How to Find Wifi IP Address [Windows & Mac]

You will have a dedicated IP address if you own a WiFi router.

You will need this router’s IP Address to access the router’s settings page and make changes like setting a new Wi-Fi password. Other than this, you will also need your router IP address to help you configure and fix any wireless network connection issues.

With this in mind, we have put together a detailed guide on finding your IP Address for your Wi-Fi router. Here, you will find an in-depth, step-by-step tutorial on both popular operating systems – Windows and Mac OS.

But first, let’s talk about an IP address and the difference between your default gateway IP address and your router IP address.

So without further ado, let’s get started:

What is an IP Address?

An IP address, short for Internet Protocol address, is a unique string of numbers used to identify devices on the internet or a local network.

You can think of an IP address like your postal address, uniquely identifying your home so that other people can know where you are.

Difference between Public IP Address and Private IP Address

An IP address can either be public or private.

A public IP address is assigned to you by your ISP or Internet Service Provider. This is your unique identifier for accessing the internet.

A private IP address is given to your devices in your private/home network. It is used by different devices connected to the same network to communicate with each other.

Note: A device with a private IP address needs a public IP address to connect to the internet. It generally gets it through a router or modem.

Difference Between Static IP Address and Dynamic IP Address

IP addresses can further be classified into two types – static IP addresses and dynamic IP addresses. As the names imply, a static IP address does not change, whereas a dynamic IP address will change over time.

Generally, your modem will give you a static public IP address. However, almost all modern routers will automatically transform this static IP address into a dynamic one. This helps you connect new devices to your WiFi network without having to set a unique IP address for every one of them.

What are “Router IP” and “Default Gateway IP”?

A router’s IP address is a gateway between your devices and the internet. All devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network will first send a request to the router, then pass it along to the internet.

As such, the router IP is often called the “default gateway address” or the “default gateway IP address.”

If you are on a Windows computer, this is the “default gateway.” Mac users will know/find this as the Router’s or Router’s IP on the flipside.

Once you know the default gateway or router IP address, you can enter that into your browser, which will open your router’s web interface from where you can access all the router settings.

Find Your Router’s IP Address on Windows

To start things off, let’s first talk about how to find the default gateway address on your Windows PC. We have included two methods – one involving the command prompt and the other via the Control Panel.

Down below, you can find step by step guide on both these methods:

Method 1: Find Router IP Address via Command Prompt

If you are comfortable with the Windows Command Line, this is the quickest way to get the Router IP address.

1. Go to the Windows search bar, type Command Prompt, and hit Enter.
2. Now select the Command Prompt app that appears in the search results and open it.
3. Type in “ipconfig” into the command line and hit Enter. This will show you the Windows IP configuration data.
4. Look for the label “Default Gateway.” Parallel to it, you will find the Router IP Address displayed in the command prompt.

Method 2: Find the Router IP Address via Control Panel

For those of you who want a GUI approach for finding the router IP address, follow the given steps below:

1. First, open the Windows search bar, type in “Control Panel,” and hit Enter.
2. Now, select the Control Panel app in the search results and open it.
3. You should see an option called “Network and Internet.”
4. Select it and go into the network settings – “view network status and tasks.”
5. Now click on the link for connection. If you are connected wirelessly, then it might say WiFi. If you are connected via an Ethernet Cable to your router, it will say Ethernet.
6. Inside you will find an option to view the “Details.”
7. Click on it, and a pop-up box will appear. Inside, you will find the router IP address beside the IPv4 Default Gateway.

How to Find Your Router’s IP Address on Mac OS

Mac users can also find their router’s IP address in two ways – either via the Terminal app or from the System Preferences. Here’s a quick guide covering both of the methods. You can follow whichever you feel comfortable with.

Method 1: Find the Router IP Address via System Preferences

First, let’s take the GUI route. Here’s how you can find the router IP address on your Mac via the System Preferences:

1. Click on the Apple logo on the top-left corner of the screen. Then, from the drop-down menu, click on System Preferences.
2. Now click on the Network icon to open the network settings.
3. On the left panel, you should see an option for WiFi. Click on it. Alternatively, this option will show as Ethernet if you connect to your router via Ethernet. In that case, click on it instead.
4. Now click on Advanced.
5. In the next window, go to the TCP/IP tab from the top panel.
6. The router’s IP address is next to the “Router” option.

Method 2: Find the Router IP Address via Terminal App

You might prefer using the Terminal if you are an advanced Mac user. In that case, follow these steps to find your Router IP Address:

1. Open the Application Folder, go to Utilities, and the Terminal app.
2. Type in this command – “netstat -nr|grep default”.
3. Press Enter.
4. From the output, look for the line that says “default.” Your router’s IP address is the string of numbers associated with this line.

How to Sign In To Your Router

Now that you have your router’s IP address, you can easily log in to your router’s backend settings panel. Again, this method is the same regardless of your operating system.

1. Open the web browser that you usually use.
2. Copy and paste the router’s default IP address into the browser’s address bar and hit Enter.
3. You will now land on the login page for your router’s backend.
4. The browser might warn you that the page you are entering is insecure. In that case, make sure you typed in the correct IP address. If it’s accurate, then it’s safe to proceed despite the warning.
5. Enter the router’s username and password to access your router settings. And that’s it!

If this is your first time accessing your router’s settings panel, you should enter the default username and password provided with the documentation that came with the router.

If that doesn’t work, you or the technician who installed the router might have configured a different username and password. If you don’t remember it, you need to reset your router and use the default credentials to log in.

Note: If you reset your router, you must reconfigure your SSID (or network name) and Wi-Fi password.