How to Find Router IP Address — Quick Tips

Denis K

Author

Before diving into the IP side of things, let’s identify the hardware. A router is usually a small, box-shaped device with multiple Ethernet ports, blinking lights, and antennas (in many cases). It often sits near your modem or is combined with it in one device provided by your ISP.

If you’re wondering how to find router IP address, the quickest way is to check the “Default Gateway” in your device’s network settings — that’s your router’s IP.

To easily find your router’s IP address, open your device’s network settings and look for the “Default Gateway.” On most home networks, it’s usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.

FYI: The router is what connects your local home network to the internet. It manages devices, assigns local IPs, and communicates with your ISP.

How to Find Your Router’s IP Address

Your router has two types of IP addresses:

• Public IP (used to connect to the internet)
• Private/local IP (used within your network to manage router settings)

To configure or access router settings, you need the private IP address. That’s what we’ll help you find.

Pro Tip: The router’s IP address is often something like 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, or 10.0.0.1. But it’s not always the same, so it’s best to check.

How to Find Your Router’s IP Address on Windows

1. Click Start, type cmd, and open the Command Prompt or press Win key+R.
2. In the window, type: ipconfig
3. Press Enter. Look for the line that says Default Gateway. This is your router’s IP address.

FYI: If you’re using Wi-Fi, check under “Wireless LAN adapter.” If you’re wired, look under “Ethernet adapter.”

How to Find Your Router’s IP Address On Mac

1. Go to System Preferences > Network.
2. Select your connected network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
3. Click Advanced.
4. Go to the TCP/IP tab.
5. Your router’s IP address will be listed next to Router.

On Mac With Terminal App

1. Open the Terminal app from Applications > Utilities.
2. Type: netstat -nr | grep default
3. Press Enter. The IP address next to “default” is your router’s IP.

Pro Tip: Terminal is a powerful tool — use it carefully if you’re not familiar with command-line interfaces.

How to get my router IP Address on Android

1. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. Tap on the network you’re connected to.
3. Look for Advanced or IP settings.
4. The router IP is usually listed as Gateway.

Android layouts differ by manufacturer. On some devices, you may need to tap “More Settings” to see full network details.

How to find router IP Address on Samsung

1. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. Tap on the network you’re connected to (gear icon)
3. Tap “show more”
4. You will see advanced network parameters, including IP, MAC address, proxy and DHCP

Find router IP Address iPhone and iPad

1. Open Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. Tap the (i) icon next to your connected network.
3. Scroll down to find Router — this is your router’s IP address.

On Chrome OS

1. Click the status area (bottom-right corner).
2. Select Wi-Fi network name.
3. Click the gear icon next to your network.
4. Find Network section. The Gateway address is your router IP.

On Linux

1. Open the Terminal.
2. Type ip route | grep default
3. The IP address next to “default via” is your router’s IP.

Pro Tip: On Linux, you can also use tools like nmcli or net-tools depending on your distribution.

How to Sign In to Your Router

Once you’ve found the router’s IP address, open a browser and enter that IP into the address bar. Example:

http://192.168.0.1

You’ll be taken to a login page.

If You Know the Router’s Username and Password

• Enter the credentials (often written on a sticker on the router).
• Common defaults:
  • Username: admin
  • Password: admin or password

Pro Tip: Change the default credentials if you haven’t already. They’re often publicly known and pose a security risk.

If You Don’t Know the Router’s Username and Password

Try the following:

• Look for a label on the back/bottom of the router.
• Search the model number + “default login” online.
• Reset the router to factory settings (hold the reset button for ~10 seconds).

FYI: Resetting will erase custom settings like Wi-Fi names and passwords.

Default Router IP Addresses, Logins, and Passwords

FYI: Always change the default password after your first login to prevent unauthorized access.

What Is an IP Address?

An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique identifier assigned to devices connected to a network. It allows them to communicate with each other. IP can reveal information such as your approximate geographic location, internet service provider (ISP), and whether you’re using a VPN or proxy. You can check your current IP address and related details using our tool here What Is My IP Address.

• Public IP: Used to identify your device on the internet
• Private IP: Used inside your home or office network

Routers use private IPs to assign addresses to devices like phones, laptops, or smart TVs.

Why Do I Need My IP Address?

You might need your router’s IP address to:

• Access admin settings
• Set up port forwarding or static IPs
• Fix network issues
• Check who’s connected to your Wi-Fi

If your internet is acting up, checking the router IP and logging in can help you diagnose the issue directly.

When Do I Need to Know My Router’s IP Address?

Knowing how to find router IP address is useful in these scenarios:

• Changing Wi-Fi password or SSID
• Updating router firmware
• Blocking unwanted devices
• Configuring parental controls
• Setting up a guest network

FYI: You also need the router IP when configuring advanced settings like VPN passthrough or DNS filtering.

How to Change a Router’s IP Address

You can change the router’s private IP address via the admin panel:

1. Log in to your router
2. Find LAN settings or Network settings
3. Look for Router IP or Gateway IP
4. Change it (e.g., from 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.1.1)
5. Save and reboot

Pro Tip: Make sure the new IP is in the same subnet as the rest of your network, or connected devices may lose access.

Figuring out your router’s IP address isn’t some deep tech trick — it’s something anyone can do. Whether your connection’s acting up, you’re changing settings, or just checking who’s using your Wi-Fi, this bit of knowledge can really come in handy.

Your router is the entry point to your home’s internet. If you can access it, you can control it. And now you know how to do that — on any device.

Who hands out IP addresses, anyway?

Behind every IP address is a system that keeps things organized.

At the top is IANA — they manage the big picture. From there, address blocks are passed down to five regional organizations called RIRs, each in charge of a part of the world:

IP addresses are managed and distributed globally by several authoritative organizations:

• IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority):
  IANA is the central coordinating body responsible for allocating IP address blocks to regional registries, managing DNS root zones, and maintaining protocol assignments.
  Website: https://www.iana.org

• RIRs (Regional Internet Registries):
  These are five regional organizations that receive large IP blocks from IANA and distribute them to local internet service providers and organizations in their regions: ARIN (American Registry for Internet Numbers), RIPE NCC (Réseaux IP Européens Network Coordination Centre), APNIC (Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre), LACNIC (Latin America and Caribbean Network Information Centre), AFRINIC (African Network Information Centre).

These groups make sure IPs are fairly distributed and properly recorded, so the internet stays stable and works the way it should.

FYI: IP addresses aren’t unlimited. IPv4 space is tight, which is why careful distribution really matters.

Pro tip: Want to know where your IP came from? A WhoerIP check can tell you — right down to the region and provider.

Frequently Asked Questions