, not your house number.

Can I see my IP address on my phone?

iPhone: Settings > Wi-Fi > network details

• On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the info icon (i) next to your connected network, and you’ll see the local/private IP address (WhatIsMyIPAddress.com).
• This is the device’s private IP within the Wi-Fi network, not the public IP.

What this means: your iPhone shows only the address your home router gave it. To see your public IP on mobile, you still need a web browser lookup.

Android: Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > network

• On Android, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi. Tap the connected network name and expand Advanced settings to see the IP address (WhatIsMyIPAddress.com).
• The displayed address is the private IP assigned by your router via DHCP.

Public vs private IP on mobile data

• When using mobile data, your phone gets a public IP from your carrier — but you can’t see it in phone settings. Only a web lookup reveals it.
• Third-party apps can show both your public and private IP in one view, but be cautious: some apps may log your IP (Avira).

The trade-off: convenience vs privacy. Web lookups are safe; third‑party app permissions may expose your public IP to unknown servers.

How do I find my IP address for Wi-Fi?

On Windows: ipconfig in Command Prompt

• Press Win+R, type cmd, then enter ipconfig. Look for “IPv4 Address” under your Wi‑Fi adapter (WhatIsMyIPAddress.com).
• That address (usually 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x) is your Wi‑Fi private IP.

On macOS: System Preferences > Network

• Open System Settings > Network, select Wi‑Fi, and click Details. The IP address appears in the TCP/IP tab (WhatIsMyIPAddress.com).
• This is the private address for your Mac on the local network.

On mobile devices: Wi-Fi settings

• Follow the iPhone or Android steps above — both show the Wi‑Fi private IP.
• Your public IP remains the same for all devices behind the same router, regardless of which device you check.

The pattern: every device shows a private Wi‑Fi IP; your public IP is shared and constant across the whole home network. If two devices show different private IPs, they’re still under the same public roof.

Is 192.168 my IP address?

Private vs public IP addresses

• Private IP addresses are reserved for internal networks and are not routable on the internet. The ranges 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, and 192.168.0.0/16 are defined by RFC 1918 (Duco (IT infrastructure firm)).
• Any IP starting with 192.168., 10., or 172.16–31 is private (Duco Support).
• Public IPs are globally unique and assigned by your ISP (Avira).

Why 192.168.x.x is the most common private range

• Most home routers default to 192.168.0.0/24 or 192.168.1.0/24 because they are easy to remember and fall within the RFC 1918 space (PowerCert Animated Videos (networking explainer)).
• Your router’s DHCP server hands out addresses from this range to every connected device.

How to confirm your public IP

• A quick browser search for “what is my IP address” displays your public IP immediately (Avira).
• Compare it with the private IP shown in your device settings — they will always be different.

Why this matters: if you’re troubleshooting a connection issue, knowing which IP is which saves you from trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist on the wrong side.

How do I look up my router’s IP address?

Using ipconfig (Windows) or networksetup (macOS)

• On Windows, ipconfig lists “Default Gateway” — that’s your router’s IP (WhatIsMyIPAddress.com).
• On macOS, networksetup -getinfo Wi-Fi or System Settings > Network > Wi‑Fi > Details shows the router address.
• On Linux, ip route | grep default reveals the gateway.

Default gateway address

• The default gateway is the router’s private LAN IP — usually 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, or 10.0.0.1 (PowerCert Animated Videos).
• You need this address to access the router’s admin panel.

Accessing the router admin panel

• Open a browser and enter the gateway IP. Log in with the router’s admin credentials (often printed on the device).
• Inside, you can change Wi‑Fi settings, update firmware, and see the public WAN IP assigned by your ISP.

The upshot: your router’s LAN IP is the key to managing your whole network. Without it, you can’t touch settings that affect every device in your home.

Quick steps to find your IP on any device

1. Public IP: Open any browser and search “what is my IP address”. No installation needed.
2. Private IP on Windows: Press Win+R, type cmd, then ipconfig. Look for IPv4 Address under your active adapter.
3. Private IP on macOS: System Settings > Network > Wi‑Fi > Details. The IP appears in TCP/IP tab.
4. Private IP on iPhone: Settings > Wi‑Fi > tap the network info icon (i).
5. Private IP on Android: Settings > Network & Internet > Wi‑Fi > tap the network > Advanced.
6. Router IP: Run ipconfig (Windows) and note the Default Gateway; on Mac/Linux use networksetup or ip route.

The pattern: each device except your browser shows a private IP; only your browser reveals the public one. Know both to troubleshoot effectively.

RFC 1918 defines three IPv4 private address ranges: 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, and 192.168.0.0/16.

Duco (IT infrastructure firm)

Public IP addresses are assigned by an internet service provider, while private IP addresses are typically assigned by a router.

PowerCert Animated Videos (networking explainer)

Network Address Translation (NAT) is the mechanism that allows devices with private IPs to reach public internet resources through the router.

PowerCert Animated Videos

For the average home user, the choice between using a VPN to mask your public IP or sticking with your ISP-assigned address comes down to whether you prioritize convenience over privacy. If you routinely connect to public Wi‑Fi or share your network with others, understanding the difference between public and private IP is not academic — it’s the first step toward controlling who sees what on your connection. For network administrators and power users, the implication is clear: audit your router’s default gateway, know your private IP ranges, and never assume the IP you see in ipconfig is the one the internet knows.

If you need to quickly find your public IP address and location, you can find your public IP address with a single click.

Frequently asked questions