Finding your router's IP address is straightforward. Here's how:
Using Command Prompt/Terminal
The easiest method to locate your router's IP address involves using the command line interface on your computer. The specific steps depend on your operating system.
Windows
- Open the Windows Command Prompt. You can do this by searching for "cmd" in the Windows search bar.
- Type “ipconfig” and hit Return (Enter key).
- The router's IP address will be displayed next to “Default Gateway.”
Linux/Mac
- Open your Linux Terminal or Mac Terminal.
- Type “ipconfig” and hit Return (Enter key). Note: On some Linux distributions, you might need to use
route -n
orip route
instead. - Look for the "default" gateway or the gateway associated with your network interface. This IP address is your router's IP.
Example Output (Windows)
Windows IP Configuration
Ethernet adapter Ethernet:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx%xx
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.100
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
**Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1**
In the example above, the router's IP address is 192.168.1.1
.
Why is the Router IP Address Important?
Your router's IP address allows you to access its configuration interface through a web browser. You can use it to:
- Change your Wi-Fi password.
- Configure parental controls.
- Set up port forwarding.
- Update the router's firmware.