How to Find the Internet Protocol (IP) Address and Media Access Control (MAC) Address

Find the Internet Protocol (IP) Address and Media Access Control Address

The Internet Protocol (IP) is the method, or protocol, which identifies a computer when communicating on a network. Media Access Control (MAC) refers to the hardware or physical address of a device. The MAC usually is a permanent address, whereas the IP address usually changes as it moves from one network to another. There are certain tasks that require you to use or provide the IP address and MAC address for your computer system. In a few steps, you can easily find the IP and MAC address of your computer devices.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Navigate to the "Start" menu and select "Run."

2. In the Run dialog, type "cmd" (without quotes) and click "OK." The Command Prompt dialog opens.

3. Type "ipconfig /all" (without quotes) and press "Enter." The computer will show details for each of your computer's network adapters. Scroll up or down to reveal the pertinent information. The IP Address field will indicate the current IP address for the network adapter. The Physical Address field will indicate the MAC address for the network adapter.

Tips & Warnings

• If your computer has VPN or emulation software installed, it will have one or more virtual adapters. In this event, ensure that you read the IP address from the correct adapter.

• A virtual adapter will typically show a private address and not an actual Internet address. It also has a software-emulated MAC address rather than the actual physical address of a network interface card.

References

• SearchUnifiedCommunication.com: IP address (Internet Protocol Address)
• Network Dictionary: Media Access Control and MAC Address