how to find out my ip address

Networks, and the net, don't place computers (of any size, fifty-fifty your smartphone) past the proper name you lot give them. Computers prefer numbers, and the numbers they use as identifiers are called IP addresses.

The "IP" stands for "internet protocol," which is role of Transmission Control Protocol/internet Protocol (TPC/IP). It's all called IP for short, and TCP/IP is the language used for advice past well-nigh networks.

When it comes to your computer(due south), there are actually several IP addresses involved. One is how the reckoner talks to the internet at big, which is the IP address of your router. That IP address is generally assigned to the router by your internet service provider (ISP); the router, in turn, handles all the traffic from your computer out to the internet. So even though a website only sees a request come in from the IP accost on the router, the router knows how to route the information to/from the computer. (That's why it'southward chosen a router.)

Computers on the internal networks, be information technology Wi-Fi or Ethernet, at dwelling or in the office, have their own IP addresses assigned to them (commonly by the router). That way, all the nodes on the internal network can also communicate. The protocol used by the router to assign IP addresses is called Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP).

If y'all have an IP address assigned, it'due south typically considered a "dynamic IP" considering information technology could exist temporary; the router might give the node in question a different IP address at a later time (aforementioned with the IP address your Internet service provider gives your router). Withal, you can set up "static IP addresses" on computers then they never alter—this can be important for some kinds of network communications, especially if information technology's crucial to exist able to observe that same node over and over. You lot could also get a static IP for your router—which is handy if you run a web server, for instance, but wait your ISP to accuse extra.

IP addresses are typically in the same format as a 32-bit number, shown as four decimal numbers each with a range of 0 to 255, separated by dots—each set of three numbers is called an octet. This format is used by IP version 4 (or IPv4). With it, you could—in theory—have 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255 out there. However, this express the earth to a possible 4+ billion IP addresses, which isn't enough.

So now, there's IPv6, which is 128-bit, with 8 groups of four hexadecimal digits (numbers and lower-case messages mixed), all separated by a colon (for example: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334). That offers a lot more 4 billion addresses. The actual number is a 34 with 37 zeros after it (or 2 to the 128th power), which is technically 340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,455. That's a lot of addresses.

That'south all good to know, but how do you observe your IP address?

Find Your Internet/Public IP Accost

There may come a time when you demand to know the IP address of your router, as assigned past your ISP. This can be particularly handy for things like VoIP calls or remote control software.

What you'll also find is that in that location's lots of data well-nigh y'all fastened to that IP address, specifically your Isp'south name and your general location (called a GeoIP). That'due south considering ISPs dole out a range of IP addresses. Figuring out your provider and general location based on IP address is as uncomplicated every bit consulting a public list.

The simplest way to check your router'south public IP address is to search "what is my IP?" on a search engine.

With Google, that's all you see. There are enough of sites out in that location that will prove you the exact same thing. They see information technology simply because by visiting the site, your router has made a request, and thus revealed the IP address. Sites similar WhatIsMyIP.com(Opens in a new window) and IPLocation(Opens in a new window) all go farther, showing off the names of your Internet access provider, your city, and even maps.

The GeoIP info is far from foolproof. Generally, you're going to get an approximation of location—where the provider is, non the actual computer. In visiting those sites, I was told I was in Ithaca, New York...and Syracuse, New York. One gave a latitude/longitude that put me in Due north Carolina (which could be where my Isp has a data center, for all I know). Exist sure to log out of your VPN service, likewise. Getting areal address for the public IP address usually requires a search warrant taken to the Internet access provider.

Detect Your Internal IP Accost

Every device that connects to your internal network, exist it at abode or the office, has an IP accost (your PC, your smartphone, your smart Television, your network printer, etc.) It doesn't matter if it's using Wi-Fi or Ethernet. They've all got an IP accost if they're talking to the net, or each other, through your router.

In the most basic network, your router is going to take an IP accost like 192.168.0.ane, and that will be called the "gateway." Yous'll run across it pop up a lot as you look for the IP addresses of other devices. That typically means your router will use DHCP to assign addresses to devices, where only the last octet changes. So 192.168.0.101, or 192.168.0.102, for example. It depends on the range defined past your router.

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This is pretty much the same on all internal networks, because they're subconscious backside the router, which routes all that communication in and out to the proper places. If you lot have a big internal network, another number called a subnet will assistance dissever your network into groups. The subnet mask used by most home networks is 255.255.255.0.

And then how practice y'all discover it? In Windows it requires the command prompt. Search for "cmd" (without the quotes) using Windows search. Click to get the Command Line. In the resulting pop-up box, type "ipconfig" (no quote marks) then return.

What is revealed is more than than just the IP address: you'll meet the IPv4 accost (and IPv6 if supported), the subnet mask, plus the Default Gateway (that's your router). Wait above that row of data in the center, and it shows the blazon of connection: "Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi." If I was using a wired connection it would accept information under "Ethernet adapter."

On the Mac, go to theOrganisation Preferences, selectNetwork, and it should be right in that location. Click the connection type on the left to see the IPs for each type. You lot may need to click theTCP/IP tab at the superlative with slightly older versions. Optionally, go full geek and open the Terminal and blazon "ipconfig" just like on Windows.

On an iOS/iPadOS, become intoSettings > Wi-Fi, and click the "i" in a circle adjacent to the network you're on. The IP address, subnet, and router (gateway) will all be there under both an IPv4 and IPv6 section, equally seen beneath.

If you lot need the IP address of other devices on your network, go into the router. How you lot admission your router depends on the brand and the software it runs. In general, you should be able to type the router'southward gateway IP accost into a spider web browser on the aforementioned network to access it. From there, you lot demand to navigate to something similar "attached devices." So you get a full listing of all the devices currently (or recently) attached to the network—and that list includes the IP address assigned to each device.

If yous're lucky, you've got a mod router (or set of routers, similar a mesh organization) that tin be controlled with mobile apps. The app may make it a lot easier to find the IP address(es) you lot want. Click the icon next to each device to show the IP address and more than info for each.

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Source: https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-find-your-ip-address

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