Public vs Private IP — Which One Do You Need?
| You need... | Use this |
|---|---|
| Set up port forwarding so friends can connect to your game server | Public IP |
| Configure a VPN or remote access | Public IP |
| Confirm your VPN is working | Public IP (before and after) |
| Access a printer or NAS from another device at home | Private IP |
| Set up a static DHCP reservation on your router | Private IP |
| Find your router's admin page | Default gateway (router's private IP) |
Find Your Public IP (Any Device)
The easiest method: open a browser and search "what is my ip" — Google and most search engines show it at the top. Or visit one of these:
- ifconfig.me — returns plain text, works in terminal with
curl ifconfig.me - ipinfo.io — returns IP plus city, ISP, and org
- icanhazip.com — the classic bare-IP responder
Every device on your home network shares the same public IP (that's how NAT works). If it starts with 192.168, 10., or 172.16-31, that's a private IP — something is wrong (possibly you're on a VPN to another private network).
Find Your Private IP on Windows
Open Command Prompt and run:
ipconfigLook for your active adapter (Wi-Fi or Ethernet). The line labeled IPv4 Address is your private IP. Default Gateway is your router's IP. Alternatively: Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → (network name) → Properties.
Find Your Private IP on macOS
Hold Option and click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar — your IP appears under the network name. Or open System Settings → Network → Wi-Fi → Details → TCP/IP. The router's IP is listed there too.
In Terminal:
ipconfig getifaddr en0Find Your Private IP on Linux
ip addr showOr the shorter hostname -I. Look for your active interface (wlan0 for Wi-Fi, eth0 for Ethernet).
Find Your Private IP on iPhone and iPad
Open Settings → Wi-Fi, tap the (i) next to your connected network. The IP Address line is your private IP; Router is your gateway's IP.
Find Your Private IP on Android
Open Settings → Network & internet → Internet, tap your connected Wi-Fi, then scroll to see IP address. Paths vary slightly by manufacturer (Samsung's settings app calls it Network or Connections).
Find Your Router's IP (Default Gateway)
This is what you type into a browser to reach the router's admin page:
- Windows:
ipconfig→ "Default Gateway" - macOS:
netstat -nr | grep defaultor Network → Details → TCP/IP → Router - Linux:
ip route | grep default - iOS / Android: listed as "Router" in Wi-Fi details
IPv4 vs IPv6
Every modern device has both an IPv4 and IPv6 address. For home networks, you usually want the IPv4 (shorter, 4 numbers separated by dots). IPv6 looks like 2001:db8:85a3::8a2e:370:7334 and is mainly needed for specific internet-facing services. See IPv4 vs IPv6 for when IPv6 matters.
Privacy: Who Can See Your IP?
Every website you visit sees your public IP. That's normal — they need it to send data back. Your public IP reveals your approximate city and ISP but not your street address or identity (only your ISP can correlate). A VPN replaces your public IP with the VPN server's IP for outside observers. See VPN effects on speed for the tradeoffs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my public IP different from my private IP?
They're separate by design. The public IP belongs to your router and represents your entire network to the internet. The private IP is assigned inside your home by the router so each device has its own address for local communication.
Can my IP address reveal my exact location?
No. Public IP geolocation is accurate to city level at best, often only to the metro area of your ISP's regional hub. It does not reveal your street address.
Does my IP address change?
Usually yes. Most residential ISPs assign dynamic IPs that change every few days or after a router reboot. Static IPs are typically a paid add-on for business accounts.