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One simple way to determine your computer's IP address is to visit whatsmyip.com. The site will display your IP address and other information about your system. If the page does not appear, you may not have a working internet connection and should try one of the methods below. IPv4 Address, IPv6 Address, IP Address Lookup, Change IP, Hide IP, IP WHOIS, Internet Speed Test, Trace An Email, Host Name Lookup, User Agent, Server.
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The internet relies on a system of addresses that treats every computer, tablet and smartphone as a distinct device, allowing all of them to communicate with each other. Because many kinds of devices are involved, made by different manufacturers and running different software, the exact steps to finding an IP address and port information depends on the device you have. In general, you can find the address in the settings app, usually under Wi-Fi or network information.
Define the IP Address
A computer data network assigns a number called an Internet Protocol (IP) address to every computer and device connected to it. For example, your company’s Wi-Fi network might host many devices – smartphones, wireless printers and laptops. Each has an IP address, which works like the street address of a house or business. For example, when you print an invoice from a laptop, the network routes the data from the laptop to the printer using its IP addresses. IP addresses have two main formats: four decimal numbers each up to three digits long, separated by dots, or eight hexadecimal (base-16) numbers separated by colons. An IP address might look like “192.168.1.67” or “2600:1700:7170:fb10:93:ac4c:810e:6785.”
Define the Port Address
Every computer and mobile device runs many different internet-based apps, including email, web browsers and cloud storage drives. Each of these applications has one or more network “ports” assigned to it; for example, web browsers use port 80 and email programs use port 25. The port number is “tacked on” to the end of the IP address, for example, “192.168.1.67:80” shows both the IP address and port number. When data arrives at a device, the network software looks at the port number and sends it to the right program. To find a port address, review an app’s technical documentation.
PC IP Address
To find the IP address of a Microsoft Windows 7/8 computer, click the network connection icon in the system tray on the computer’s desktop. Select “Open Network and Sharing Center.” For a wired (ethernet) connection, double-click “Local Area Connection,” then click “Details.” Look for the IP address next to “IPv4 Address.” For a Wi-Fi connection, double-click “Wireless Network Connection,” click “Details,” and find the IP address next to “IPv4 Address.”
For Windows 10, click “Start” on the desktop and select “Settings.” Click the “Network & Internet” icon. Choose “Ethernet” on the left menu for a wired connection and select the network connection; you’ll find the IP address by “IPv4 Address.” For a Wi-Fi connection, double-click “Wireless Network Connection,” then click “Details.” See the IP address by “IPv4 Address.”
For Windows 10, click “Start” on the desktop and select “Settings.” Click the “Network & Internet” icon. Choose “Ethernet” on the left menu for a wired connection and select the network connection; you’ll find the IP address by “IPv4 Address.” For a Wi-Fi connection, double-click “Wireless Network Connection,” then click “Details.” See the IP address by “IPv4 Address.”
Mac IP Address
To find an IP address on Apple’s Mac OS X, pull down the “Apple” menu and select “About This Mac.” When the Mac OS X version window appears, click the “System Report” button. Scroll down the list of features and settings until you see “Network” and click it. Network information appears in the right half of the window. You’ll find IP addresses next to “Ethernet” for wired connections or “Wi-Fi” for wireless. It’s possible you may have both, but in most cases you’ll have ethernet or Wi-Fi.
Mobile IP Address
Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets also have IP addresses. To locate the address for an Android device, tap the “Settings” app, scroll down to “About Device” or “About Phone” and tap it, then tap “Status.” The Status screen displays the IP address among other information. The process is similar for an iPhone or other iOS device. Tap the “Settings” app, tap “Wi-Fi,” and tap the “info” icon (an “i” inside a circle) next to the Wi-Fi network your device is connected to. The information shown includes the IP address.
Open Port Scanner
Internet security is an important issue for any business. One of the tools available to computer security technicians is the port scanner, a program that searches your network for possible open port numbers that might give an outside hacker access to your business. When the program finds open ports, the technician blocks them when necessary by reconfiguring the router – the box that connects your local network to the internet.
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About the Author
Chicago native John Papiewski has decades of IT consulting experience, and has worked with a wide range of businesses including finance, real estate, distribution and publishing. His articles have appeared in various outlets including azcentral.com and seattlepi.com. Please, no workplace calls/emails!
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Papiewski, John. 'How to Find an IP Address and Port Number.' Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/ip-address-port-number-55788.html. 19 August 2018.
Papiewski, John. (2018, August 19). How to Find an IP Address and Port Number. Small Business - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/ip-address-port-number-55788.html
Papiewski, John. 'How to Find an IP Address and Port Number' last modified August 19, 2018. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/ip-address-port-number-55788.html
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Knowing the IP address of the default gateway (usually your router) on your home or business network is important information if you want to successfully troubleshoot a network problem or gain access to your router's web-based management.
In most cases, the default gateway IP address is the private IP address assigned to your router. This is the IP address that your router uses to communicate with your local home network.
While it might take a number of clicks to get there, the default gateway IP address is stored in Windows' network settings and is really easy to spot.
It shouldn't take more than a few minutes to locate your default gateway IP address in Windows, even less time with the ipconfig method outlined further down this page, a process you might prefer if you're experienced working with commands in Windows.
You can find your computer's default gateway as described below in any version of Windows, including Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. Directions for macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS can be found at the bottom of the page.
How to Find Your Default Gateway IP Address in Windows
The instructions below will only work to find the default gateway IP address on basic wired and wireless home and small business networks. Larger networks, with more than a single router and simple network hubs, may have more than one gateway and more complicated routing.
- Open Control Panel, accessible via the Start menu in most versions of Windows.If you're using Windows 10 or Windows 8.1, you can shorten this process by using the Network Connections link on the Power User Menu, accessible via the WIN + X keyboard shortcut. Skip down to Step 4 (Windows 10) or Step 5 (Windows 8) if you end up going that route.See What Version of Windows Do I Have? if you're not sure which version of Windows is installed on your computer.
- Select Network and Internet. This link is called Network and Internet Connections in Windows XP.You won't see this link if your Control Panel view is set to Large icons, Small icons, or Classic View. Instead, select Network and Sharing Center and move on to Step 4. In Windows XP, select Network Connections and skip to Step 5.
- Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista: Select Network and Sharing Center, most likely the link at the very top.
- Windows XP Only: Select the Network Connections link at the bottom of the window and then skip to Step 5 below.
- Windows 10: Select Change adapter options near the middle of the window. If you got to this step through Control Panel, select Change adapter settings from the left panel.
- Windows 8 and 7: Select Change adapter settings from the left panel.
- Windows Vista: Select Manage network connections from the left panel.
Although it does say change or manage in that link, don't worry, you won't be making changes to any network settings in Windows in this tutorial. All you'll be doing is viewing the already configured default gateway IP.- Locate the network connection that you want to view the default gateway IP for.On most Windows computers, your wired network connection is probably labeled as Ethernet or Local Area Connection, while your wireless network connection is probably labeled as Wi-Fi or Wireless Network Connection.Windows can connect to multiple networks at the same time, so you may see several connections on this screen. Usually, especially if your network connection is working, you can immediately exclude any connection that says Not connected or Disabled. If you're still having trouble determining which connection to use, change the view to Details and note the information in the Connectivity column.
- This will open an Ethernet Status, Local Area Connection Status, or Wi-Fi Status dialog box, or some other status, depending on the name of the network connection.If you instead get a Properties, Devices and Printers, or some other window or notification, it means that the network connection you chose does not have a status to show you, meaning it's not connected to a network or the internet. Revisit Step 5 and look again for a different connection.
- In Windows XP only, you'll need to select the Support tab before you'll see the Details button.
- Locate IPv4 Default Gateway, IPv6 Default Gateway, or Default Gateway under the Property column, depending on which network type you're using.
- Locate the IP address listed as the Value for that property. This is the default gateway IP address Windows is using at the moment.If no IP address is listed under either Property, the connection you chose in Step 5 may not be the one Windows is using to connect you to the internet. Check again that this is the right connection.Documenting your default gateway IP is a good idea, if only to avoid having to repeat these steps next time you need it.
- You can now use the default gateway IP address to troubleshoot a connection problem you might be having, to access your router, or whatever other task you had in mind.
How to Find Your Default Gateway IP Address Via IPCONFIG
The ipconfig command, among many other things, is great for quick access to your default gateway IP address:
- Open Command Prompt.
- Execute the following command exactly:(No space between 'ip' and 'config' and no switches or other options.)
- Locate the value next to Default Gateway.Depending on your version of Windows, how many network adapters and connections you have, and how your computer is configured, you may get something very simple in response, or something very complex.What you're after is the IP address that's listed as the Default Gateway under the heading for the connection you're interested in. See Step 5 in the process above if you're not sure which connection is important.
- You should now know your default gateway.
Here's an example result of the ipconfig command:
As you can see, the Default Gateway for the Ethernet connection is listed as 192.168.202.2. This is what you're after as well, for whatever connection you're interested in.
If that's too much information to look at, you could try executing ipconfig | findstr 'Default Gateway' instead, which significantly trims down the data that's returned in the Command Prompt window. However, this method is only helpful if you know that you only have one active connection since multiple connections would show their default gateways with no more context on what connection they apply to.
Finding Your Default Gateway on a Mac or Linux PC
On a macOS computer, there are two ways to find the default gateway: through a graphical program and via the command line.
The easiest way to locate the default gateway of a Mac is through System Preferences.
- Under the Apple, select System Preferences.
- Select the network you're using then select Advanced.
- Select TCP/IP tab and locate the IP address next to Router.
Another way to find your Mac's default gateway is to use the following netstat command via terminal:
- Select Go > Utilities > Terminal.
- Look for the first line starting with default, this is your gateway.
On most Linux-based computers, you can show your default gateway IP by executing the following, also from terminal:
Locating the Default Gateway on iPhone or Android
The easiest way to locate the default gateway on a phone or tablet, regardless if it's iOS or Android, is to use the What's My Router IP? website. It attempts to probe the network for the default gateway from the web browser, so it works on desktop computers, too.
Open the link above and look under the section called Your router's local (private) IP is for the Router Private IP.
This isn't the best way to find the default gateway but it does work quickly and usually returns the correct IP address. However, if the IP address it shows turns out to be incorrect, you can check the router's IP address from the networking settings on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android phone or tablet, etc.
If you're on an iOS device, go to Settings > Wi-Fi and tap the small (i) next to the network you're connected to. Find the default gateway next to the Router entry.
The directions for finding the default gateway on Android depends heavily on the version you're using. See TuneComp for specific details, or try these general steps: swipe down from the top of the screen and press-and-hold the Wi-Fi icon, tap the settings icon next to the network, go to Advanced, and then read the address next to Gateway.
More Information About Your Computer's Default Gateway
Unless you change your router's IP address, or your computer connects directly to a modem to access the internet, the default gateway IP address used by your computer and other devices will never change.
If you're still having trouble locating the default gateway, especially if your ultimate goal is access to your router, you might have luck trying the default IP address assigned by your router maker, which probably hasn't changed.
Check out our updated Linksys, D-Link, Cisco, and NETGEAR default password lists for those IP addresses.