How to Check Your IP Address
Every computer or other device on a network has a numerical address that allows other nodes on the network to communicate with it. You might need to know this address if another computer is having difficulty communicating with yours for a file transfer or game. You can find the IP address of your computer using the Windows Command Prompt or a free Web-based service.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Open the "Start" menu, and type "cmd" without quotation marks in the small text area at the bottom of the menu. Press "Enter" to open the Windows Command Prompt.
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2
Type "ipconfig" and press "Enter" to run the Windows IP Configuration utility. This utility displays the IP address of each network adapter installed in your computer.
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3
Find the network adapter that you use to connect to the Internet. If you use a cable to connect your computer directly to a broadband modem or router, the network adapter will have a label similar to "Ethernet Adapter Local Area Connection." If you connect wirelessly, the label will be similar to "Wireless LAN Adapter Wireless Network Connection." The IP address of your computer is displayed next to "IPv4 Address" in the format ###.###.###.###. If the IP address begins with "10" or "192," your router assigns a private IP address to your computer, which outside computers cannot contact directly. To learn your network's public IP address, close the Command Prompt and continue.
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4
Open a Web browser, and navigate to ipchicken.com, whatismyip.com or ipaddressworld.com. Each website displays the public IP address of your network in large text near the top of the page.
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