How to Find a Router’s IP Address (for Windows and Mac)

All wireless routers are assigned a private IP address so they can be found by your internet connection and your home network. You might not ever access your router’s admin controls, but if you need to make changes, troubleshoot, or set up security measures, then you will need to know the router’s IP address. Finding this IP is actually quite simple:

For Windows PCs:

  1. If you are using an earlier version of Windows, click on the start icon and click on “control panel”. If you are using a version of the Windows interface that does not have the start icon, use the search function to search for control panel. The search results will pull the icon.
  2. In the control panel options you will see a listing for Network and Internet. Under that title click on the “view network status and tasks”.
  3. You will see some icons and info presented. Look for the listing that says Network. Next to that listing you will see access type and connections. Click on the link that says Ethernet.
  4. A new tab called general will pop up. From that tab, click on the details button.
  5. You will see Network Connection Details. Look for the listing that says IPv4 Default Gateway.
  6. You have found your router’s private IP!

For Mac OS

  1. Click the “Apple” menu located on the bar at the top of the screen.
  2. A list of icons will pop up. Click the one that says Network.
  3. A network tab will come up showing everything that’s connected to that computer. Click on the button that says Advanced.
  4. Select the tab that says TCP/IP. There, you will see the router’s IP listed next to Router
  5. Now you have your router’s IP address!

If you need to access your admin controls use the default username and password. If you don’t know it, look for it on the router hardware’s information sticker.