To look up your own public IP address, search “what is my IP” in Google or visit a site like ipinfo.io; to find your local IP, run ipconfig on Windows or check your Wi-Fi details on Mac and phones. To find a website’s IP address, use the nslookup command, and to see who owns any IP address, run it through a WHOIS or RDAP lookup such as ARIN’s search tool.
“Looking up an IP” can mean several different things, so this guide is split by what you are actually trying to find.
Public IP vs Private IP: Know Which One You Need
| Public IP | Private (local) IP | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The address the internet sees for your home or office network | The address your router gives each device inside your network |
| Example | 203.0.113.25 | 192.168.1.24 or 10.0.0.5 |
| Who assigns it | Your internet provider | Your router |
| Used for | Websites, games and services you connect to | Printers, file sharing, port forwarding, router settings |
1. How to Look Up Your Public IP Address
- Type “what is my IP” into Google, which shows your public IPv4 or IPv6 address at the top of the results.
- Or visit a lookup site such as ipinfo.io, whatismyipaddress.com or icanhazip.com.
- Or check your router’s admin page or app, which usually shows the WAN (internet) IP.
If you are connected to a VPN, these tools show the VPN server’s IP instead of yours. That is exactly the point of a VPN; our article on whether a VPN changes your IP address explains what changes and what does not.
2. How to Find Your Local (Private) IP Address
Windows
- Press Windows + R, type cmd and press Enter.
- Type ipconfig and press Enter.
- Look for IPv4 Address under your Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter.
You can also go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Hardware properties.
Mac
Open System Settings > Network, select Wi-Fi or Ethernet and click Details. Or open Terminal and type ipconfig getifaddr en0.
iPhone
Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the (i) next to your network and look at IP Address.
Android
Settings > Network & internet > Internet, tap your network and open its details (wording varies by phone brand).
3. How to Look Up a Website’s IP Address
- Open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux).
- Type nslookup example.com and press Enter.
- The “Addresses” lines show the IP addresses the domain resolves to.
The ping command also shows the IP it connects to. Keep in mind that big sites behind CDNs or reverse proxies return the address of an edge server, not the origin machine. Our explainer on what a reverse proxy is shows why. The lookup itself relies on DNS, covered in our guide to why we need the Domain Name System.
4. How to Look Up Who Owns an IP Address (WHOIS and RDAP)
Every public IP block is registered to an organisation through one of five regional internet registries (ARIN, RIPE NCC, APNIC, LACNIC and AFRINIC). To see the owner:
- Go to ARIN’s RDAP/WHOIS search (it refers you to the right registry automatically).
- Paste the IP address and search.
- Read the organisation name, network range and abuse contact.
For a residential IP, the owner shown is the internet provider, such as Comcast or Verizon, not the individual customer.
5. How Accurate Is IP Geolocation?
IP lookup sites estimate location from registry data and databases. Country is usually correct, the city is often close, and the exact street address is never revealed. VPNs, mobile networks and corporate networks can make location results misleading, and only an internet provider (typically under a legal request) can link an IP to a specific subscriber.
6. How to See IP Addresses of Devices on Your Network
- Router app or admin page: the connected devices or DHCP client list shows every device with its local IP.
- Command line: run arp -a on Windows or Mac to list devices your computer has recently talked to.
Use these tools on networks you own or manage. Scanning or probing networks that are not yours can break terms of service or the law.
IP Address Lookup FAQ
How do I look up an IP address for free?
Search “what is my IP” for your own, use nslookup for a website’s, and use ARIN’s free RDAP search to see who owns any public IP.
Can someone find my exact location from my IP?
No. An IP lookup gives an approximate area, usually the city or region of your internet provider, not your home address.
Why does my IP address keep changing?
Most home connections use dynamic IPs that the provider reassigns from time to time, especially after a router restart.
How do I hide my IP address?
Use a reputable VPN or a privacy tool such as iCloud Private Relay. Our guide to how a VPN works explains the basics.