How to Find Your IP Address on a MacBook
Quickly locate your Mac's IP address to troubleshoot connections or set up networks with ease.
When something goes wrong with your internet connection, one of the first clues often lies in your IP address. Whether the Wi-Fi drops unexpectedly or certain apps won’t connect, knowing where your Mac fits into the network can help unravel the issue faster.
Every device on a network carries an IP (Internet Protocol) address , a unique set of numbers that helps data know exactly where to go. But not all IP addresses are the same. Your Mac has a local one for communicating within your home network, and there’s also a public one that represents your network to the wider internet.
Think of it like this: your private IP is used inside the walls of your home, like someone calling your name across the room. Your public IP is what the outside world sees, more like posting a letter through the front door. And just like in real life, knowing both can make things a lot easier when you’re trying to get a message through.
In this guide, learn how to find your Mac’s IP address and your router’s too.
How to Find Your IP Address on a MacBook
Step 1: Open System Preferences from your docks
Step 2: Click on Network
Step 3: Next, choose Wi-Fi, before Network Name, you will see the IP address of your mac
Step 4: If you want to go ahead and see your Wi-Fi IP address, click on Advanced
Step 5: Then, click on the TCP/IP tab
Step 6: In this tab your computer's IP address is listed under IPv4 Address (which is the same IP address in step 3), and your router's IP appears beside Router
Louis Eriakha
Conclusion
Whether you’re troubleshooting a network issue, setting up port forwarding, or just trying to understand how your Mac connects to the world, knowing how to locate your IP address is a simple but essential skill.
By learning the difference between your private and public IP addresses and where to find your router’s IP too, you gain better control over your network and a clearer picture of how your device communicates online. It’s a small step that can make a big difference the next time something goes wrong or needs configuring.
Gabriel Ojeh
