How to Find Your IP and MAC Addresses in Windows

Locate an IP address using these steps

By
Bradley Mitchell
Bradley Mitchell
Writer
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • University of Illinois
An MIT graduate who brings years of technical experience to articles on SEO, computers, and wireless networking.
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Updated on April 15, 2021
Reviewed by
Ryan Perian
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Reviewed by Ryan Perian
  • Western Governors University
Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.
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What to Know

  • Quickest way: type Command Prompt in Windows search bar to open Command Prompt > type ipconfig /all > Enter.
  • IPv4 Address or Link-local IPv6 Address is the IP address. Physical address is the MAC address.

This article explains how to locate your computer's MAC and IP addresses by using the ipconfig command or through the network adapter's settings. Instructions apply to Windows 10, 8, Vista, 7, and XP.

Use the ipconfig Command

The ipconfig utility is accessible from Command Prompt and is easy to use. It displays address information for all active network adapters.

  1. Open Command Prompt. In Windows 10, open the Start menu and search for cmd. In Windows 8, open the Apps screen to find Command Prompt in the Windows System section.

    For older versions of Windows like Windows 7, Vista, and XP, open the Start menu and go to All Programs > Accessories to open Command Prompt.

    Searching for the Command Prompt in Windows 10.

  2. Type this command and press Enter. 

    ipconfig /all
    screenshot ipconfig /all command and result in Command Prompt via Windows 10

  3. Locate Physical Address to see the network adapter's MAC address. The IPv4 address is listed beside IPv4 Address, while Link-local IPv6 Address shows the IPv6 address.

    Many Windows PCs include more than one network adapter (such as separate adapters for Ethernet and Wi-Fi support) and report several active IP or MAC addresses.

    IP and MAC addresses listed using ipconfig.

Open the Network Adapter's Settings

Another way to find the MAC address in Windows or to see the IP address, is through the network adapter's settings, something you can do through Control Panel.

  1. Open Control Panel.

  2. Select Network and Internet. If you don't see that option, go to Network and Sharing Center, then skip to Step 4. In Windows XP, select Network and Internet Connections or Network Connections, then skip to Step 5.

    Control Panel in Windows with Network and Internet highlighted

  3. Choose Network and Sharing Center. In Windows XP, select Network Connections.

    Network and Internet section in Windows with the Network and Sharing Center icon highlighted

  4. Select Change adapter settings. In Windows XP, skip this step. In Windows Vista, click Manage network connections.

    Network and Sharing Center in Windows with the Change Adapter Settings option highlighted

  5. Double-click the adapter for which you want to see the MAC address and local IP address.

    Windows 10 network connections.

  6. Select Details. In Windows XP, go to the Support tab.

    Click the Details button

  7. Locate IPV4 Address or Link-local IPv6 Address for the IP address, or Physical Address to see the MAC address for that adapter.

    Physical Address and iPv4 Address in Windows control panel.

Virtual adapters used in virtual machines and other virtualization software usually possess software-emulated MAC addresses and not the physical address of the network interface card.

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