Knowing your IP address and network details can help you troubleshoot connectivity problems, set up port forwarding for a game server or camera, or confirm that your PC actually connected to the network you intended. In Windows 11, several built-in tools let you view this information without installing any third-party software. This guide walks you through each method so you can find exactly what you need, whether you prefer clicking through menus or typing a command.
Before You Start: These steps work on Windows 11 in both the Home and Pro editions. Enterprise and Education builds include the same network settings screens, though some advanced options may be managed by your organization’s IT team and appear locked.
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Step 1: Open Settings
Press the
Win + Ikeyboard combination to open the Settings app right away. If you prefer the mouse, click the Start button and select the gear icon labeled Settings. Opening Settings first gives you access to the central hub where Windows 11 stores all of your connection information.If
Win + Idoes not respond, press the Windows key, typeSettings, and press Enter. This confirms you have reached the correct app before moving on. -
Step 2: Open the Network & internet page
On the left sidebar, click Network & internet. This section controls every way your PC can connect to a network, including Wi-Fi, Ethernet, VPN, and mobile hotspots.
You will land on a page that lists your current connection type at the top. Choosing this page here, rather than hunting through other menus, ensures you are looking at the right connection for your current setup.
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Step 3: Select your active connection
Click Wi-Fi if you are wirelessly connected, or Ethernet if a cable is plugged in. This opens a details page specific to the network you are actually using right now.
If you are unsure which connection is active, look for the one marked as connected near the top of the Network & internet page. Clicking the wrong adapter will show different details, so matching it to your current setup matters.
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Step 4: Read your IP address and network details
Scroll down to the Properties section and look for the line labeled IPv4 address. This is your local IP address, typically something like
192.168.1.15, which identifies your PC on the home network.Right below it, you will also find your IPv6 address, MAC address, network name, router (gateway), and DNS server addresses. These details are useful when setting up port forwarding, reserving an IP in your router, or explaining your connection to tech support.
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Step 5: Use Command Prompt with ipconfig
Press the Windows key, type
cmd, and press Enter to open Command Prompt. Typeipconfigand press Enter to see a summary of every network adapter on your PC.Look for the Wireless LAN adapter or Ethernet adapter section that matches your connection, and find the
IPv4 Addressline. If you want deeper information such as the MAC address and DHCP server, typeipconfig /allinstead, which prints a full report for every adapter.If the window says
'ipconfig' is not recognized, your system path is misconfigured or a file is missing. In that case, skip ahead to the Troubleshooting section below. -
Step 6: Use PowerShell for advanced details
Press the Windows key, type
PowerShell, and press Enter to open the PowerShell console. TypeGet-NetIPAddress -AddressFamily IPv4and press Enter to list the IPv4 address of every adapter in a clean table.For even more detail, including the network interface name and prefix length, type
Get-NetIPAddress | Where-Object {$_.AddressFamily -eq 'IPv4'}. PowerShell is especially handy if you want to copy the results into a report or script them later.
Pro Tip: To copy any IP address you see on screen, click it once to select, press Ctrl + C, and paste it wherever you need it. In Command Prompt and PowerShell, you can also enable Quick Edit mode to highlight text and copy it automatically.
Troubleshooting
Your IP address starts with 169.254.x.x. This is an APIPA address, which means your PC failed to get a real address from your router’s DHCP server. Restart your router and PC, then run ipconfig /release followed by ipconfig /renew in Command Prompt to request a fresh address. If it still fails, your router may need a firmware update or a factory reset.
The network page shows no IP details at all. Toggle Wi-Fi off and back on, or unplug and replug your Ethernet cable, then return to the Properties section. Sometimes Windows needs a moment to re-read the connection after a change, and a quick refresh of the page will populate the missing fields.
ipconfig or PowerShell returns an error. Make sure you opened the tool with normal user rights, not an incomplete search result. Close the window, reopen it from the Start menu search, and try the command again. If the error persists, run sfc /scannow in an elevated Command Prompt to repair any corrupted system files.
Closing Tips
- Your local IP address (like
192.168.1.15) is only visible inside your home network. To find your public IP that websites see, open a browser and search “what is my IP” online. - Bookmark the Network & internet Properties page once you find it, since Windows 11 returns you there after most connection changes.
- Keep the
ipconfig /alloutput handy when talking to tech support, as it captures the exact details they will ask for.
With these methods in your toolkit, finding your IP address and network details in Windows 11 becomes a quick, reliable routine. Pick whichever approach fits your comfort level, and you will always have the information ready when a connection problem arises.
Over to you: Which method do you prefer for checking your IP address—Settings, Command Prompt, or PowerShell?
