Find IP Address Windows 11: Settings, ipconfig and Public IP

You need your IP address when setting up a printer, forwarding a port for a game, connecting with Remote Desktop, or telling a support person what your network looks like. Windows 11 shows it in two places: the Settings app and the ipconfig command. This guide explains how to find your IP address in Windows 11 both ways, the difference between the address Windows shows and the one websites see, and what the other numbers next to it mean.

The steps apply to Windows 11 version 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2.

Method 1: Settings

Microsoft’s network support page gives these steps:

1. Select Start > Settings > Network & internet.
2. For a wireless connection, select Wi-Fi, then select the network you are connected to. For a cable, select Ethernet.
3. Find IPv4 address in the list of properties.

Microsoft also mentions a shortcut: on the main Network & internet page, select Properties next to your connected network. The same list shows the IPv6 address (if your network uses one), the DNS servers, the manufacturer and description of the adapter, and its physical (MAC) address.

Method 2: ipconfig

The command line is quicker if you are checking several adapters:

1. Right-click Start and select Terminal.
2. Type ipconfig and press Enter.

Each adapter gets a section. For the one you are using (Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter Ethernet), read:

• IPv4 Address: your PC’s address on the local network.
• Subnet Mask: usually 255.255.255.0 at home.
• Default Gateway: usually your router.

Microsoft’s ipconfig reference lists other useful switches:

Command	What it shows or does
ipconfig /all	Full details: DNS servers, DHCP server, lease times, physical address
ipconfig /release	Gives up the current address on DHCP adapters
ipconfig /renew	Asks the router for an address again
ipconfig /flushdns	Clears the DNS cache

Adapters marked “Media disconnected” are not in use. Virtual adapters for VPNs, Hyper-V or WSL also appear here; ignore them unless you are troubleshooting those.

Local IP vs public IP

This is where most confusion comes from. There are two addresses:

	Local (private) IP	Public IP
Who has it	Your PC, given by the router	Your router, given by your internet provider
Where you see it	Settings and ipconfig	Router admin page, or a “what is my IP” website
Typical form	192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x or 172.16 to 172.31.x.x	Any other address
Shared?	Unique to each device at home	Shared by all devices at home

Windows only knows the local address. The public address belongs to the router, so every phone, PC and TV in your home appears to websites with the same public IP. To see it, look at the router’s status page or use a search engine’s “what is my IP” result. If you use a VPN, websites see the VPN server’s address instead.

Find your router’s address

The Default Gateway in ipconfig is normally the router. Typing that address into a browser opens the router’s admin page, where you can see connected devices, set reserved addresses and change Wi-Fi settings. The login details are on a label on the router or in its manual; never use passwords found on random websites.

IPv4 and IPv6

Many networks now give each device both an IPv4 address (four numbers separated by dots) and one or more IPv6 addresses (long strings with colons). Both are normal. For most home tasks, such as setting up a printer or reaching the router, the IPv4 address is the one you need.

Address starts with 169.254?

If ipconfig or Settings shows an IPv4 address beginning with 169.254, the PC did not get an address from the router and assigned one itself. That means no working connection to the router. Try:

1. Running ipconfig /release and then ipconfig /renew in Terminal (Admin).
2. Restarting the router and the PC.
3. Working through Windows 11 no internet or Ethernet no internet.
4. As a last step, reset network settings in Windows 11.

Find the IP address of another device

Sometimes you need the address of a printer, NAS or TV rather than the PC. Three ways that do not need extra software:

1. The router’s device list. Log in to the router (the Default Gateway address) and look for a list of connected or DHCP clients. It shows each device’s name, IP and MAC address.
2. The device’s own screen or app. Printers usually print a network configuration page from their menu, and smart TVs show their IP under network settings.
3. Settings on the PC. For printers already installed, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, and look under printer properties or the printer’s own web page link.

If a device’s address keeps changing, give it a DHCP reservation on the router so shortcuts and mapped drives keep working.

Setting a fixed IP address

For a printer, NAS or game console that must keep the same address, the best place to fix it is usually the router’s DHCP reservation, so the router always hands that device the same address. You can also set a manual IP in Windows: on the Wi-Fi or Ethernet properties page, select Edit next to IP assignment and choose Manual. A wrong manual setting cuts the PC off the network, so note the original values first and use automatic (DHCP) again if anything breaks.

Related guides

• Find your MAC address in Windows 11 for the hardware address routers use for reservations and filters.
• Find the Wi-Fi password in Windows 11 to connect another device.
• Map a network drive in Windows 11, which often needs the IP of the PC or NAS sharing the folder.
• Windows 11 Wi-Fi settings for the rest of the network page.