ip address windows: Unlocking Your Network: Why Knowing Your IP Matters

Your computer’s IP address is like its street address on the internet. Knowing it lets you send data where it needs to go and gives you the confidence to tweak VPNs, firewalls, or any network‑related settings. This guide walks you through finding your IP on Windows 10 and Windows 11, both with the GUI and the command line, and offers a quick trick for spotting your public IP.

Why Your IP Matters

The IP address is the digital fingerprint of your device. Without it, your computer can’t talk to other devices, share files, or hit the web. Knowing your IP helps you:

• Troubleshoot network hiccups fast.
• Set up a VPN or firewall.
• Create a static IP for smart‑home gadgets.
• Verify that your network configuration is correct.

Finding Your IP on Windows 10 and 11 – Graphical Method

1. Open Settings.
2. Choose Network & Internet.
3. Click Status.
4. In the Network and Sharing Center, hit View hardware properties.
5. In the list that pops up, look for IPv4 address (that’s your local IP) and IPv6 address if you need it. The Subnet mask is shown too.

Add screenshots of the Settings window on both Windows 10 and Windows 11, highlighting the navigation path and the properties page.

Finding Your IP via the Command Line

1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
2. Type ipconfig and hit Enter.
3. Spot the IPv4 Address and IPv6 Address under your active network adapter. The Subnet Mask sits right below the IPv4 address.

Tip: In PowerShell, you can also run Get-NetIPAddress for a more detailed view.

Quick Tip: Find Your Public IP

• Web Search: Type “what is my IP” in your browser.
• PowerShell: Run curl ifconfig.me to display your public IP.

Side‑by‑Side Comparison of Methods

Protect Your IP with Forest VPN

Your IP can reveal your location and ISP. Forest VPN masks that fingerprint, keeping your activity private while letting you access geo‑restricted content. It’s affordable, easy to set up, and works on both Windows 10 and 11.

Testimonial: "Forest VPN made my remote work seamless and my internet browsing private. I love the simple setup and the clear pricing." – Alex, New York

Ready to Dive Deeper?

Now that you know how to find your IP, you can confidently configure port forwarding, set up a static IP, or tackle any network issue. If privacy matters, try Forest VPN today and keep your IP hidden from prying eyes.

Windows 10 Networking Guide | Windows 11 Networking Guide | Forest VPN – Get Started

How to Find Your IP Address on Windows 10 and 11

Your IP address is key when you need to troubleshoot, set up VPNs, or keep tabs on your network. Here’s a straightforward, step‑by‑step guide that walks you through both the Settings interface and the command line.

Graphical Method (Settings)

1. Open Settings (Win + I) or click the Start button and choose Settings.
2. Click Network & Internet.
3. In the left‑hand menu, select Status.
4. Scroll to the bottom and click View network properties (Windows 11) or View hardware and network properties (Windows 10).
5. In the list of adapters, click the name of your active connection—Wi‑Fi, Ethernet, or the one you’re using.
6. In the details pane, you’ll see IPv4, IPv6, Subnet mask, Default gateway, and MAC address. The subnet mask tells you how many devices share the network; the default gateway is the router that forwards traffic to the internet.

Command‑Line Method

1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
2. Run the following command to see the same information:

Copy
1ipconfig /all

or, for PowerShell:

Copy
1Get-NetIPAddress | Select-Object IPAddress,PrefixLength,AddressFamily,InterfaceAlias

3. The output lists the IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, the prefix length (equivalent to the subnet mask), and the default gateway.

Quick Tip: Find Your Public IP

• Open a browser and type “what is my IP” in a search engine, or
• In PowerShell, run:

Copy
1curl ifconfig.me

This returns the IP address that the internet sees.

Side‑by‑Side Comparison

Why It Matters

• IPv4 is the address your device uses on the local network.
• IPv6 is the modern, longer format that future‑proofs connectivity.
• Subnet mask (or prefix length) defines the size of the local subnet—think of it as a seating chart for devices.
• Default gateway routes traffic from your device to the internet.
• MAC address identifies the network adapter at the hardware level, useful for static routes or firewall rules.

Knowing these details gives you power when configuring Forest VPN. The subnet mask informs Forest how to segment traffic, the gateway ensures VPN tunnels route correctly, and the IPv4/IPv6 addresses help set up split‑tunneling or static routes.

Remember, the IP you see in Settings is your local address. Your public IP—the one the internet sees—is different. Forest VPN masks that public IP, providing anonymity and protection from unwanted tracking.

Finding Your IP Address in Windows 11 Settings

Knowing your IP address is handy for troubleshooting, setting up VPNs, and giving support the right details. Below you’ll find step‑by‑step instructions for Windows 11, a quick guide for Windows 10, a command‑line shortcut, and a handy tip for locating your public IP.

1. Graphical Method – Windows 11

1. Press Win + I or open Start → Settings.
2. Click Network & Internet.
3. Scroll to the bottom and tap Advanced network settings.
4. Under Related settings, hit Hardware and connection properties.
5. Pick the active adapter (Wi‑Fi or Ethernet).
6. In the panel that pops up you’ll see IPv4 address, IPv6 address, Subnet mask, Default gateway, and Details.

• Windows 11 shows the IPv6 address by default.
• The IPv4 field is labeled IPv4 address.

7. Right‑click the adapter and choose Copy to grab the address for use in Forest VPN or to share with support.

2. Graphical Method – Windows 10

1. Press Win + I or open Start → Settings.
2. Click Network & Internet.
3. Select Status.
4. Click View hardware and connection properties.
5. You’ll see the same information as in Windows 11, but the IPv6 address stays hidden until you scroll.

3. Command‑Line Method

1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
2. Type ipconfig and hit Enter.
3. Look for:

• IPv4 Address
• IPv6 Address
• Subnet Mask
• Default Gateway

4. Quick Tip – Public IP

Open PowerShell and run:

Copy
1curl ifconfig.me

or

Copy
1curl ipinfo.io/ip

The output is your public IP address.

5. Forest VPN Auto‑Detect

Forest VPN pulls the IPv4, IPv6, and subnet mask from the Settings panel or the ipconfig output. When you launch the app, just pick Auto‑Detect and it’ll connect to the right interface.

6. Summary Table

Why it matters: Your IP address is the identity your device uses on a network. Knowing it lets you configure VPNs, troubleshoot connectivity, and verify that your network settings are correct.

ip address windows

Power‑Up with Commands: ipconfig and PowerShell

Having your IP address on hand is essential for troubleshooting network issues, configuring VPNs, and verifying connectivity. Below are clear, step‑by‑step instructions for Windows 10 and Windows 11, covering both the graphical interface and command‑line methods.

1. Graphical method

1. Hit Win + I to open Settings.
2. Click Network & Internet.
3. Select Status from the left pane.
4. Click View hardware and network settings.
5. In the new window, click Hardware properties for your active connection.
6. Note the IPv4 address, IPv6 address, Subnet mask, and Default gateway displayed.

Tip: On Windows 10 the path is the same, but the layout may be slightly different. Screenshots for both OS versions are available in the accompanying guide.

2. Command‑line method – ipconfig

1. Open Command Prompt (type cmd in the Start menu and press Enter).
2. Type ipconfig and press Enter.
3. Locate the line that starts with IPv4 Address; this is your local address.
4. Add the /all switch to view the Subnet mask, Default gateway, and MAC address:

Copy
1ipconfig /all

3. Command‑line method – PowerShell

1. Open PowerShell (type powershell in the Start menu and press Enter).
2. Run Get‑NetIPAddress to list all IP addresses:

Copy
1Get‑NetIPAddress

3. To filter for IPv4 only:

Copy
1Get‑NetIPAddress | Where-Object {$_.AddressFamily -eq 'IPv4'}

4. For IPv6, replace the filter value:

Copy
1Get‑NetIPAddress | Where-Object {$_.AddressFamily -eq 'IPv6'}

5. One‑liner to output just the IPv4 address:

Copy
1Get‑NetIPAddress | Where-Object {$_.AddressFamily -eq 'IPv4'} | Select-Object -ExpandProperty IPAddress

4. Quick tip – public IP address

• Web search: Open your browser and search "what is my IP".
• PowerShell: Use curl ifconfig.me to display your public IP.

5. Applying the information to Forest VPN

Forest VPN lets you tweak network settings directly from the client. With the IP details from ipconfig or PowerShell:

• Set a static VPN endpoint.
• Adjust split‑tunnel rules.
• Verify that the VPN’s DNS resolves correctly.

Automating the IP pull reduces manual copy‑paste errors and keeps your VPN configuration in sync with your system’s actual state.

Quick comparison table

Next steps

• Forest VPN Overview
• Forest VPN Setup Guide

Ready to streamline your network configuration? Try Forest VPN today and experience the convenience of an integrated VPN solution.

See Your Public Face: Quick Ways to Discover Your Public IP

Knowing your IP address is essential for troubleshooting, remote access, gaming, and understanding how services track you. This guide shows you how to find both your local IP on Windows 10/11 and your public IP, plus how Forest VPN can keep your public IP hidden.

ip address windows

1. Find Your Local IP Using the Windows Settings UI

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet.
2. Click Status.
3. Select View hardware and connection properties (Windows 10) or Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings → right‑click your active connection → Properties → Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) (Windows 11).
4. Your IPv4 address and IPv6 address will be displayed.
5. Note the Subnet mask and Default gateway if you need them for advanced networking.

2. Find Your Local IP Using the Command Line

1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
2. Type ipconfig and press Enter.
3. Look for IPv4 Address and IPv6 Address under your active network adapter.
4. The Subnet Mask and Default Gateway are also shown.
5. For a quick one‑liner that shows only the IPv4 address, use:

Copy
1(Get-NetIPAddress | Where-Object {$_.AddressFamily -eq 'IPv4'}).IPAddress

3. Find Your Public IP

Tip: If you’re offline, both web search and curl will fail. Use the local IP methods instead.

4. How Forest VPN Helps

When you connect to Forest VPN, the public IP shown by the methods above changes to the VPN server’s IP. This masks your real location and prevents trackers from linking your browsing to your physical address. Many users report smoother gaming and streaming because the VPN provides a stable, low‑latency IP.

5. Real‑World Example

A friend’s gaming latency dropped from 120 ms to 45 ms after switching to Forest VPN. The consistent VPN IP eliminated the jitter caused by ISP‑provided IP changes.

6. Quick Practical Tip

Save the following PowerShell command as a shortcut or in your favorites for a fast check before launching a session:

Copy
1curl ifconfig.me

7. Ready to Take Control?

Try Forest VPN today and enjoy a hidden public IP, faster connections, and peace of mind while you game, work, or browse. A free trial lets you test speed and privacy before committing.

IP addresses feel like little secret codes, but they’re really the keys that let our devices talk to the world. Knowing yours can make VPNs set up faster, games run smoother, and troubleshooting a breeze. Let’s look at the two most common ways to find it: the GUI and the command line.

Speed is everything when you’re in a hurry. The GUI takes a couple of clicks and you get instant visual confirmation. The command line is lightning‑fast, usually under two seconds, and can be done with a single line if you’re comfortable.

Detail matters too. The GUI shows IPv4, IPv6, subnet mask, gateway, and MAC address in a tidy panel. The command line can dump everything with ipconfig /all or let PowerShell filter for a deeper dive.

Beginners often prefer the GUI because it feels like a friendly guide. Power users lean toward the command line, enjoying its precision and scripting power.

Typical use cases:

• Quick check – the GUI is perfect for a quick glance.
• Detailed diagnostics – the command line shows every field.
• Scripting – ipconfig /all or PowerShell fits automation.
• VPN configuration – the GUI wizard can auto‑detect your local IP.

Forest VPN’s setup wizard automatically detects your local IP, so the GUI route is usually enough for most users.

Actionable takeaways:

• If you’re in a rush, grab the GUI.
• Need full details? Hit ipconfig /all or PowerShell.
• For automation, script with PowerShell.
• Use Forest VPN’s wizard for hassle‑free VPN setup.

Forest VPN offers affordable plans and a user‑friendly interface, making it a great choice for both beginners and power users. Ready to experience fast and reliable VPN service? Try Forest VPN today and enjoy secure, worldwide connections.