How To Find the IP Address of Your PC

The following steps explain how to find IP (Internet Protocol) addresses, using the Microsoft Windows Command prompt.

Step 1  

Click on Start in the bottom left hand corner of your screen.

Step 2  

Click on Run. An input box will appear with a flashing cursor.

Step 3  

Type "cmd" or "Command" in the Run box.

Step 4  

Click on OK or press the Enter key on your keyboard.Or click on start. Go to programs.Go to Accessories and click on Comand Prompt.

Step 5  

An MS DOS Window will open (see image). You are now ready to send a command to your computer.

Step 6  

Type "netstat -n" including the space.

Step 7  

Press Enter(see image).

Step 8  

You will see a list of all your active connections and IP numbers.

Step 9  

You will see four fields with four columns.

Step 10  

The Local Address field identifies your IP number. The Foreign Address field shows the IP numbers of the sites or people to whom you are connected. In the image, I am talking to two friends on Messenger, so two IP addresses are shown in the Foreign Address field.

Step 11  

You can also see what programs are being used to connect to those IP addresses by typing "netstat -nab". That way, if you are connected to more than one foreign IP address, you can more easily pick out the address you are interested in.

Step 12  

Also another way you can do it is Start>Run>Cmd>Ipconfig This should show you: your masked IP and IP.

Step 13  

An easy alternative way to determine your IP is to use an online IP checker like Get My IP Address

Tips

• If you wish to find out your own IP address, you should run the same ms-dos prompt by clicking Start -> Run -> and typing in "cmd" in the box -> then press enter. A black pop up box should come up, type: "ipconfig /all" instead of the netstat -n command, or go to one of the IP information sites in the External Links to get your global IP address if you are behind a router.
• For just the local IP address, you don't need all the info from "/all". A simple "ipconfig" will work.
• Under win95/98 click "Start > Run > winipcfg"

Warnings

• This is only for PCs. A link to one for Apple is included.
• When using an IP information site from a service that uses a web proxy (such as AOL), be aware that the reported IP may be that of the service's web proxy and not your actual IP. This can also happen when you aren't using a server, such as AOL, as your computer often tries to mask your IP address so that you can have more security.
• If you are behind a router your IP shown will be your private Ip. To get your external search google for 'what is my ip'.also you can check it by searching in Google what is my internet protocol address