There are several reasons why you may want to know how to locate your IP address. You may be trying to connect two of your devices wirelessly, or you may be configuring a whitelist on your home network. Fortunately, determining your current IP address is straightforward; in the section below, we’ll demonstrate how to view your IP address fairly instantly on any device that has a web browser. Additionally, we will provide an additional option if your internet connection is prohibited. Additionally, we’ll explain how to use a VPN to disguise your IP address and recommend the best VPN for the task.
In this article, we’ll use approach 1 to:
- Locate your IP address on Windows 10 or any other version of Windows.
- Determine your Mac, iPhone, or iPad IP address.
- Determine your Xbox One’s Internet Protocol address.
- Determine the IP address of any other device linked to your network.
How to locate your Internet Protocol (IP) address
Method 1: Make use of an internet IP address to verify service.
This is by far the fastest and most straightforward method of determining your current IP address. It works with any device that is connected. While you may just Google “What is my IP address?” to get a response, we suggest utilizing a specialized service such as whatismyip.com. This is because these sites, in addition to displaying your IP address, also display geo-location data associated with it. In other words, they warn you of the amount of information you’re disclosing when you explore the web.
To be honest, geolocation data is not always reliable, and several providers often produce somewhat different findings. However, anybody who has your IP address may determine which nation you’re in (and potentially even which city), who your Internet Service Provider is, and possibly even your zip code.
Method 2: Using the command line, determine your IP address
If your equipment lacks a web browser, your internet connection is limited, or you want more extensive network information, there is another method for determining your IP address: using the command line. However, you should keep in mind that the instructions vary per operating system. Consider the following for step-by-step instructions on how to determine your IP address on Windows, MacOS, and Linux:
Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
To begin, enter the Windows key, type “cmd,” and press Enter. Type the following in the terminal window, hitting Enter after each line:
Powershell
Invoke-RestMethod ipinfo.io/ip
Note: Although most instructions propose using some form of “ipconfig” command, this will not work. While IPConfig displays your internal IP address, your router provides you with an external IP address, which is the website you visit to view.
Windows 10 / MacOS
If you’re using Windows 10, you can launch a command prompt by pressing the Windows key and then entering “cmd” followed by the Enter key.
MacOS users may launch a terminal window by simultaneously hitting Command + Space and typing “Terminal”.
Both Windows 10 and MacOS have an application called cURL that enables you to see your IP address with a single line of code. Once the command line has been opened, just write the following and press Enter:
Curl https://ipinfo.io/ip
Linux
cURL is not installed by default for the majority of Linux distributions, although it is quite straightforward to get. Open a terminal by simultaneously hitting CTRL+ALT+T, then write the following, pressing Enter after each line:
curl sudo apt install
Curl https://ipinfo.io/ip
Why would I want to alter my Internet Protocol (IP) address?
The majority of region-locked services detect the user’s location exclusively using IP addresses. As a result, changing your address often allows you to access websites that are not ordinarily accessible in your country. For instance, you may use a VPN to access the BBC iPlayer in America or Sling TV in the United Kingdom.
You may have received an automatic fraud protection warning notifying you that your account has been accessed from a foreign country at some time. While they are beneficial when they function, the systems seldom distinguish between a hacker and a genuine access attempt from a person on vacation. By connecting to a VPN server in your own country, you significantly lower the likelihood of the automated system discovering and temporarily locking your account.
How to modify or conceal your Internet Protocol (IP) address
If you’re interested in browsing or streaming anonymously, you may want to consider changing your IP address. With a VPN, you can do this fast and easily: just choose the location to which you’d want to connect, and you’ll be assigned a new, region-specific IP address. We suggest NordVPN: It’s a fast, secure service with powerful unblocking capabilities, and it comes with a money-back guarantee, so you can give it a try risk-free.
Simply follow the procedures below to alter or conceal your IP address using a VPN:
- To begin with, if you haven’t already, sign up for a VPN. While NordVPN has previously been highlighted, ExpressVPN and CyberGhost VPN are also fantastic low-cost choices.
- Now that the program has been downloaded, install it. Most VPN providers provide applications for all major operating systems, so be sure to choose the one that is compatible with your device.
- Use one of the techniques outlined above to determine your IP address.
- Establish a VPN connection to a VPN server located in a different country.
- Verify your IP address once again. It should now look entirely different, and the geolocation data should indicate that you’ve traveled to a new part of the planet.