How to Find External IP Address on Any Device (Easy Guide)
9 min read
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Have you ever wondered how websites seem to know where you’re connecting from? Maybe you noticed Netflix changing its library when you travel or got region-specific ads without ever telling anyone your location. It’s not magic — it’s your external IP address doing the work.
This isn’t just some boring string of numbers. Your external IP is like the digital version of your home address. It tells the internet, “Hey, this is where this person’s network lives.”
Now, the real question: how to find external IP address? Whether you’re just curious, troubleshooting a network issue, or setting up something like remote access — knowing how to find it can save you a lot of frustration.
Good news — it’s not difficult. Whether you’re on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android, or even dealing with a messy double-router setup, this guide has got you covered.
What Is an External IP Address? (In Plain English)
Let’s keep it simple. You actually have two types of IP addresses:
- Internal IP Address: This is the one used inside your home or office network. Your laptop, phone, smart TV — they all get their own internal IP from your router. But that IP only matters within your local network. If you’re curious about how internal IPs work, check out this detailed guide: What is a Private IP Address?
- External IP Address: This is what the rest of the internet sees. It’s assigned to your network by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). When you visit a website, that site doesn’t see your device’s internal IP — it sees your external IP.
Before diving deeper. There are actually two types in the world right now: IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4 has been around since the dawn of the internet, and it looks like this — 192.0.2.1. Problem is, we’ve basically run out of those numbers. That’s where IPv6 steps in, with much longer addresses like 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334, built to handle the explosion of devices online today. Want the full scoop? Check our breakdown here — IPv4 vs IPv6: What’s the Difference.
Quick Analogy:
Imagine your apartment. Your internal IP is your apartment number — it helps your roommates (devices) find you. Your external IP? That’s the street address everyone outside uses to send you mail (or, in this case, data). And if you’re wondering How to Find External IP Address in this analogy — it’s like checking the number on the front of the building, the one the entire neighborhood (or internet) recognizes.
The Fastest Way to Find Your External IP Address
The absolute simplest way? Open any web browser and search “What is my IP” or visit a tool like Check Your IP.
In less than a second, your external IP will be right there, staring back at you.
But sometimes, that’s not enough. Maybe you’re setting up port forwarding, troubleshooting a VPN, or just want to do it the geeky way — via command line or router settings. Let’s dive into how to do it properly on each device.
How to Find External IP Address on Linux
If you’re on Linux, chances are you’re comfortable with the terminal. The good news — this is probably the fastest way of all.
Here’s How:
- Open Terminal.
- Type:
curl ifconfig.me- Hit Enter — your external IP pops right up.
No curl installed? Happens. Just use:
wget -qO- ifconfig.meWhy This Works:
This command simply asks an external server, “Hey, what’s my IP?” — and it answers back. Clean. Simple. No fuss.
FYI: This won’t work if you don’t have internet access at the moment — because it checks from outside your network.
How to Find External IP Address on Windows
There are a few ways to go about this, depending on how comfortable you are with command-line tools.
Easiest Option — Use a Browser:
- Open Chrome, Edge, Firefox — whatever you like.
- Visit WhoerIP.com or search “What is my IP.”
- Boom. You’re done.
Want to Use Command Prompt? Here’s How:
- Press Win + R, type
cmd, hit Enter. - In the black window, type:
nslookup myip.opendns.com resolver1.opendns.com- Look for the line that says:
Address: 203.x.x.x— that’s your external IP.
Or Try PowerShell (Even Cleaner):
- Open PowerShell.
- Enter:
(Invoke-WebRequest -uri "http://ifconfig.me/ip").Content- You’ll instantly get your public IP displayed.
Heads-Up: The usual
ipconfigcommand? Nope. It only shows your internal IP — the one inside your Wi-Fi or LAN. That’s a common mistake.
This won’t always change your external IP, but it refreshes your internal one. For a permanent solution, contact your ISP or check our guide on how to change your IP in Windows 10.
How to Find External IP Address on Mac
Mac users — good news. This is even simpler.
Use Terminal:
- Open Terminal (Applications → Utilities → Terminal).
- Type:
curl ifconfig.me- Hit Enter — there’s your external IP.
Or the No-Tech Way:
- Open Safari or Chrome.
- Head to WhoerIP.com.
- It shows up instantly.
Pro Tip: If you find yourself checking this often (maybe you’re setting up remote desktop, SSH, or hosting), you can create an Automator shortcut on your Mac to run this command with one click.
How to Find External IP Address on Android
Finding your external IP on an Android phone? Super easy.
Here’s the Fastest Way:
- Open any browser — Chrome, Firefox, Edge, doesn’t matter.
- Visit WhoerIP.com or just Google “What is my IP.”
- Your external IP will show at the top of the search results or on the page.
Another Way (Though Less Reliable):
- Go to Settings → About Phone → Status — some devices will show your IP, but note:In your phone’s settings, you’ll typically only see the internal IP — the one assigned within your local Wi-Fi network.
In your phone’s settings, you’ll typically only see the internal IP — the one assigned within your local Wi-Fi network
How to Find External IP Address on iPhone
This is just as simple as Android.
Quick Steps:
- Open Safari (or Chrome, if you prefer).
- Type “What is my IP” or visit WhoerIP.com
- Done — your IP pops up right away.
Trying to Check Through Settings?
- Go to Settings → Wi-Fi → (tap the ‘i’ next to your network).
- However, you’ll mostly see your local IP there, not the external one.
FYI: If you’re on cellular, finding your external IP from settings directly isn’t straightforward. It’s faster to use a browser-based check.
How to Find External IP Address Using CMD (Command Prompt)
Lots of people ask about using Command Prompt for this.
Yes, you can — but not directly.
ipconfig? Nope, it won’t show it. But here’s how:
nslookup myip.opendns.com resolver1.opendns.comOr use PowerShell instead:
(Invoke-WebRequest -uri "http://ifconfig.me/ip").ContentWhy This Works:
You’re basically asking an external DNS server to tell you your public-facing IP. Neat trick that’s been around for ages.
Double Router Setup — How to Find External IP Address
Ah yes, the double-router problem. Maybe you’ve got your ISP’s modem/router combo plus your own router connected to it. This can make things messy.
Here’s How to Check:
- First router (yours): Log into your router’s admin page (check the label on the back for IP — usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1). Or follow this guide on how to find your router’s IP address.
- Look for Status, WAN Info, or Internet Settings — somewhere it will list your external IP.
But — big catch — if you’re double-NAT’d (which means your router is behind another router), this won’t show the real external IP.
What to do:
- Log into the ISP’s router/modem (same method).
- There, under WAN Status or Internet Info, you’ll see the actual external IP assigned by your ISP.
Pro Tip: Double NAT can cause issues with things like gaming, remote desktop, and VPNs. If that’s bothering you, consider setting the ISP modem to Bridge Mode so your own router gets the public IP directly.
How to Find All External IPs in a Network — Is That a Thing?
Let’s clear this up — in most home setups, there’s just one external IP. Every device on your home Wi-Fi shares it.
But if you manage multiple routers or connections (like a corporate setup or multiple ISPs), each gateway will have its own external IP.
How to Check:
- Run
curl ifconfig.me(or similar commands) from devices connected to each network. - Or log into each router’s admin panel and check the WAN status.
FYI: Unless you have multiple ISPs, you won’t have multiple external IPs. Inside your house, everything runs behind the same one.
Pro Tips About External IP Addresses
- It Can Change: If your ISP uses dynamic IPs (which most do), your external IP might change from time to time — often when you restart your router. Learn more here: Whats is my IP and how to change it
- Important for Remote Access: If you’re setting up a home server, remote desktop, or a security camera feed, you need to know your current external IP — or set up a dynamic DNS service.
- Privacy Note: Your external IP reveals your city (sometimes more) to websites. Want more privacy? Check our guide on how to hide your IP address.
Conclusion — What You Should Remember
- Your external IP address is like your digital mailing address on the internet.
- Every device in your network shares it (unless you’re doing something fancy like multiple ISPs).
- Finding it is easy — whether through a browser, terminal, command prompt, or router settings. In fact, this entire guide walks you through how to find external IP address step-by-step on any device.
- Knowing your external IP helps with troubleshooting, remote setups, gaming, and understanding how the internet sees you.
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