How to find your PC's IP Address

You do not have to buy expensive software or download anything to your PC from the internet. Why take a chance? You can easily download a virus to your computer. If you do decide to download software make sure you get the software from a reputable web site, but just be careful.

If you have dynamic IP Address you can get the IP Address very easily by running a simple command. If you have a Static IP Address you can get the IP Address from your network connection ICON. I will explain how you can see the IP Address that is assigned to your computer as we go one through this article.

How can you tell which IP Address you have or know what network you are running.

One of the easiest ways to determined, if you have a Static or a Dynamic IP Address is the type of network you are run at home. If you have a wireless router, or a router in between the internet service provider modem and your home network then your PC has a Dynamic IP Address. Most wireless routers are sold with the dynamic option set as default from the factor. The IP Address is supplied by the router to your network because each computer on a network has to have there own address or identification on a network. If you are directly connected to the internet, like a dial up, or an air card, from one of the major wireless phone companies, then it will be Static IP Address. This is controlled by the wireless company or the dial up service provider. You should still be able view the IP Address

For Dynamic IP Addresses you can use the following directions to see the IP information:

If you have windows XP, go to the start button, then go to run, type in the run box “cmd” then hit return or enter, that will bring up a command window or DOS prompt. When the command window is open, type this command: “ipconfig” and press enter or return. Depending on what you want to see, you can use the ipconfig command along a switch. Something like this "ipconfig /all” this command will show you all of the information involved with the IP Address and networking information. If you want to receive a new IP Address you can type in the command window “ipconfig /release”, to request a new IP Address after you release the IP Address, just type "ipconfig /renew"

If you have Windows Vista you can use the same commands for Windows XP. Go to start in the search command type “cmd” this will bring up Windows Vista command window then just use the same command for Windows XP as I explained in the above paragraph.

You will only be able to change your home network IP Address assigned to your PC from your router. You will not be able to change your internet service provider’s IP Address

Static IP Addresses is manually and are assigned to your PC from the internet service provider. You cannot change this IP Address it unless you get a new IP Address from the service provider. You can view it by going to your network ICON called, Network or My Networks this will depend on if you have Windows XP or Windows Vista.

Right click on the network ICON go to properties, which will bring up another window. In that window you will see internet protocol called TCP/IP, just highlight TCP/IP and click on Properties button at the bottom corner of the window. When a new window opens you should see the IP Address and how it is set up to your PC. Then just click cancel out of all of the windows you open, you do not want to change anything here so just hit the cancel button in all of the windows you opened.