How to Find Computer IP Address on Windows (Easy Guide)

Your computer’s IP address has so many different uses, but you may not know where to find it or what it even looks like.

That’s okay – we weren’t born knowing its importance, and it’s not exactly the kind of stuff they teach you in high school.

But now that you know that you need your IP address to remotely access your PC or troubleshoot network issues, let’s walk through how to find it.

This guide will show you the easiest ways to locate your IP address on your Windows computer.

How to Find Your Local IP Address in Windows 11

Finding your local IP address (aka private IP address) on Windows 11 is easy. Just follow these steps and you’ll see your IP appear on the screen:

• Click on the Start menu and choose Settings
• Select the Network & Internet menu on the left, and then click Properties at the top 
• Find your IP address above the IPv4 address. 

Keep in mind that this is a dynamic IP address that can change periodically, so don’t be surprised if you see a completely new address the next time you check your local IP.

How to Find Your Local IP Address in Windows 10

The steps to find your local IP address on Windows 10 differ based on whether you’re using an Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection.

1. Right-click on the Windows logo at the bottom left of your screen
2. Choose Settings > Network & Internet
3. Click Ethernet or Wi-Fi in the left sidebar menu, depending on whether you’re connected via an Ethernet cable or wirelessly. 
4. Click the Properties button beneath your Wi-Fi network name and scroll down to locate your computer IP address. If you’re using an Ethernet connection, click Network (it might be called Network and Sharing Center) in the center column to find your private IP address.

Find Your IP Address Using Command Prompt (CMD)

Command Prompt (CMD) is an application that allows you to interact with Windows systems using text commands instead of clicking on icons. Rather than navigating through menus in Settings, you just type a command, and the computer performs that action instantly. 

To find your IP address using CMD:

1. Search cmd or Command Prompt in the Start menu or press the Win+R key, type cmd, and press Enter 
2. Type ipconfig in the Command Prompt window and press Enter.
3. Look for your local IP address next to the IPv4 address in the section showcasing your active connection (named either Ethernet or Wireless LAN adapter).

Pro tip: If you want more details about your network, type ipconfig /all in Step 2 instead of just ipconfig.

How to Find Your Public IP Address

The easiest way to find your public IP address is to type “what’s my IP” in Google or use our IP lookup tool. Both methods take just a few clicks and will display your public IP instantly. 

The other way is to use the Command Prompt application that I mentioned earlier. Steps are as follows:

1. Press and Windows key and type “Command Prompt” in the search bar
2. Open the Command Prompt app
3. Type: nslookup myip.opends.com reslver1.opendns.com and press Enter
4. Check the “Non-authoritative answer” section to find your public IP address  

Understanding the Difference Between Local and Public IP Addresses

The main difference between local and public IP addresses is how visible they are and who uses them.

The local IP address is assigned by your router to devices such as laptops and smartphones to help them communicate with each other. It is only visible on your home network and can’t be viewed by the outside world, preventing direct access to your devices from the internet.

The public IP address is assigned by your internet service provider (ISP) to your router and used to identify your entire home network on the internet. It’s visible to websites and services like Netflix, so they know where to send data and which network to communicate with in a particular session. All devices connected to your network will share this public IP, but they will use separate local IPs to send data back and forth.

You can think of all this like a phone system, with the public IP being your main company phone number that everyone calls, and the local IP being the internal extension numbers they use to reach different people (devices) within the company (your home or office network).

How to Keep Your IP Address Secure

Since your IP address is a crucial piece of information, you’ll want to take steps to protect it from prying eyes and anyone with malicious intent.

The best and most effective way to protect your IP address is to use a virtual private network (VPN) service like NordVPN. A VPN gives you a virtual IP address tied to its remote server while hiding your real one, making your location nearly impossible to trace. For additional security, choose a paid VPN provider with a strict no-logs policy, as free options are susceptible to DNS leaks and may sell your private data.

You can also use Windows’ built-in security features, such as Windows Defender Firewall and Network Proxy Settings, to enhance your overall security. While a firewall doesn’t hide your IP address from websites you visit, it can block malicious traffic from reaching your device, preventing hackers from exploiting your IP address to attack your system.

Using the latest Windows OS and updating your web browser are also critical steps for patching the vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit to expose your IP. Additionally, consider changing your router’s default admin password to prevent unauthorized persons from accessing your network.

How to Find Your Computer Name and IP Address for Remote Access

If you want to remotely access your PC from another device (like connecting to your home desktop from the office or vice versa), you’ll need to know your PC’s name and IP address.

If you don’t know the name already or need to confirm it, try looking for it in Settings:

To find your computer name:

1. Press the Windows key and search for “Settings”
2. Click Settings > System > About
3. Look for “Device name”

Alternatively, you can use Command Prompt to discover the name. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and hit Enter. Then type hostname to see your computer’s name.

For the IP address, you can just follow the steps we went through earlier.

Once you have both the computer name and IP address, follow these steps to establish a remote desktop connection:

1. On the Windows PC you want to access, head to Settings > System > Remote Desktop and toggle “Enable Remote Desktop” to On.
2. On the device you’re connecting from, open the Remote Desktop Connection app (look for it in the Start menu).
3. Enter either the computer name or IP address of the PC you want to access.
4. Click Connect, then enter your username and password for the computer you’re accessing when prompted.

Keep in mind that the computer you’re accessing must be running the Pro, Enterprise, or Education version of Windows (Windows Home doesn’t support Remote Desktop). It must also be powered on and not in sleep mode when you try to connect.

Frequently Asked Questions