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What is the IPv4 address of the computer?

Published in Network Addressing 3 mins read

The exact IPv4 address of your computer is impossible to provide without directly accessing your network information, which I cannot do. However, I can explain what an IPv4 address is and how to find it. The question is better phrased as: "What is an IPv4 address, and how do I find my computer's IPv4 address?"

Understanding IPv4 Addresses

According to our reference information, an IPv4 address is a 32-bit number that uniquely identifies a network interface on a machine. IPv4 addresses are formatted as four 8-bit fields (octets) separated by periods. Each octet can range from 0 to 255. A typical IPv4 address looks like this: 192.168.1.100.

Finding Your Computer's IPv4 Address

The method for finding your computer's IPv4 address varies depending on your operating system:

Windows

  1. Using Command Prompt:

    • Open Command Prompt (type cmd in the search bar and press Enter).
    • Type ipconfig and press Enter.
    • Look for the "IPv4 Address" line under your network adapter (e.g., "Ethernet adapter Ethernet" or "Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi"). The number next to it is your IPv4 address.

  2. Using Settings:

    • Open Settings (Windows key + I).
    • Go to Network & Internet.
    • Select your connection type (Ethernet or Wi-Fi).
    • Click on the connection name.
    • Look for the "IPv4 address" listed.

macOS

  1. Using System Preferences:

    • Open System Preferences (from the Apple menu).
    • Click on Network.
    • Select your active network connection (e.g., Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
    • Your IP address will be displayed.

  2. Using Terminal:

    • Open Terminal (search for "Terminal" in Spotlight).
    • Type ifconfig and press Enter.
    • Look for the "inet" line associated with your active network interface (e.g., "en0" for Wi-Fi or "en1" for Ethernet). The number next to "inet" is your IPv4 address.

Linux

  1. Using Terminal:
    • Open a terminal window.
    • Type ip addr or ifconfig and press Enter.
    • Look for the "inet" line associated with your active network interface (e.g., "eth0" or "wlan0"). The number next to "inet" is your IPv4 address.

Example

Let's say you run ipconfig on Windows and see this output:

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::...
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

In this case, your computer's IPv4 address is 192.168.1.100.

Important Considerations:

  • Private vs. Public IP Addresses: The IPv4 address you find using the methods above is likely your private IP address, used within your local network. Your internet service provider (ISP) assigns your router a public IP address, which is used for communication on the internet. To find your public IP address, you can simply search "what is my IP address" on Google or use a website like whatismyip.com.
  • Dynamic vs. Static IP Addresses: Your IPv4 address might be dynamic, meaning it changes periodically, or static, meaning it remains the same. Most home users have dynamic IP addresses.

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