What Is a Private IP Address? Uses and How to Find Yours
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A private IP address is the internal number your device gets when it connects to your home or office Wi-Fi. It’s used only inside that network — not visible on the internet.
A private IP is basically the number your device gets inside your home or office network. It’s how your laptop talks to your printer, or your phone finds the smart TV — all happening behind the scenes, without touching the internet.
Example: Your laptop might have an IP like
192.168.1.12. It uses this to talk to your printer or NAS at home, but websites don’t see that. What they do see is your public IP address — the one your router uses online. If you’re wondering what that looks like right now, you can head over to whoerip.com and check — that’s the IP visible to every site and online service you connect to.
You won’t see this IP from the outside world — it’s meant to stay local. That’s the big difference between private and public IPs. Public ones are visible to websites and apps you connect to; private ones stay tucked away inside your Wi-Fi network.
Usually, your router is the one handing these out automatically, using something called DHCP. You don’t have to mess with it — it just works in the background. And because there’s a limited number of public IPs out there (especially with the older IPv4 system), this private setup helps keep things running smoothly.
If you’re curious about what the internet actually sees when you go online, check out our short guide on what is my IP address.
IPv4 vs. IPv6 – What’s the Difference?IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses and is limited to about 4.3 billion unique IPs, while IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses, offering an almost unlimited number. IPv6 also improves speed, security, and network efficiency. Learn more in our full guide: IPv4 vs. IPv6 Differences Explained.
Private vs. Public IP Addresses
Private and public IP addresses serve different roles in network communication. Here’s a comparison to help clarify the difference:| Feature | Private IP Address | Public IP Address |
| Example | 192.168.1.10 | 203.0.113.5 |
| Visibility | Only visible within a local network | Visible on the global internet |
| Assigned By | Network router or administrator | Internet Service Provider (ISP) |
| Accessibility | Cannot be accessed directly from outside | Can be accessed from anywhere online |
| Security | Offers more security by being internal | More vulnerable to external threats |
| Example Range | 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, 172.16.x.x to 172.31.x.x | Any IP outside the private range |
| Number of Available IPs | Limited to certain reserved ranges | Unique across the entire internet |
| Purpose | Internal device communication | Website hosting, email servers, streaming platforms |
Pro Tip: You usually have one public IP address for your entire household, but multiple private IPs — one for each device on your network.
Examples of Private IP Addresses
Private IP addresses are drawn from specific reserved ranges defined by RFC 1918 for IPv4 and RFC 4193 for IPv6. These ranges were set aside precisely for internal use.
IPv4 Private IP Address Ranges
| Class | Range | Number of Addresses | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255 | ~16 million | Enterprise networks |
| B | 172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255 | ~1 million | Medium-size networks |
| C | 192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255 | ~65,000 | Home/small networks |
IPv6 Private Address Format
-
Private IPv6 addresses use the prefix
fd00::/8. -
They’re also known as Unique Local Addresses (ULAs) and function similarly to IPv4 private IPs.
How to Find Your Private IP Address
Finding your private IP address depends on the device you’re using. Here’s how to locate it on different platforms: For Windows:- Press Win + R, type cmd, and hit Enter.
- Type ipconfig and press Enter.
- Look for the line labeled IPv4 Address — that’s your private IP.
- Go to System Preferences > Network.
- Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
- Your private IP will be shown under the connection status.
- Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.
- Tap your connected network.
- Scroll to find the IP Address section.
- Open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
- Tap your connected network.
- Look under IP address.
FYI: Your private IP might change over time unless you assign a static IP. This happens because most routers assign IPs dynamically via DHCP.
What is Class A, Class B, Class C?
Private IP addresses are categorized into three IP address classes, each with specific ranges and intended use cases.Class A (10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255)
- Large organizations use this range.
- Offers over 16 million private IP addresses.
- Default subnet mask: 255.0.0.0
Class B (172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255)
- Ideal for medium-sized businesses.
- Offers over 1 million private IPs.
- Subnet mask: 255.240.0.0
Class C (192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255)
- Common in home and small office networks.
- Provides 65,536 IPs.
- Subnet mask: 255.255.0.0 or more often 255.255.255.0
FYI: These classes are reserved by IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) specifically for private use and are universally recognized.
How Private and Public IP Addresses Work Together
You might wonder — if your devices use private IP addresses, how do they access the internet?
Here’s how:
- Your router acts as a gateway between your private network and the public internet.
- When a device sends a request to the internet, your router uses a technique called NAT (Network Address Translation) to convert your private IP into your public IP.
- Replies come back to the router’s public IP, and NAT ensures they’re routed back to the correct private device.
This method helps conserve public IP addresses and adds a layer of security and isolation. NAT is one reason all your devices can access the internet through a single public IP, even if there are a dozen gadgets in your home.
Why Do We Need Private IP Addresses?
There are several important reasons private IP addresses exist:- IPv4 address conservation: There simply aren’t enough public IPs for every device in the world.
- Internal communication: Devices within the same network need a way to talk to each other.
- Security: Private IPs are not directly reachable from the internet, reducing risk.
- Network management: They make it easier to configure, maintain, and troubleshoot local networks.
FYI: Without private IP addressing, the global IP pool would have been exhausted years ago due to the explosive growth of connected devices.
How to Use a Private IP Address
Using private IP addresses is simple — your router usually assigns them automatically using DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). However, you can manually assign them in specific scenarios like:-
Printer sharing: Set static private IPs to ensure networked printers stay accessible.
-
Media servers: Let all your home devices stream from a central device.
-
IoT devices: Ensure smart TVs, thermostats, and security systems stay connected.
Setting a Static IP:
- Access your device’s network settings.
- Turn off DHCP and enter:
- IP address
- Subnet mask
- Gateway (router’s IP)
- DNS servers (optional)
Be sure not to pick an IP that conflicts with another device.
Pro Tip: When assigning static private IPs, make sure they are outside the DHCP pool to avoid IP conflicts.
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