To find your computer’s local IP address in Windows 11, open Settings > Network & internet, choose Wi-Fi or Ethernet, open the connected network’s Properties, and read IPv4 address. For a fuller result, open Command Prompt and run ipconfig.
These methods normally show the address your PC uses on its local network. That is different from the public IP address seen by websites.
First, identify which IP address you need
Private (local) IP: This identifies your PC on the current home, office, school, or hotspot network. It is usually the address another device on that same network needs to connect to your PC.
Public IP: This is the internet-facing address associated with a router, gateway, mobile carrier, organization, or VPN exit server. Windows’ normal network-properties screen does not usually show it.
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IPv4 looks like 192.168.1.25. IPv6 is a longer hexadecimal address. If an application specifically requests IPv4 or IPv6, provide that matching field rather than the gateway, DNS server, or subnet mask.
Private IPv4 space includes 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, and 192.168.0.0/16; these ranges are intended for private networks rather than ordinary public-internet routing. See IANA’s private-address guidance and RFC 1918.
Find your local IP address in Settings
Wi-Fi
- Select Start, then open Settings.
- Select Network & internet, then Wi-Fi.
- Select the Wi-Fi network to which the PC is currently connected.
- Under Properties, find IPv4 address. The page may also list an IPv6 address.
Ethernet
- Open Settings > Network & internet.
- Select Ethernet.
- Under Properties, read IPv4 address or the listed IPv6 address.
Microsoft documents these Wi-Fi and Ethernet paths in its Windows network-settings guidance. A quick route is to right-click the taskbar’s network icon and choose Network and internet settings. Labels can vary slightly by Windows 11 build, connection type, and connection state.
Use Command Prompt for a faster or more detailed result
Run ipconfig
- Open the taskbar search box and type Command Prompt.
- Open it; administrator permission is not required just to view network addresses.
- Enter
ipconfigand press Enter. - Locate the adapter that is actually in use, such as Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter Ethernet.
- Read the value beside IPv4 Address.
Microsoft’s ipconfig documentation says the command displays IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, subnet masks, and default gateways for network adapters.
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Run ipconfig /all for complete configuration
Use:
ipconfig /allThis adds details such as DHCP and DNS servers, lease information, adapter identifiers, and configuration for every interface. It is useful when a technician needs complete TCP/IP information or when several interfaces are installed.
The output can include disconnected Wi-Fi or Ethernet interfaces, Bluetooth, VPN, Hyper-V, VMware, VirtualBox, and other virtual adapters. Do not automatically copy the first address: match the adapter heading to the connection you are using.
Do not confuse the PC address with the default gateway
The default gateway is normally the router or other device that forwards traffic off the local network. It is not your computer’s address. For example:
IPv4 Address . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.25
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1Microsoft uses the gateway in its Wi-Fi troubleshooting and gateway-ping procedure.
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How to find the public IP address
Settings and ipconfig normally reveal the PC’s private address, not the address websites see. To check the public address, use your router’s internet/status page or a reputable public IP-check service. A VPN can change the public exit address presented to websites; Windows shows an active VPN through its network controls and VPN settings, as described in Microsoft’s VPN documentation.
For a technical, command-line check, Cloudflare documents this DNS query:
dig @<Cloudflare-assigned-nameserver> chaos txt myip.cloudflare +shortThe command assumes dig is installed and is intended for diagnostics rather than beginners. Details are in Cloudflare’s DNS debug-endpoint documentation.
A public IP may represent a router, business gateway, mobile carrier, VPN, proxy, or carrier-grade NAT. It does not by itself identify a particular person, computer, or exact physical location.
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Which address should you use?
| What you need to do | Address or information to use |
|---|---|
| Connect from another device on the same Wi-Fi or router | The active adapter’s private IPv4 address, unless the software specifically requires IPv6 |
| Diagnose a connection | IPv4 or IPv6 address, subnet mask, default gateway, DNS, and adapter details from ipconfig /all |
| Configure a service that explicitly requests IPv6 | The IPv6 address shown for the relevant active adapter |
| Know what websites see | The public IP, checked through the router, a public lookup service, or an appropriate diagnostic query |
| Use a VPN | Determine whether the application needs the physical LAN address, the VPN adapter address, or the VPN’s public exit address |
Finding an address does not automatically enable remote access. Firewall rules, permissions, authentication, router configuration, and network topology still apply. Across the internet, a private address generally requires a VPN, secure remote-access gateway, port forwarding, or another appropriately protected method. Do not expose Remote Desktop directly to the internet merely because you found an IP address.
When the address starts with 169.254
An address such as 169.254.20.7 is in the automatic private/link-local range. It usually means Windows did not obtain a usable address from the network’s DHCP server; it does not by itself prove that the router is defective. IANA describes this range in its IP-address guidance, and Microsoft discusses it in its Wi-Fi connection troubleshooting.
- Confirm that Wi-Fi is connected or the Ethernet cable is attached.
- Disconnect and reconnect to the network.
- If appropriate, restart the router or access point.
- In Command Prompt, run:
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renewMicrosoft documents these commands for releasing and renewing DHCP configuration. If the problem persists, check DHCP settings on the network and continue with Microsoft’s Wi-Fi troubleshooting steps.
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Several addresses appear
Multiple values are normal when the PC has Wi-Fi and Ethernet, a VPN, virtual-machine software, Bluetooth networking, or disconnected adapters. Select the address under the adapter that is connected and carrying the traffic you care about.
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The PC has no active connection
Windows may still list disconnected or virtual interfaces. Treat those values as configuration information, not proof that the PC currently has a working network path.
You are considering Network reset
Network reset should be a last resort. Microsoft says it removes installed network adapters and resets networking settings; VPN software and Hyper-V virtual switches may need to be reinstalled or configured again afterward. See Microsoft’s Ethernet troubleshooting guidance.
Privacy and safety
Share a private IP only with people who need it for a trusted local-network task. Avoid posting either local or public addresses unnecessarily. For remote access, use strong authentication, current software, firewall restrictions, and a VPN or managed gateway where possible.
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