How to Get the Address of a Mac PC

An IP address is used to find the location of a computer.

Your IP address is a number that is used to identify your computer when it is on a network or when it is connected to the Internet. The IP address of a Mac may need to be known when there is a problem or if you are troubleshooting a network connection issue. You can check the address of a Mac depending on the version number of the operating system that you are using.

Instructions

Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5

1. Click the Apple menu that is in the upper left portion of the screen.

2. Select the "System Preferences" option from the View menu.

3. Click the option for "Network" under the Internet and Network section.

4. Select your Internet connection type from the "Show" drop-down selection.

5. Click the TCP/IP tab to view your IP address. The IP address is the string of numbers that is next to "IP Address."

Mac OS X 10.3

1. Click the Apple menu that is in the upper left portion of the screen.

2. Select the "Location" option, and then the "Network Preferences" option.

3. Select the "Show" option from the Network Preferences window.

4. Choose the "Network Status" option to view your IP address.

Tips & Warnings

• You can view your public IP address from various websites.

• If you have a dynamic IP address, it may be different when you restart the computer or if you need to reset your DSL or cable modem.

References

• Computing at U-W Madison: Finding the IP address and MAC address
• Indiana University: How do I determine my computer's IP address?

Resources

• Lawrence Goetz: IP Info, see your IP address