You are connected to your home or office Wi-Fi network but don't know it IP addressThis information may be needed to configure your router, troubleshoot connection issues, or set up remote access. Unlike the external (public) IP assigned by your ISP, your Wi-Fi's local IP is the internal address on the network through which devices exchange data.
In this article we will look at all current methods Finding Wi-Fi IP addresses on various devices, from smartphones to desktop PCs. You'll learn how to find not only the router's local address (default gateway), but also your device's current IP address on the network. You'll also learn why the address is sometimes shown. 169.254.x.x and what to do about it.
Spoiler: For most tasks, the standard operating system tools are sufficient. But if you need advanced data (for example, MAC address of the router or DNS servers), we will show these tricks too.
1. How to find your Wi-Fi IP address on Windows 10 and 11
On computers with Windows There are at least three ways to obtain network data, from simple to advanced. Let's start with the fastest.
🔹 Method 1: Via the taskbar (fastest)
- Click on the icon Wi-Fi in the lower right corner of the screen (next to the clock).
- Click on the name of your network, then on
Properties. - Scroll down to the block
Properties: there will be a line here IPv4 address (your local IP) and Default Gateway (this is the router's IP).
🔹 Method 2: Via the command line
If the first method didn't work (for example, because of an old version of Windows), use CMD:
ipconfig /all
Find the block in the results Wireless LAN adapter (or Wireless LAN adapter). Search strings:
- 📌
IPv4 address- your current IP on the network (for example,192.168.1.100). - 📌
Main gateway— IP of the router (usually192.168.0.1or192.168.1.1). - 📌
DNS servers— addresses of servers that translate domains into IPs (can be from the provider or Google/Yandex).
🔹 Method 3: Using PowerShell (for advanced users)
Open PowerShell and enter:
Get-NetIPConfiguration | Format-Table -AutoSize
This command will display detailed information about all network interfaces including IPv6 addresses (if used).
2. Wi-Fi IP address on macOS: where to find it
On MacBook or iMac Network data is hidden deeper, but can be easily found through system settings.
🔹 Method 1: Via Control Panel
- Open
System Preferences → Network. - Select an active connection Wi-Fi in the left menu.
- Click
Additionally→ tabTCP/IP. - There will be a line here IPv4 address (your local IP) and Router (router IP).
🔹 Method 2: Via Terminal
Launch Terminal (can be found via Spotlight) and enter:
ifconfig | grep"inet"
Find the block in the results en0 (wireless adapter). The IP you're looking for will be after the word inet (For example, 192.168.1.105).
🔹 Method 3: Using a utility Network Utility
This built-in program provides extended information:
- Open
Programs → Utilities → Network Utility. - Go to the tab
Info. - Select interface Wi-Fi in the drop-down menu.
Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on | Open "System Preferences → Network" | Check the connection status (should be "Connected") | Write down the router's IP from the "Router" field
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3. How to find the Wi-Fi IP address on an Android smartphone
On Android The path to the IP address depends on the firmware and shell version (Samsung One UI, MIUI, ColorOS, etc.). We'll show you a universal method that works on 90% of devices.
🔹 Method 1: Via Wi-Fi settings
- Open
Settings → Wi-Fi. - Tap on the name of your network (don't disconnect!).
- Scroll down to the block
Network informationorAdditionally. - There will be lines here IP address (your local) and Gateway (router IP).
🔹 Method 2: Via the app (if you don't have access to settings)
If the manufacturer has hidden the technical data (as on some Xiaomi or Huawei), install the free application:
- 📱 WiFi Analyzer (shows IP in section
Connection Info). - 📱 Network Info II (displays complete network information, including DNS and MAC addresses).
What to do if your Android IP address starts with 169.254...
This means your device was unable to obtain an address from the router via DHCP. Try:
1. Reboot the router.
2. Forget the network on your phone and reconnect.
3. Check the DHCP settings on the router (it must be enabled).
4. Wi-Fi IP address on iPhone and iPad
On devices Apple With iOS or iPadOS Network information is hidden in the connection settings. Here's how to find it:
- Open
Settings → Wi-Fi. - Tap on the symbol
ⓘnext to the name of your network. - Scroll down to the block
IPV4 ADDRESS: - 📍 IP address — your local IP on the network.
- 📍 Router — Router IP.
- 📍 DNS — DNS server addresses.
🔹 If there is no data
On some iOS versions, the IP block may be missing. In this case:
- Install the application Network Analyzer from the App Store.
- Open the tab
LAN— here you will find complete information about the network. - 🏷️
IP Address/Default Gateway(usually192.168.0.1or192.168.1.1). - 🏷️
Username/Password(standard login/password for entry). - 🖥️ On Windows:
ipconfig→ searchMain gateway. - 🍎 On macOS/Linux:
netstat -rn | grep default. - 🐧 On Android (through Termux):
ip route | grep default. - 🌐 2ip.ru (shows IP, provider and location).
- 🌐 whatismyipaddress.com (with detailed geolocation information).
- 🌐 ipinfo.io (technical data in JSON format).
5. How to find out the IP address of a router (gateway) directly
If you only need the router's IP (for example, to access its web interface), you don't necessarily need to search for it through devices. There are universal methods:
🔹 Method 1: Look at the router sticker
On the bottom or back panel of most routers (TP-Link, ASUS, Keenetic etc.) there is a sticker with login information. Look for the lines:
🔹 Method 2: Via the command line (universal)
On any device connected to Wi-Fi, run:
🔹 Method 3: Via the provider's web interface
Some internet service providers (eg. Rostelecom, Beeline) link routers to your personal account. Access it through a browser—there may be a section with hardware details.
| Router brand | Standard IP | Default login/password |
|---|---|---|
| TP-Link | 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 |
admin/admin |
| ASUS | 192.168.1.1 |
admin/admin |
| Keenetic | 192.168.1.1 |
admin/1234 |
| Zyxel | 192.168.1.1 |
admin/1234 |
| MikroTik | 192.168.88.1 |
admin (password missing) |
6. The external (public) IP address of your Wi-Fi
Local IP is needed to set up a home network, but sometimes you need to know external IP — the one the internet sees. This is the address assigned by your ISP, and it can change each time you connect (if you have a dynamic IP).
🔹 Method 1: Through online services
Open any of these sites in your browser (they work without registration):
🔹 Method 2: Via a router
If you have access to your router settings:
- Log in to the web interface (usually by
192.168.1.1). - Find the section
Status,InternetorWAN. - Look for the line IP address or WAN IP.
What is the difference between a local IP and an external IP?
Local IP (For example, 192.168.1.100) is the address of your device inside home network. It is needed for exchanging data between devices (for example, printing on a printer or accessing a NAS).
External IP (For example, 95.31.128.54) is the address seen by the internet. It's assigned by your ISP, and it can be used to determine your country/city (but not your exact address).
⚠️ Attention: If your external IP starts with10.,172.16.–172.31.or192.168., this means that the provider is using double NATIn this case, remote access to the home network will require additional settings (for example, VPN or port forwarding).
7. Common problems and their solutions
Errors can occur when determining a Wi-Fi IP address. Let's look at the most common ones.
🔴 Problem 1: IP address starts with 169.254...
This means that the device has not received an address from the router via the protocol. DHCPCauses and solutions:
- 🔌 The router is turned off or faulty → reboot it (remove the plug for 30 seconds).
- 📶 The Wi-Fi signal is too weak → move closer to the router or check the antennas.
- ⚙️ The DHCP server is disabled on the router → go to the router settings and enable it in the section
LANorDHCP. - 🔄 The device has a static IP that conflicts with the network → switch to
Obtain an IP automatically.
🔴 Problem 2: I can't access my router settings via IP address.
If the browser does not open the page 192.168.1.1 or another address:
- 🔍 Make sure you are connected to this router's Wi-Fi (and not your neighbors'!).
- 🔄 Try a different browser (for example, Firefox or Edge).
- 🔧 Reset the router to factory settings using the button
Reset(hold for 10-15 seconds). - 📡 Check if your ISP has changed your router's IP address (sometimes they use non-standard addresses like
192.168.100.1).
🔴 Problem 3: External IP does not change after reconnection
If your provider issues static IP, it won't change when you reboot the router. To get a new address:
- 📞 Call your provider's support team and ask them to reset your IP address.
- 🔄 Turn off your router for 5-10 minutes (sometimes it helps).
- 🌐 Use VPN or proxy, if you need a different IP.
⚠️ Attention: Some providers block access to router settings based on its IP address. If you rent equipment (for example, from Rostelecom or MTS), the web interface may be disabled. In this case, settings can only be changed through your provider's personal account.
8. Additional tools for network diagnostics
If standard methods aren't enough, use professional utilities. They'll show not only the IP address, but also connection speed, open ports, and other parameters.
🔧 For Windows:
- 🖥️ Wireshark — analyzes all network traffic (for advanced users).
- 🖥️ Advanced IP Scanner — scans the local network and shows all connected devices.
- 🖥️ Angry IP Scanner — a fast IP address scanner with data export support.
🔧 For macOS/Linux:
- 🍎 nmap - a powerful network scanner (installed via
brew install nmaporapt-get install nmap). - 🐧 iftop - shows current connections and traffic in real time.
🔧 For Android/iOS:
- 📱 Fing — scans the network, shows IP, MAC addresses and open ports of devices.
- 📱 Network Scanner — identifies all connected gadgets and their network data.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Wi-Fi IP Addresses
🔹 Can my IP address be used to find out my exact location?
No. By external IP Only the city or region (and sometimes the provider) can be determined. The exact location (street or building) cannot be determined by IP—other data is required for this (for example, GPS or MAC addresses of nearby Wi-Fi networks).
By local IP (For example, 192.168.1.100) the location cannot be determined - it only works within your network.
🔹 Why does my IP address change every time I connect?
This is normal if you have it turned on DHCP On the router. By default, it assigns temporary IP addresses to devices (for a period of several hours to a day). This helps conserve the network's address pool.
If you need to assign an IP address to a device (for example, for port forwarding), configure static IP in the router settings or manually on the device.
🔹 How to hide your external IP address?
To do this, use:
- 🛡️ VPN (For example, ProtonVPN, NordVPN) - replaces your IP with the VPN server address.
- 🌍 Proxy server — works similarly, but less reliably.
- 🦊 Tor Browser - anonymizes traffic through a network of nodes.
Please note: hiding your IP may violate the rules of some services (for example, banks or streaming platforms).
🔹 Is it possible to change the router's IP address?
Yes, but this may disrupt the network. To change the router's IP (for example, from 192.168.1.1 on 192.168.0.1):
- Enter your router settings.
- Find the section
LANorLocal area network. - Change the field IP address to the desired one (for example,
192.168.10.1). - Save the settings and reboot the router.
⚠️ After changing this setting, all devices will lose connection to the router and will need to be reconnected.
🔹 What should I do if two devices on the network have the same IP?
It's called IP conflictIt occurs if:
- Both devices are manually assigned the same static IP.
- The router messed up the DHCP settings and issued identical addresses.
🔧 Solution:
- Reboot your router.
- On problematic devices, enable automatic IP acquisition (
DHCP). - If the IP is set manually, change it (for example, from
192.168.1.100on192.168.1.101).