Your printer isn’t responding. You need to access its settings. Or maybe you’re troubleshooting a network issue and someone asks, “What’s the printer’s IP address?” If you don’t know how to find printer IP address, you’re not alone—this is one of those tech tasks that feels way harder than it actually is. The good news? It takes about two minutes, and I’m going to walk you through every method that actually works.
Whether you’re on Windows, Mac, or using your smartphone, finding your printer’s IP address is straightforward once you know where to look. Think of it like finding your home address on a map—your printer has one too, and it’s sitting right there waiting for you to discover it.
Find Printer IP on Windows Using Command Prompt
This is the fastest method if you’re on Windows. You’re going to use Command Prompt—don’t worry, it’s not as intimidating as it sounds.
- Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type
cmdand hit Enter. Command Prompt will open. - Type this command exactly:
ipconfig /alland press Enter. - Look for your printer’s name in the list. You’ll see a section labeled with your printer’s model or network name.
- Find the line that says IPv4 Address. That’s your printer’s IP address. It’ll look something like
192.168.1.105.
If that doesn’t work immediately, try this alternative: Type arp -a in Command Prompt. This shows all devices connected to your network. Look for your printer’s MAC address (usually printed on a label on the printer itself or in its manual) and match it to the IP address listed.
Pro Tip: Copy that IP address and paste it into Notepad. Save it somewhere you can find it later. You’ll probably need it again, and it beats hunting through Command Prompt twice.
According to Family Handyman’s tech resource section, understanding your home network devices is part of modern home maintenance. Your printer is now part of that ecosystem.
Find Printer IP on Mac
Mac users have it pretty straightforward. Here’s the real-talk version:
- Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner.
- Select System Preferences (or System Settings on newer macOS versions).
- Click Printers & Scanners (or Printers & Scanners on newer versions).
- Select your printer from the list on the left.
- Look for the field that says Location or IP Address. Boom. There it is.
If you don’t see the IP address there, right-click on your printer name and select Show Info or Details. The IP address should appear in the window that pops up.
Another Mac method: Open Terminal (search for it using Spotlight—Command + Space—then type “Terminal”). Type arp -a | grep -i printer and hit Enter. This searches your network for your printer specifically.
Check Your Router’s Admin Panel
This method works on any device—Windows, Mac, phone, tablet, doesn’t matter. Your router knows about every device on your network, including your printer.
- Open a web browser and type your router’s IP address into the address bar. Most home routers use
192.168.1.1or192.168.0.1. Check the sticker on your router if you’re not sure. - Log in with your router credentials. If you’ve never changed them, the default username is usually admin and password is admin or password. (Change these if they still work—security matters.)
- Look for a section called Connected Devices, Device List, or DHCP Client List.
- Scan through the list for your printer. Look for its model name or a device that looks like it could be a printer.
- The IP address will be listed right there next to it.
This is honestly one of the most reliable methods because your router is basically the traffic cop of your home network. It knows everything.
Use the Printer’s Built-In Menu
Many modern printers have a built-in display screen. Your printer might literally tell you its own IP address if you know where to look.
- Look at your printer’s control panel or touchscreen.
- Find a menu option labeled Settings, Network, Wi-Fi, or Information.
- Navigate to Network Settings or TCP/IP.
- Look for IP Address or IPv4 Address. Write it down.
If your printer doesn’t have a screen, many models have a button you can press to print a network configuration page. This page lists the IP address along with other network info. Check your printer’s manual for the button combination—it’s usually something like holding down a button for three seconds.
Mobile App Method
If your printer is a modern model from HP, Canon, Brother, Epson, or another major manufacturer, there’s probably a mobile app for it. This is often the easiest route if you’ve already got the app installed.
- Open the printer manufacturer’s app on your phone or tablet.
- Look for Printer Information, Device Settings, or About.
- The IP address is usually displayed prominently.
HP’s ePrint app, Canon’s PIXMA app, and Brother’s iPrint&Scan all show this information clearly. If you don’t have the app, download it from your phone’s app store. It takes 30 seconds and often solves more problems than just finding the IP address.
Network Scanner Tools
For the tech-savvy crowd, network scanning tools like Advanced IP Scanner (free) or Zenmap will scan your entire network and show you every device connected, including your printer. These tools are powerful but might feel like overkill if you just need one IP address.
If you go this route: Download the tool, run it, and let it scan your network. It’ll show a list of all connected devices with their IP addresses. Look for your printer by name or model number.
This method is handy if you’re doing this regularly or managing multiple devices. For a one-off lookup, the other methods are simpler.
Troubleshooting When You Can’t Find It
Printer isn’t showing up anywhere? Here’s what to check:
Is your printer actually connected to the network? This sounds obvious, but it’s the number-one culprit. Check if your printer shows a Wi-Fi icon on its display. If it doesn’t, your printer isn’t connected. Reconnect it to your Wi-Fi network using the printer’s settings menu or the manufacturer’s app.
Is your printer on the same network as your computer? If you’ve got a guest network on your router (and you should), make sure your printer is on your main network, not the guest network. Devices on different networks can’t always see each other.
Try restarting everything. Power off your printer for 30 seconds, then turn it back on. Restart your computer too. Then try the Command Prompt or router method again. This fixes weird network hiccups more often than you’d think.
Check your printer’s manual or manufacturer’s website. Some printers have quirky ways of displaying network info. This Old House’s tech guides often reference manufacturer documentation for similar tech troubleshooting.
If you’re still stuck, print a network config page. Most printers can print a page that shows their IP address, MAC address, and network status. Hold down the Wi-Fi or Information button for 3-5 seconds. Your printer’s manual will tell you exactly which button and how long to hold it.
Safety Note: Never share your printer’s IP address publicly or with untrusted sources. While it’s not as sensitive as passwords, it’s still part of your home network security. Treat it like you’d treat your home address—share it only with people you trust to connect to your printer.
One more thing: If you’ve changed your printer’s IP address manually (some people do this for network management), write it down somewhere safe. A simple text file on your computer labeled “Printer IP” saves you from having to look this up again.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my printer IP address keeps changing?
– Your printer is probably using DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), which means your router assigns it a new IP address every time it connects. If you need a permanent IP address, you can set a static IP on your printer. Go into your printer’s network settings and look for “Static IP” or “Manual IP Configuration.” Alternatively, you can reserve an IP address in your router’s settings, which tells the router to always give your printer the same address. This is more elegant than manually setting it on the printer.
Is the IP address the same as the printer’s MAC address?
– No. The MAC address is like your printer’s serial number—it never changes. The IP address is like your home address—it can change depending on your network setup. The MAC address looks like 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E (six pairs of numbers/letters). The IP address looks like 192.168.1.105 (four numbers separated by periods). You need the IP address to access printer settings or troubleshoot network issues.
Can I access my printer from outside my home using the IP address?
– Not directly. Your printer’s IP address only works on your home network. If you want to print remotely, you’ll need to use the printer manufacturer’s cloud printing service (like HP ePrint or Google Cloud Print). These services let you send print jobs to your printer from anywhere, but they work differently than using the IP address directly.
Why do I need to know my printer’s IP address anyway?
– You need it to access your printer’s web interface (type the IP address into your browser’s address bar), troubleshoot network problems, change printer settings, update firmware, or configure advanced features. It’s also useful if your printer isn’t showing up in your device list but you know it’s on the network—you can connect to it directly using the IP address.
What if I forget the IP address again?
– Just follow these steps again. It takes two minutes. Or save it in a note on your phone, a sticky note on your monitor, or a text file on your computer. No shame in that—plenty of people do it.
Does how to find printer IP address change if I have a different router?
– The general principles stay the same, but the router admin panel might look different. The IP address format (like 192.168.1.1) is standard across most home routers, but some business routers or mesh networks use different setups. The Command Prompt and Mac System Preferences methods will work regardless of your router because they look at your computer’s network connection directly, not the router itself.
