How to find the IP address of a computer, tablet or smartphone

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The easiest ways to see the external and internal IP addresses of different devices. And not only our own.

IP addresses are digital identifiers by which devices can find each other on the Internet or local networks and exchange data. Therefore, each connected computer or mobile device receives its own IP.

Even if you're not a techie, it doesn't hurt to know how to find the IP addresses of your gadgets. This can be useful, for example, if you want to connect a network printer or decide to provide remote access to your personal computer via the Internet.

Any network device can have either an internal or an external IP address. The first type is used for the interaction of technology within local networks, the second - within the entire Internet.

How to find out the external (public) IP-address

You can quickly view your external IP from a computer or mobile device on one of the special sites like, and. Going to any of them, you will immediately see the external IP (aka Public IP) in the most conspicuous place.

Devices that access the Internet through one router have a common external IP.

How to find the internal (local) IP address

With internal IP addresses, things are a little more complicated: they are validated differently on each platform.

How to find the IP address in Windows

Find the "Command Line" utility through the system search. Right-click on its icon and run as administrator. In the window that opens, enter the command

ipconfig

and press Enter. The data will appear on the screen, among which there should be an IPv4 string. Next to it you will see the format code 192.168.1.40 - this is the internal IP address of the computer.

How to find your IP address on macOS

To view the IP address in macOS, just go to System Preferences → Network and select the current connection on the sidebar. The internal IP address of the Mac is displayed under the connection status.

How to find the IP address in Android

The internal IP address of an Android device is usually available in the Wi-Fi settings section. The interface on different devices can be very different, but you will probably find the menu you need without much difficulty on your own. If not, you can install the free IP Tools program. It will display the internal and external IP addresses immediately upon launch.

How to find the IP address in iOS

On an iPhone or iPad, the internal IP can be easily found under the Wi-Fi options. Just click on the round icon next to the active wireless connection, and the IP will appear in the next menu.

How to find someone else's IP address

You can find out the external IP of another network user (for example, to determine his approximate location) using the IP Logger service. But for this it is necessary that the person clicks on the link you created.

First, create a URL that allows you to find out someone else's IP. To do this, go to the IP Logger website and in the "Link / Image" block paste the URL to any page or image. This can be, for example, a link to a news item or an article. Then click "Get logger code". In the next window, copy the address from the field "Your link for collecting IP-addresses" and remember your ID in the system.

Then send a message with the link you just copied to the user whose IP you want to know. You can use any channel: email, social networks, instant messengers, and so on. The text of the message should convince the recipient to click on the link. To make the URL appear less suspicious, you can mask it with a link shortening service or another.

When the user clicks on the link, IP Logger will simply open a landing page for him, and save someone else's IP for you. The latter can be viewed on the service website: just enter your ID on the main page of IP Logger in the "View logger" block.

Do not forget that the user can access the Internet through a proxy or VPN. In this case, it will not be possible to find out its real IP-address.

If you are interested in how to find out the IP address of the router, you can familiarize yourself with other Lifehacker material.