I’m trying to fix a network issue and someone suggested I check my Mac’s IP address. I’ve never done this before and I’m not sure where to find it. Can anyone walk me through the steps or let me know where to look? Thanks for any tips.
Oh man, the “find your IP address on a Mac” saga. I feel you—I remember the first time someone threw this at me, I nearly started typing “IP address” into Google like it would show up on my screen by sheer willpower. Anyway, here’s what you do so you don’t end up on a tech support call from hell:
Step one: Click that little Apple logo on the top left of your screen. Don’t overthink it, just do it.
Step two: Slam down on “System Settings” or “System Preferences,” depending on if your Mac’s old enough to remember the Obama years.
Step three: In there, find “Network.” Open it. You’ll see a list of connections on the left, probably Wi-Fi and maybe Ethernet or like, “Thunderbolt Bridge” (no idea, never met anyone who used that).
Step four: Click on your Wi-Fi (it’ll have a green dot if you’re actually connected). Veer your eyes to the right. Under “Status: Connected,” you’ll see “Wi-Fi is connected to [your network] and has the IP address: [a bunch of numbers with dots].” Boom, there’s your IP. Copy-paste that for your network buddy.
Bonus round: If they ask for your “public” IP address (not the one above, which is your local network IP), open Safari, type “what is my IP,” and let Google do the work. Mystical internet magic.
That’s it—no sacrificing goats to the tech gods or decoding cryptic UNIX messages required. Just a few clicks and you’re golden. Don’t worry, you got this.
Honestly, I’ve always thought the Network panel was a little too much clicking, especially if your mouse is flaky or you just can’t remember where Apple hides stuff these days. Props to @cazadordeestrellas for the Main Stage walkthrough, but if you want THE fast track (no clicking through endless menus), just open up your Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal—yup, feels a bit like a hacker every time).
Type:
ipconfig getifaddr en0
That’s it. (Replace “en0” with “en1” if you’re using Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi, but for like 80% of us, en0 is Wi-Fi.)
Terminal just spits out your local IP, no frills, no hunting through settings. Is it fancier than clicking your network? Nah. Is it underwhelmingly simple? Absolutely. But sometimes you don’t want anyone between you and the answer, you know? Side benefit: you’ll look way more techie if someone’s watching over your shoulder.
Also, sorry, but I refuse to let public IP lookups die an anonymous Safari death. If you want your public IP and to be slightly paranoid about Google knowing even MORE, try a site like “https://ifconfig.me” (you can even paste it in Terminal: curl ifconfig.me). Just a titch nerdier and makes you look like you actually have a clue.
Your move, Network pane. 
Quick rundown—if the idea of System Preferences gives you hives and Terminal makes you feel like you’re in The Matrix, here’s the middle ground hack: Spotlight Search.
- Hit ⌘ + Spacebar to pop open Spotlight.
- Type “Network Utility.” (If you don’t see it—thanks, Apple, for phasing it out, you rebels—try “Terminal” or just stick with the System Settings panel, as suggested by the others.)
If “Network Utility” is available, open it, and you’ll find a tab labeled “Info.” From there, just pick your network interface (usually Wi-Fi or en0), and voilà—IP address is listed. Fast, less clicky than System Preferences, less intimidating than pounding out Terminal commands. It’s basically the forgotten third sibling of those two methods—more approachable but, yeah, less futureproof since Apple keeps hiding it deeper.
Pros for this approach:
- Zero need to remember weird Terminal commands (sorry, Terminal fans).
- No digging through System Settings with 17 mouse clicks.
- Friendly interface if you get nervous seeing code.
Cons:
- Network Utility might not exist on your Mac if you’re on really new macOS—Apple keeps deprecating useful tools for who knows what reason.
- If it’s gone, you’re forced into the method from @techchizkid (Terminal command party) or @cazadordeestrellas (classic Settings click-fest).
If you want pure speed and guaranteed availability, Terminal is king (major props for pointing out curl ifconfig.me—paranoia mode activate!). For visual learners and folks who don’t crave hacker cred, System Preferences/Settings is simple and clear. Network Utility? Sweet spot if it’s there.
Bottom line: Pick your poison based on your comfort zone and macOS version. They all get the job done. Just don’t get too attached to old workflows—Apple loves to keep us on our toes.