When looking for your Internet Protocol (IP) address on Windows 11, you will encounter external and internal IP addresses. As the name suggests, the external IP address, or WAN, is the one that is used to communicate and displayed to the outside world. On the other hand, the internal IP address, also known as the local IP address, is the one that is assigned to your local modem or router for internal communication. There are several ways to find both external and internal IP addresses in Windows 11. Let’s explore each.
How to Find Your Computer’s Local IP Address
Finding your computer’s local IP address (also called a private IP address) can help if you’re experiencing issues with file sharing or connecting to other devices on the same network. This is because your Internal IP helps you identify the devices that have been connected to the same network. This address is only visible to you. So, let us have a look at all the ways you can find your local IP address in Windows 11.
1. Using the Settings Menu
The easiest way to find your local IP address is by using the Settings menu. Simply open your Wi-Fi properties and locate your local IP or IPv4 address. Here’s how. Step 1: Right-click on the Windows icon and click on Settings. Step 2: Then, click on ‘Network & internet’ from the menu options. Step 3: Click on Wi-Fi. Step 4: Here, click on your Wi-Fi properties. Step 5: Scroll down and locate your IPv4 address. This is the local IP address of your computer.
2. How to Find Your Computer’s IP Address Using Control Panel
You can also use the Network and Internet menu in Control Panel to locate your local IP address. Follow the below steps to do it. Step 1: Click on Search and type Control Panel. From the search results, open the Control Panel. Step 2: Here, click on ‘Network and Internet’. Step 3: Then, click on ‘Network and Sharing Center’. Step 4: Here, click on your Wi-Fi access point. This will open the Wi-Fi Status window. Step 5: Click on Details. Step 6: Check the listed IPv4 address. This is your Windows 11 local IP address.
3. Using Task Manager
Apart from using the Windows Task Manager to monitor performance, you can also use it to find your local IP address. Here’s how. Step 1: Right-click on the Windows icon and click on Task Manager. Step 2: From the menu options, click on Performance. Step 3: Locate the IPv4 address.
4. Using System Information
System Information contains comprehensive details about your device. So it comes as no surprise that it can also be used to find your local IP address. Follow the below steps to do it. Step 1: Go to the search bar and type System Information. Then, open the app from the search results. Step 2: In the menu options, click on Components. Step 3: Once the menu options expand, click on Network > select Adapter. Step 4: Scroll down to your network adapter settings and check your IP address. The first half of the address listed here is your IPv4 address, i.e. your local IP address.
5. How to Find IP Address Using Command Prompt
Using ipconfig, you can also use the Windows 11 command prompt for finding your IP address. Here’s how. Note: You can also use the below command when using Windows PowerShell. Step 1: Go to the Windows icon, right-click, and click on Terminal. Step 2: Here, click on the down arrow once the Terminal app opens, and select Command Prompt. Step 3: Type the below command and press enter. Step 4: Scroll down and locate the IPv4 address. This is your local IP (Internal IP) address.
How to Find the External IP Address on Your Device
Unlike your local IP, your external IP is the one that is visible to the outside world. This IP address is assigned to you by your internet provider and it allows you to connect to the internet. This address can be used to help solve any external internet troubleshooting issues. Here’s how to find it.
1. Using a Web Browser
The easiest way to find your external IP address on any device is by using the web browser’s address bar. Here’s how. Step 1: Open your preferred web browser. For demonstration purposes, we will be using Chrome. Step 2: In the address bar, type ifconfig.me and press enter. Step 3: Under the Your Connection section, check your IP Address. This is your device’s external IP address.
2. Using Command Prompt
In addition to using the command prompt for locating local IP address, you can also use it to find your external IP command. Execute the below-mentioned command to do it. Step 1: Right-click on the Windows icon and select Terminal. Step 2: Then, click on the down arrow and, from the options, click on Command Prompt. Step 3: Here, type the below command and press enter. Step 4: Then, under ‘Non-authoritative answer’, check your IP address. Now, you can use this external IP address for solving any network-related issue.
Find Your IP Address
The process of finding your IP address in Windows 11 is actually not a complicated one and we hope that this article proved to be helpful for you. Check out our other article to know the best ways to forget a network on Windows 11. The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.