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To find one device’s local IP address, open that device’s active network-connection details and read its IPv4 (or IPv6) value. To see several devices together, sign in to your router and open its connected-device, DHCP-client, client-list, or ARP-table view. The router’s own LAN address—shown as Default Gateway, Router, or Gateway—is a separate address and is usually the route to the administration page.
What you are looking for
An IP lookup can answer two different questions:
- What is this device’s address? Use the network settings on that Windows PC, Mac, phone, or Chromebook.
- What addresses are in use on the network? Use the router’s client, DHCP, connected-device, or ARP view.
A local device address identifies a connection on your home or office LAN. The gateway/router address identifies the router interface that forwards traffic to other networks. Finding the gateway does not reveal the PC or phone’s own address, and checking one device’s settings does not create an inventory of every client.
Menu names differ by operating-system release, router model, firmware, and network setup. Open the details for the connection that is actually active; an old saved Wi-Fi network or disconnected Ethernet adapter can show a different address.
Choose the right method
| Method | Best use | What you can obtain | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Device network settings | Confirming one known device | That connection’s IPv4/IPv6 address and, depending on the system, its router or gateway value | You must inspect devices individually; it is not a network-wide list |
| Router inventory | Seeing multiple clients together | Client IPs and, on some models, host names, MAC addresses, address type, interface, and IPv6 | Field names and completeness vary by manufacturer, model, firmware, and network configuration |
| Gateway lookup | Finding the router sign-in address | The LAN address used to reach the router administration page | It identifies the router, not a client device |
What you need before starting
You do not need a dedicated scanner, special hardware, an Ethernet cable, or paid software for this task. The built-in network settings on a connected device and the router’s administration page are the normal tools. Have the router administrator’s sign-in credentials available if you need a full client list. A device that is merely connected to cellular service or to a different Wi-Fi network cannot be used to inspect the intended LAN.
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Decide whether you need IPv4, IPv6, or both. Many local services and older setup instructions use IPv4, while a router or device may also display one or more IPv6 addresses. Record the address family beside each value so that an IPv4 address is not mistaken for an IPv6 address.
Find a Windows 10 or 11 device’s IP address
- Open Settings.
- Select Network & internet.
- For wireless, choose Wi-Fi, then select the network marked as connected. For a wired connection, choose Ethernet.
- Open the connection’s properties and read IPv4 address. If you also need the other protocol, look for the IPv6 address in the same details area.
Microsoft documents this route for Windows 10 and Windows 11. The value belongs to the selected adapter and network, so a computer connected to both Wi-Fi and Ethernet can have a different address on each connection.
Do not change the address just to discover it
For ordinary networks that support automatic assignment, Microsoft recommends Automatic (DHCP). DHCP lets the router or access point supply the IP settings. Switching to a manual address is a configuration change, not a lookup technique, and an incorrect manual value can cause a loss of connectivity.
Find the Windows gateway
When you need to open the router’s administration page, look in the same active-connection details for Default Gateway. That number is the router-side address on the LAN, not the computer’s IPv4 address. Use the gateway only to reach the router; use IPv4 address when identifying the PC itself.
Find a Mac’s IP address
- Open the Mac’s Network settings.
- Select the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet service.
- Open that service’s details and read the IP address shown for the current connection.
Interface wording can change between macOS releases. The reliable approach is to select the service showing that it is connected and then open its detailed TCP/IP or status information. The router field may be labeled Router; that is the gateway value, not the Mac’s own address.
Find an iPhone or Android phone’s IP address
iPhone
- Open Settings and select Wi-Fi.
- Tap the connected network’s information or details control.
- Read the address listed for that Wi-Fi connection. The same panel may show Router, which is the gateway.
Android
- Open Settings and go to the connected Wi-Fi network.
- Open the network’s details, advanced information, or manage-network view, depending on the Android release.
- Read the phone’s IP address. A field labeled Gateway identifies the router instead.
Phones normally have a different local address on each Wi-Fi network. Cellular data uses a carrier connection and does not appear as a client of your home router in the same way as Wi-Fi.
Find a Chromebook’s IP address
- Select the status area (the network, battery, or time indicator).
- Open the connected Wi-Fi network’s details or settings.
- Read the Chromebook’s IP address and, if needed, the Gateway field for the router address.
ChromeOS labels have changed over time, so open details for the network that is currently connected rather than relying on a remembered menu name.
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List multiple devices from the router
The router is the natural first place to build a network-wide list. Connect a computer or phone to the LAN, open a browser, and navigate to the router administration address shown as Default Gateway, Router, or Gateway in the active connection’s settings. Sign in with the administrator account, then look for a page named Connected Devices, Clients, DHCP Clients, Client List, or ARP Table.
What an ARP table can show
Cisco’s RV345 documentation says, “The ARP Table page lists all of the devices currently connected to the router and its’ statistics.” On that model, the table includes:
- Host name
- IPv4 address
- MAC address
- Address type
- Interface
- IPv6 address
This is a model-specific example, not a promise that every router exposes those columns or a complete real-time inventory. Some interfaces combine DHCP leases and active clients; others show ARP entries learned recently. A device that is asleep, disconnected, isolated on a guest network, or connected through another access point may not appear where you expect.
Identify an unfamiliar entry
- Start with the displayed host name. A name such as a printer, television, or laptop can provide a useful clue but is not proof of identity.
- Compare the entry’s MAC address with the hardware address shown in that device’s own network details.
- Check which interface or band the router reports, when available.
- If you still cannot identify it, ask the network administrator or temporarily disconnect known devices and refresh the list. Do not infer ownership from an IP address alone.
Reach the router when its address is unknown
Read the gateway field on a device that is currently connected to the same LAN:
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- Mac and iPhone: Router.
- Android and ChromeOS: Gateway.
Enter that value in the browser’s address bar to reach the router’s local sign-in page. Sample default addresses printed in setup guides apply only to the models and configurations those guides describe. An administrator can change the LAN address, so the value currently shown by a connected device is more reliable than a remembered factory default.
Why a device may be missing or show more than one address
Different networks or adapters
A laptop with Wi-Fi and Ethernet active can have one local address per interface. A phone can have one address at home and another at work. Check the connection name and status before comparing entries.
Guest, mesh, or extender segments
Guest networks and some extender or mesh configurations isolate clients or place them behind another routing layer. The primary router may show only the extender or access point, while that device maintains a separate client list.
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Changing DHCP leases
Addresses assigned automatically can change after a lease expires, a device reconnects, or the router restarts. Use the host name and MAC address together when tracking a device over time; an IP alone is not a permanent identity.
Private or randomized hardware addresses
Modern operating systems can use a private MAC address for a particular Wi-Fi network. The router may therefore display a hardware address that differs from a label printed on the device or from an address seen on another network. Verify from the active connection’s details.
IPv4 versus IPv6
A client can have both an IPv4 and one or more IPv6 addresses. They are not interchangeable fields. Use the address family required by the service or troubleshooting step, and note which family the router table is displaying.
Reading router lists accurately
A client list may contain several categories that look similar but answer different questions. A DHCP-client view generally reflects addresses the router assigned. An ARP view reflects address-to-hardware entries the router has learned. A connected-device page may combine those records with wireless association information. Because manufacturers choose their own labels and refresh behavior, read the page description and the column headings rather than assuming every row is a currently active person or device.
Use several identifiers together when making an inventory. Record the host name exactly as displayed, the IP address and address family, the MAC address, and any interface or network name. If a row has no host name, the MAC address and interface still provide comparison points. If a row has no MAC address or IPv6 field, that omission reflects the router interface and does not by itself indicate a problem.
Refresh the page after waking a device or reconnecting it. A sleeping device may remain in a lease list while disappearing from an active-client view; conversely, a recently disconnected device may remain in an ARP table until the router removes the entry. Treat the list as a working record that must be checked against the device’s own settings.
Gateway, client IP, and MAC: a quick comparison
| Value | Where you may see it | What it identifies | How to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| IPv4 or IPv6 address | Device settings and router client tables | A network-layer address for a connection | Use it when connecting to a local service or documenting the current lease |
| Default Gateway, Router, or Gateway | Active device connection details | The router’s LAN-side address | Enter it in a browser to reach router administration |
| MAC address | Device details and some router tables | The hardware address presented for that network connection | Use it to match a router row to a device, while allowing for private or randomized addresses |
| Host name | Router client lists and device settings | A human-readable name supplied by the device or network | Use as a clue, then confirm with MAC and device settings |
Privacy and access considerations
Only inspect networks you administer or are authorized to troubleshoot. A router’s client list can reveal the presence and naming of phones, computers, printers, televisions, and other equipment. Keep administrator credentials private and avoid sharing a full list publicly. If an unfamiliar entry appears, identify it methodically instead of assuming that the address belongs to an intruder.
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Private MAC addressing can make the same physical phone or computer appear with different hardware values on different Wi-Fi networks. This is expected behavior for a network-specific private address. Compare the value shown in the active connection details with the router row, and do not rely on a hardware label from another network.
Troubleshooting checklist
- No address is shown: confirm that Wi-Fi or Ethernet says connected, then reconnect or renew the connection through the operating system’s normal network controls.
- The router page will not open: verify that you are on the same LAN, reread the current gateway value, and avoid using an old factory address.
- The list contains duplicate-looking entries: compare MAC addresses, host names, and interfaces; one physical device can legitimately have multiple adapters or protocol addresses.
- A known device is absent: wake it, confirm it is using the expected SSID or Ethernet segment, and refresh the router page. Check any mesh node, extender, or guest-network client list as well.
- An unknown device appears: do not accuse a user based only on its IP. Match the MAC and host name from the router with each device’s own settings, then change the Wi-Fi password or review access controls only if the network administrator confirms unauthorized access.
- The address changes: that is normal for DHCP. Record the current lease and identify the device by its host name and MAC when a stable reference is needed.
- Only the router or access point appears: check whether the device is behind a mesh node, extender, guest segment, or second routing layer with its own client page.
- IPv4 and IPv6 seem to disagree: confirm which address family the application requires and compare like with like. One device can legitimately have both.
A safe, repeatable inventory procedure
- Connect one trusted computer or phone to the LAN you want to inspect.
- Record its own IPv4 address and the gateway value from the active connection details.
- Open the gateway address in a browser and sign in to the router.
- Export or note the connected-device, DHCP-client, or ARP entries, including host name and MAC when those fields are available.
- For each important device, open its own network settings and confirm the address and MAC against the router entry.
- Repeat the check on guest, mesh, or extender segments if those networks are administered separately.
- Write down the date, connection name, address family, and interface for each entry so a later change is not confused with a different device.
This two-level check prevents the most common error: treating the router’s gateway address as though it belonged to a client device.
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A router table is evidence that the router has a current or recent record for an address; it is not a universal security scanner. The exact retention period, refresh behavior, and fields depend on the router. Cisco’s RV345 page establishes the fields exposed by that model, while other manufacturers may use different labels or omit host names and IPv6 information. For a definitive identification, compare the entry with the device’s own settings and the person responsible for the network.
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For a normal home or office LAN, the lookup itself has no required purchase cost. Existing Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, or ChromeOS settings provide the single-device address, and the router already maintains the client, DHCP, or ARP information used for a network-wide view. Replacing the router, buying a cable, purchasing dedicated scanner hardware, or buying a networking manual is unnecessary merely to read these addresses.
When to use each approach
Choose device settings when you are configuring or troubleshooting one known computer, phone, printer, or Chromebook and need the value currently assigned to its active connection. This route is direct and avoids interpreting a mixed router list. Choose the router inventory when you need several clients together, want to compare host names and MAC addresses, or need to discover a device whose screen you cannot access. In practice, the most reliable inventory uses both: the router supplies the candidate list, and each device’s own settings confirm the match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the default gateway my computer’s IP address?
No. Default Gateway is the router’s LAN address. The computer’s own value appears as IPv4 address (and, where shown, IPv6 address) in the active connection details.
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No. Windows settings identify the selected PC and its connection. To see multiple clients together, open the router’s Connected Devices, DHCP Clients, Client List, or ARP Table page.
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Why does my phone have a different IP at home and at work?
The address belongs to the phone’s current network connection. Each Wi-Fi network can assign a different local address, and cellular data is not listed as a client of your home router in the same way.
What if my router’s factory address no longer works?
Read the current gateway value from a device connected to that LAN. Windows calls it Default Gateway; Mac and iPhone use Router; Android and ChromeOS use Gateway. An administrator may have changed the router’s LAN address.
Why is a device missing from the router list?
It may be asleep, disconnected, on a guest network, isolated behind a mesh node or extender, or listed in a different DHCP or ARP view. Wake it, confirm the SSID or Ethernet segment, refresh the page, and check any separate network segment.
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Why are there two entries that seem to be the same device?
A device can have Wi-Fi and Ethernet adapters, IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, or records in more than one router view. Compare the host name, MAC address, and interface before treating entries as separate equipment.
Can I identify an unknown device from its IP alone?
No. Use the host name as a clue and compare the router’s MAC address and interface with the device’s own network details. Ask the network administrator before taking access-control action.
Does an ARP table always show a live, complete inventory?
No. Cisco’s RV345 documentation describes the fields on that model, but routers differ. An ARP entry may be recent rather than active, and another router may omit host names, IPv6, or other columns.
Should I set a manual IP address to make a device easier to find?
Not just for discovery. Microsoft recommends Automatic (DHCP) for ordinary supported configurations. Manual addressing changes network settings and can interrupt connectivity if entered incorrectly.
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Do I need a network scanner or special hardware?
No. Built-in device settings and the router administration page are sufficient for the lookup described here. Extra hardware or paid software is not required.
The Bottom Line
Use the active device settings to confirm one local IP, and use the router’s client, DHCP, connected-device, or ARP view to see multiple devices. Always distinguish the client’s IPv4/IPv6 address from the router’s Default Gateway, Router, or Gateway value, and confirm unfamiliar entries with host name, MAC address, interface, and the device’s own settings.
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