How Do I Find My IP Address and DNS Server?

Have you ever wondered how to find your IP address and DNS server? These pieces of information can be helpful in troubleshooting network issues or configuring certain settings. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the steps to find your IP address and DNS server on different devices and operating systems.

What is an IP Address?

An IP address, short for Internet Protocol address, is a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network. It serves two main purposes – identifying the host or network interface, and providing the location of the host in the network.

How to Find Your IP Address

Here are the steps to find your IP address on different devices:

Windows

To find your IP address on a Windows computer, follow these steps:

1. Open Command Prompt: Press Win + R, type “cmd”, and press Enter.
2. Type Command: In the Command Prompt window, type “ipconfig” and press Enter.
3. Find IPv4 Address: Look for the “IPv4 Address” under your active network connection. This is your IP address.

MacOS

To find your IP address on a Mac computer, follow these steps:

1. Open System Preferences: Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select “System Preferences”.
2. Select Network: In the System Preferences window, click on “Network”.
3. Select Active Connection: From the left sidebar, select your active network connection.
4. Find IP Address: Your IP address will be displayed on the right side, labeled as “IP Address”.

Android

To find your IP address on an Android device, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings: Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the gear icon to open the Settings app.
2. Select Wi-Fi: In the Settings app, tap on “Wi-Fi” or “Connections” depending on your device.
3. Select Active Network: Tap on the name of your active Wi-Fi network.
4. Find IP Address: Your IP address will be listed under “IP Address”.

What is a DNS Server?

A DNS server, short for Domain Name System server, is responsible for translating domain names (e.g., example.com) into their corresponding IP addresses. It acts as a directory that helps connect domain names with their associated websites or services.

How to Find Your DNS Server

To find your DNS server on different devices, follow these steps:

Windows

To find your DNS server settings on a Windows computer, follow these steps:

1. Open Control Panel: Press Win + R, type “control panel”, and press Enter.
2. Select Network and Internet: In Control Panel, click on “Network and Internet”.
3. Select Network and Sharing Center: Click on “Network and Sharing Center”.
4. Find Active Connection: Under “View your active networks”, find your active network connection and click on it.
5. Open Properties: In the new window, click on “Properties”.
6. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4): In the connection properties, select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and click on “Properties”.
7. View DNS Server: Your DNS server information will be displayed under the DNS server section.

MacOS

To find your DNS server settings on a Mac computer, follow these steps:

1. Open System Preferences: Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select “System Preferences”.
2. Select Advanced: Click on the “Advanced” button in the lower-right corner.
3. Select DNS: In the Advanced settings, go to the “DNS” tab.
4. View DNS Servers: Your DNS servers will be listed under the DNS Servers section.

iOS

To find your DNS server settings on an iPhone or iPad, follow these steps:

1. Note: These steps may vary slightly depending on your iOS version and device.
2. Open Settings: Tap on the “Settings” app on your home screen.
3. Select Wi-Fi: In the Settings app, tap on “Wi-Fi”.
4. Select Active Network: Tap on the blue information icon next to your active Wi-Fi network.
5. View DNS Servers: Your DNS servers will be listed under “DNS”.

Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to find your IP address and DNS server on different devices and operating systems. These pieces of information can be useful in various networking scenarios, from troubleshooting connectivity issues to configuring advanced network settings.

Remember, knowing your IP address and DNS server is just the first step. Understanding how they work together can help you optimize your network performance and security. So keep exploring and learning!