How to Figure Out Your IP Address — and Why You’d Want To

Approximately 1 billion people (and counting) were subject to a data breach in 2024. Securing your data can be daunting when you’re unsure of where to begin, but you can start with the foundation of your home network connection: your IP address.

If you’re reading this, odds are you have the same questions about IP addresses that I had. Like, what is an IP address? How can I figure out what my IP address is? Why do I need to know my IP address?

I remember the first time I ever thought about an IP address. It was when a former co-worker — my company’s IT specialist at the time — told me he knew his partner was “The One” when he found out she knew her IP address. It was a charming story. But then I walked away thinking, “Why don’t I know my IP address?”

Turns out, there’s actually a very simple explanation for your IP address, and knowing what it is gives you more control over your home network’s speed and security. Let’s get into it.

What’s an IP address?

IP stands for “internet protocol.” Put simply, your IP address is really just a set of numbers that identifies a specific device or network. An IP address can be either public or private — with a public IP address being more traceable than a private one.

Public IP address

A public or external IP address is assigned from your internet provider to your network router. While other internet users won’t be able to see it, websites and advertisers will sometimes use your public IP address to collect data about your online preferences. Have you ever had an ad pop up for something you were just searching for on Google? That’s due to websites tracing your public IP address.

But don’t worry — if you’d prefer to keep your public IP address private, you can use a VPN to hide it from websites and to change your IP address.

Additionally, you have the option of using a proxy server, which will also hide your IP address. Note that even though proxy servers are free (while VPNs generally aren’t), a proxy won’t encrypt your data; a VPN will.

Private IP address

A private IP address is much more secure, meaning only devices on the same network can access it. Every device you use to connect to the internet, whether it’s a computer, phone or game console, has its own private IP address. This is why you can send documents directly from your computer to your printer, but your neighbor can’t send over their files accidentally.

Why should you know your IP address?

Knowing your IP address can help you fix problems with your network, especially if you need to troubleshoot an issue. For instance, if you’re experiencing a laggy connection or lost a signal altogether (and you’ve already run an internet speed test, restarted your equipment, or changed the location of your router), your provider will need to know your device’s IP address to help determine the issue. This way, your ISP can rule out whether or not the network issue is on your end or if it’s a much larger problem on the provider’s end. If you’re experiencing issues with your home internet, check out our guide for troubleshooting your internet connection.

Your ISP will provide your IP address when you’re setting up your internet service. After plugging in a modem, your ISP will need to connect your device to the equipment, granting you access to the internet.

How to find your IP address

OK, let’s kick this off with the easiest option. To get hold of your public IP address in a snap, type “what is my IP” into your Google search bar. Voila… your public IP address will be revealed! Websites like WhatIsMyIPAddress make it incredibly easy to find your public IP address and often have other helpful information about your network.

Your private IP address is a bit trickier to find, for good reasons. The way to locate your IP address will differ between devices, but it usually entails entering your system preferences and heading to the Network section. For Mac users, selecting the Details button next to your Wi-Fi network will reveal your IP address. If you’re a Windows user, you must choose the Properties option under Network and Internet, then scroll until you find it listed.

For smartphones, game consoles and other devices that use the internet, you’ll usually start the process with the Settings application. Most devices have a Network and Internet section, similar to computers, so that should be your next step. We recommend searching online for a more detailed explainer, since every device is different.

Final thoughts about IP addresses

While it probably won’t help you to identify your life partner, knowing your IP address is extremely important for home network security and privacy protection. Especially with the increased concerns over data breaches, protecting your private data has become all the more important. Hiding your IP address gives you a more secure network, stops your data from being tracked (sometimes those targeted ads are a little too on-the-nose) and offers more privacy.

Your IP address is important to know overall, but it can also help you identify network problems and troubleshoot if necessary. You can easily switch to a new IP address if need be, which is an excellent way to improve your device’s performance. Changing your IP address also helps reconfigure your network after updating your router.

A device’s IP address is like its house keys — necessary for accessing the internet, but also to be protected from unwanted visitors. To ensure that only you can access your computer, keep your IP address secure and update it regularly for an added layer of protection.

IP address FAQs