How to Find Your IP Address Using Command Prompt in Windows 11
Finding your IP address from the Command Prompt is one of the most common network tasks, needed for setting up connections, troubleshooting, or configuring devices. Windows 11 shows your addresses TANGKAS39 instantly with a classic command.
The Command
ipconfig
What It Does
Running `ipconfig` displays your network adapters and their addresses, including the IPv4 address, subnet mask, and default gateway for each active connection. Your local IP address appears in the IPv4 Address line under the adapter you are using, such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet. This is the address your device uses on your local network.
When You’d Use This
This is one of the most common network tasks, needed when setting up a connection to your PC, configuring another device to reach it, or troubleshooting connectivity. Whether you are sharing files, setting up a local server, or diagnosing why a connection fails, knowing your local IP address is often the essential first piece of information.
Useful Variations
For full details including DNS servers and MAC addresses, use `ipconfig /all`. To see only your IPv4 address in PowerShell, `Get-NetIPAddress -AddressFamily IPv4` lists them. To find your public internet-facing IP address, which differs from your local one, you would query an external service, since `ipconfig` shows only local addresses.
If It Doesn’t Work
If you see an address starting with 169.254, your device failed to get an address from the network, indicating a connection problem worth investigating with a release and renew. Remember this shows your local address, not the public IP the internet sees. If multiple adapters appear, look under the one you are actually using, such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet, for the relevant address.
Good to Know
The address `ipconfig` shows is your local network address, not the public IP address the internet sees, which is assigned by your router or provider. If you see an address starting with 169.254, it usually means the device failed to get an address from the network, indicating a connection problem worth investigating.
Putting It Together
Once you have run it once or twice, this becomes second nature. As part of diagnosing and configuring your connection, this command belongs in your toolkit for whenever the network acts up. Used alongside the other networking commands here, it helps you methodically work from confirming basic connectivity to pinpointing exactly where a problem lies. Like anything in the terminal, the real value comes from trying it on your own system and adapting the variations above to what you actually need, so it is worth experimenting with in a safe, low-stakes situation before relying on it in a script or during troubleshooting. Keeping a note of the commands you find most useful, along with the variations that fit your workflow, turns scattered one-off tricks into a personal reference you can draw on whenever a similar task comes up again.