Can I list my Mac's IP addresses in Terminal?

Run ifconfig -a in Terminal to display the configuration of all network interfaces without changing it. Entries labeled inet show IPv4 addresses, while inet6 entries show IPv6 addresses. Match the address and interface to the connection you are inspecting instead of assuming the first listed interface is Wi-Fi.

What does %en0 after an IPv6 address mean?

A suffix such as %en0 identifies the local interface for a scoped IPv6 address, commonly a link-local address. The suffix distinguishes the link on that Mac and is not another group of hexadecimal digits in the address.

Can two differently written IPv6 addresses represent the same value?

IPv6 notation can omit leading zeros in a group and use a double colon to replace a run of zero groups. For example, 2001:db8::24 and 2001:0db8:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0024 represent the same address.

Why does my Mac have an IPv4 address starting with 169.254?

A Mac can assign itself an IPv4 link-local address in the 169.254 range when it cannot obtain an address from a DHCP server. The address supports communication on the local link, rather than normal routed internet access.

Is Private Wi-Fi Address the same as a private IP address?

Private Wi-Fi Address refers to the MAC address used to identify the device on a Wi-Fi network. It is separate from the IPv4 or IPv6 address shown in TCP/IP settings.

Is the DHCP client ID my IP address?

The DHCP client ID identifies a client to the DHCP server so the server can associate the client with an address assignment. The ID is separate from the assigned IP address, even if the identifier contains numbers.

Why does Sharing show a name ending in .local instead of an IP address?

The .local name in Sharing settings is the Mac's local hostname, which Bonjour-compatible services can use to find the computer. Bonjour can resolve the name to an address on the local network, but the name itself is not an IP address.

Can I read my Mac's local address when the internet is down?

System Settings can display an address already assigned to the Mac without contacting an internet service. An internet outage does not necessarily remove that local configuration, although a disconnected or unconfigured service may have no usable address.

What does Limit IP Address Tracking mean in the connection details?

Limit IP Address Tracking controls whether iCloud Private Relay is allowed for that network when the feature is available and enabled. The setting is not a field that displays the Mac's assigned IPv4 or IPv6 address.

Does the DNS server address identify my Mac?

A DNS server address identifies a resolver the Mac can use to look up names. That resolver can run on a router, another server, or the Mac itself, so the DNS entry is not the field to copy when asked for the Mac's assigned IP address.

How to Find Your IP Address on a Mac

To find your IP address on a Mac, open System Settings, select Network, choose the connected network service, then open Details and TCP/IP. The IPv4 and IPv6 fields show addresses assigned to that connection. A website may see a different address if the request passes through a router that translates addresses, a VPN, or a relay.

Start with the connection you want to inspect. A Mac can use Wi-Fi and Ethernet at the same time, and a VPN can add another connection. An address listed for one service does not identify every connection on the Mac or prove which route a particular browser request used.

Select the Connected Network Service

In macOS versions that use System Settings, open the Apple menu and select System Settings, then Network in the sidebar. Check the status shown beneath each service name and select the connected Wi-Fi or Ethernet service you want to inspect. A service can remain in the list when its cable is unplugged or its wireless connection is disconnected.

For Wi-Fi, check the name of the network you joined. An Ethernet connection through a dock or USB adapter may have a name associated with that adapter. Service names can also be customized, so use the connection type and current status to identify the right entry.

Older macOS versions use System Preferences instead of System Settings. The Network pane has a different layout, but you still select a connection before viewing its TCP/IP information. Instructions for another macOS version may use different buttons or place the same fields on another screen.

Read the IPv4 and IPv6 Address Fields

With the service selected, click Details and then TCP/IP. The available fields depend on the type of connection and its configuration. Read the IPv4 address field if it contains a value, and check the IPv6 address information as well. The Configure IPv4 and Configure IPv6 menus describe how addresses are obtained; their labels are not the addresses themselves.

For example, Using DHCP means the Mac obtains its IPv4 configuration automatically from a DHCP server. On a home network, the router commonly provides that service. Reading the current value does not require changing the configuration method or requesting a new address.

Identify the Address to Copy

An IPv4 address consists of four numbers separated by periods. Private IPv4 addresses fall within 10.0.0.0–10.255.255.255, 172.16.0.0–172.31.255.255, or 192.168.0.0–192.168.255.255. A Mac might, for example, have 192.168.1.24 on a home Wi-Fi network. Another household can use that same address for a different device, so the value does not identify a unique internet connection.

IPv6 addresses contain hexadecimal digits grouped with colons. An interface can have a link-local address beginning with fe80: and other IPv6 addresses with a broader scope. The link-local address is used on that network link and is not a source address for traffic to a remote internet site. Do not assume that several IPv6 entries mean the configuration is wrong.

The Router field is separate from the Mac's own address. The listed router provides a next hop for traffic that needs to leave the local network through that connection. A subnet mask or prefix length describes the network portion of an address. For the Mac's IP, copy the address value, not the router or mask, and keep the IPv4 or IPv6 label with it.

Copy the complete value, including all four IPv4 numbers or the entire IPv6 address. If a support request specifically asks for IPv4, an IPv6 value is not a substitute. Check the end of a long IPv6 entry when selecting text so that part of the address is not left behind.

Compare Multiple Connections

If both Wi-Fi and Ethernet are connected, inspect each service separately. Each connection can have its own addresses, and macOS uses a service order to establish a preference among available connections. VPN routing can also affect where traffic goes. The first service you click is not necessarily the one used to reach a particular destination.

When the Mac joins a phone's Wi-Fi hotspot, inspect the Mac's Wi-Fi connection to that hotspot. If the phone uses cellular data, the Mac can receive a local address while the internet request leaves through the phone's carrier network. A VPN's virtual interface can have another address without replacing the Wi-Fi service's local address.

A local address can change when the Mac joins another network or receives a different DHCP assignment. When comparing readings, keep the service name, address family, and time with each value. An earlier screenshot describes the configuration at that earlier time, so reopen the connection details after a network change.

Check the Address a Website Sees

A public IP lookup reports the source address observed for the request sent to that service. Open the lookup in the browser and on the connection you want to check. On a typical home IPv4 network, address translation at the router or internet provider lets devices with separate private addresses share a public address. The website's result can therefore differ from the address in the Mac's TCP/IP settings.

If the browser request uses a VPN, privacy relay, or proxy, the lookup may report that service's exit address. A result from one website does not establish that every app follows the same path. When comparing results, note which app made each request and whether a VPN, proxy, or relay was enabled.

Check whether the lookup used IPv4 or IPv6. The site's available addresses, the Mac's network connectivity, and the browser's connection choices can all affect which family is used. Two lookups can therefore produce different results on the same Mac. If a request uses an IPv6 address assigned directly to the Mac, the website may report the same address that appears locally.

After switching networks, reload the lookup to obtain a result for a new request. Keep the local and public readings labeled when sending them to support, and omit unrelated network details from screenshots. An address read from TCP/IP settings describes the Mac's configuration; an address returned by a website describes what that site observed.