Insights
What is a LAN IP address?
Learn what a LAN IP address means, find it on Windows, and choose a local device's address without confusing it with your router's.
On this page
A LAN IP address identifies a device's network connection on a local area network (LAN), such as your home network, and IP stands for Internet Protocol. On home networks, it's usually a private addressOpens in a new tab, such as 192.168.2.254. To reach a local device, use that device's address, not your own computer's address or your public IPOpens in a new tab.
In short:
- Use the destination. Choose the address of the device you want to reach.
- Check the right connection. Your computer's address belongs to a particular network adapter.
- Private isn't secure. A private address alone doesn't provide encryption or access control.
What the numbers tell you
An address belongs to a network connection, not permanently to the device as a whole. Your computer can have several network adaptersOpens in a new tab, each with its own addresses. An adapter is a physical or software-based network interface, such as your wired or wireless connection.
Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) addresses use four groups of numbers separated by dots. RFC 1918 reserves these three IPv4 ranges for private use.
| First address | Last address |
|---|---|
| 10.0.0.0 | 10.255.255.255 |
| 172.16.0.0 | 172.31.255.255 |
| 192.168.0.0 | 192.168.255.255 |
LAN describes where an address is used, while private describes its address range. An IPv4 address shown in local settings can be public in other network setups. Local networks can also use Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), so these private IPv4 ranges aren't the only addresses you might see.
Pick the address of the device you want to reach
Choose the destination first: which device do you want your app to contact? In Roland's documented exampleOpens in a new tab, a computer connects directly to a switcher over Ethernet. This map explains the documented addresses, not a setup you should copy onto your network.
Source computer:
192.168.2.2→ Destination switcher:192.168.2.254Subnet mask:
255.255.255.0
Use the address that matches your task.
| Your task | Address choice | Address role |
|---|---|---|
| Reach the example switcher | 192.168.2.254 | Destination device |
| Identify the example computer | 192.168.2.2 | Source connection |
| Reach your router | Its documented LAN addressOpens in a new tab | Router itself |
| Contact this computer locally | 127.0.0.1Opens in a new tab | Loopback address |
| Identify an internet-facing address | Public IP | Internet-facing connection |
The loopback address points back to the computer using it, not another device. If you enter 127.0.0.1 on your computer, it won't take you to the switcher.
A subnet mask identifies the network portion of an IPv4 address. In this example, 255.255.255.0 makes the first three groups the network portion. Matching those groups isn't a universal rule for deciding whether devices share a subnet.
An app may also need a transport protocol, such as TCP or UDP, and a port number to select the service. Service registrations distinguish both the protocol and portOpens in a new tab. Follow the device's documented connection requirements instead of assuming its IP address is all you need.
Find the address on the right device
On Windows, ipconfig shows your own computer's network settings. Inspect only devices you own or administer. This read-only check changes no settings, so there's nothing to restore.
1. Open Command Prompt on Windows.
Use the computer whose address you want to check.
2. Run the command.
ipconfig
3. Choose the adapter connected to the relevant LAN.
Find the wired or wireless connection you're using for that network. If several adapters appear, identify the relevant connection before choosing an address.
4. Read the fields separately.
You should see an IPv4 Address, Subnet Mask and Default Gateway for an adapter with an IPv4 configuration. The IPv4 Address identifies your computer's connection. Don't substitute the gateway field for the address of another device you want to reach.
If you don't see an IPv4 address for the expected adapter, check that you've selected the right connected adapter. Don't use an address from another connection just because it appears in the output. The output shows your computer's configuration, not every device on the network or proof that another device's service is running.
For another device, check its own network settings or documented status display. For printer-specific discovery, see how to find your printer's IP addressOpens in a new tab.
Why your address can change
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) assigns addresses automatically. A static address is set manually instead of assigned through DHCP. A DHCP address may change, but that doesn't mean you get a new one every time you reconnect or restart.
Your router may support a DHCP reservation, which keeps an automatically assigned address stable for a particular device. Before relying on an old numeric address, check the destination's current address. This is especially useful after its network settings have changed.
What a private address doesn't prove
A private IPv4 address isn't a globally meaningful internet destination. To reach a device from another network, you need a suitable network path and deliberate access settings. Knowing its LAN address alone doesn't make remote access work.
Private addressing doesn't encrypt traffic or prove that access is restricted. Knowing an address also doesn't prove the service is running or that you're allowed to use it. If a local service doesn't respond, recheck the destination's current address and its documented access requirements.
Separate private networks can reuse the same address ranges. When you connect networks with overlapping addresses, the same address can refer to different devices. You may need an addressing plan or changed addresses to remove that ambiguity.