What is my local IP address, and how can I find it?

What is a local IP address?

A local IP address (also known as a private IP address) is one of the two IP address types. It’s a unique identifier assigned to a device within a local network, such as your home Wi-Fi or office setup. It allows devices (computers, phones, or smart TVs) to communicate with each other within the local network.

What is the difference between a public IP address and a local IP address?

The difference between a public IP address and a local IP address is that, unlike a public IP address, a local IP works only within your internal network. Routers assign these private IPs to each connected device using the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). In addition, users can change their local IP address manually, while public IPs can only be changed by your internet service provider (ISP). It’s also worth noting that users with dynamic public IPs may receive a new IP when restarting their modem.

Local IP address ranges 

Local IP address ranges are private IP addresses reserved for use within private networks (for example, home Wi-Fi network or corporate intranet). The most common private IP address ranges are 192.168.x.x, 10. x.x.x, and 172.16.x.x to 172.31.x.x ("x" marking numbers that define your IP address). You can find a private IP address assigned to your device or router in its network settings.

Local IP address ranges are part of the reserved private IP space that's defined by the IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority). The commonly used private IP ranges belong to:

• Class A. 10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255 (Provides ~16.7 million IP addresses)
• Class B. 172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255 (Provides ~1 million IP addresses)
• Class C. 192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255 (Provides ~65,500 IP addresses)

No matter how many homes or offices use the same private IPs, they won’t conflict because each network keeps them separate. Think of it like every apartment building having units numbered 101, 102, and 103 — as long as they're in different buildings (networks), there's no confusion. 

How to find my local IP address on Windows

Finding your local IP address on Windows will take just a minute. And you can use a couple of ways (including an IP lookup tool) to do it. Here’s how to find your local IP using the Windows desktop version.

Find your local IP address using the command prompt

1. 1.Open your Windows menu by clicking on the Windows logo on the sidebar of your desktop.
   
2. 2.Type “Command prompt” or “cmd” in the search bar.
   
3. 3.Click on the Command Prompt app on the left side of the search bar or “Open” on the right side of the search bar.
   
4. 4.In the newly opened window, type “ipconfig” and press the Enter key.
   
5. 5.Look for the line that says “IPv4 address.” There you will find your local IP address.
   

IMPORTANT: The IPv4 address displayed in the output of the ipconfig command can be either a private IP address or a public IP address, depending on the network setup. To determine whether it’s a private IP address, check the IPv4 address range in the output. If it falls within any of the private IP ranges (10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255, 172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255, or 192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255), then it is a private IP.

Find your local IP address using the settings app

If you don’t want to use Command Prompt, check your local IP address using the Windows settings app. Here’s how:

1. 1.Open the settings app (Windows key + I).
   
2. 2.Go to “Network and internet,” then “Wi-Fi” (or “Ethernet” if you’re using an ethernet cable).
   
   
3. 3.Click on the name of your network.
   
4. 4.Look for the “IPv4 address” under “Properties.”
   

IMPORTANT: The IPv4 address displayed in the output of the ipconfig command can be either a private IP address or a public IP address, depending on the network setup. To determine whether it’s a private IP address, Check the IPv4 address range in the output. If it falls within any of the private IP ranges (10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255, 172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255, or 192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255), then it is a private IP.

How to find my local IP address on MacOS

To find your local IP address on MacOS, follow these steps:

1. 1.Click the Apple icon in the top left of your screen.
   
2. 2.Go to “System settings.”
   
3. 3.Click “Network” on the left side of the settings window.
   
4. 4.Click on “Wi-fi” (or “Ethernet” if you’re using an ethernet cable).
   
5. 5.Find your Wi-Fi network and click on “Details.”
   
6. 6.Click “TCP/IP” and find “IP address.”
   

You can also use the Terminal app to look up your local IP address. To do that:

1. 1.Open the Terminal application.
   
2. 2.Type “ifconfig” and press Enter.
   
3. 3.Look for the “inet” or “inet addr” line under the network interface you’re using (for example, en0 or wlan0). The address listed there is your local IP address.