Did you know printers have internet protocol (IP) addresses just like any other device that connects to the internet? Knowing how to find the IP address of your printer can be useful if you’re troubleshooting or trying to set up a network office printer. Below we outline ways for you to find your printer’s IP address and how to protect your IP address by using one of the best VPNs.

How to find the IP address of your printer

First, be sure your printer is plugged in, receiving power, and connected to your Wi-Fi network. If you know you are having connection problems, we recommend using your printer’s display to find the address. Otherwise, feel free to use your computer.

1. Windows 10 and 11

1. Open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > View devices and printers.
2. Find your printer in the list, right-click it, then select Properties.
3. A window will open with either three tabs or five tabs, depending on your printer driver.

If the window has three tabs:

1. Click the tab labeled Web Services or Connected Device.
2. Locate Troubleshooting information at the bottom of the page. Here you’ll find the printer IP address.

If the window has five tabs:

1. Select the General tab. Your printer’s IP address should be listed under Location.
2. If it isn’t listed under Location, select the Ports tab and click the port with the checkmark next to it.
3. Click Configure Port and locate the IP address listed next to IP Address or Printer Name.

Use the command prompt

Using these following steps, you can also use the command prompt window to find your printer's IP address: 

1. Press the Windows key and type cmd to open the command prompt window.

2. Type netstat -r and press enter.

3. In the list of all devices connected to your PC, you should find your printer listed along with its IP address.

2. Mac

1. Click on the Apple button on the top left corner of your display and open System Preferences.
2. Click Printers and Scanners.
3. Locate and select your printer from the list on the left menu.
4. Click Options and Supplies.
5. The 12-digit number displayed under Location is your printer’s IP address.

3. Printer’s display

Printers with physical display menus may allow you to find your printer’s IP address. However, since printers come in many different configurations, your results may vary.

We recommend referencing your printer’s manual for precise instructions on how to locate your printer’s IP address within the display menu. If you want to try your luck poking around in the printer menu options, here are some tips.

1. Look for a settings menu such as Options, Preferences, or Wireless Settings.
2. From here, you might need to navigate through more options menus such as Network Setup Options or something similar.
3. Look for options that are detail or status-oriented with labels similar to View Wireless Details, TCP/IP, Wi-Fi Status, or Network Status.

4. Router

In order to find your printer’s IP address from your router, you’ll need to know how to log into your router first.

1. Open your router’s admin page by typing 192.168.1.1 into the address bar in a web browser and hit enter.
2. If this does not open your router admin page, try 192.168.0.1 or routerlogin.net.

Note: If this is your first time logging into your router, consider checking out our guides on how to log into a Netgear router or how to log into a Spectrum router.

1. Once you’ve opened your router admin page, enter your credentials to log in. Default values are username: “admin” and password: “password” (case sensitive) if this is your first time logging into your router or you never altered your login credentials.
2. Look for a menu option similar to Connected Devices, DHCP Client Table, or a client list. These menus may be hidden behind a section labeled Local Network.
3. Look for your printer within the list of clients/devices and click it to reveal its IP address.

5. Network configuration page

Most printers are capable of printing a network configuration page that contains a plethora of network information, including the printer’s IP address. Since this process differs depending on the printer, we recommend referencing your printer’s manual for instructions.

Generally, you should be able to find this option within the printer’s settings menus. If you are lucky, you may have a menu labeled Print Report, Reports, or something similar. If you do, select this menu and navigate to Network Configuration.

For example, printing the network configuration page on a HP Laser Jet Pro M1212n looks like this: Setup > Reports > Reports Demo Page > Config Report.

Why you need your printer’s IP address

Knowing how to get your printer’s IP address can be useful for a few scenarios. If you are setting up an office network and need one printer to service all the devices connected to that network, knowing the IP address of the printer is essential.

Have you ever experienced a printer that decided to stop working? There’s a good chance it could be because of a connection issue you can fix by knowing your printer’s IP address. You can also connect new devices and give other users access to the printer with the use of the IP address.

Why you should protect your IP address

Your IP address allows you to connect to the internet and connect to other devices. However, it can also reveal a lot of personal information about you, including your location and browsing habits. When you use Wi-Fi (particularly unsecured, public Wi-Fi) your IP address and personal data are essentially up for grabs for any competent hacker.

This is why we recommend using a virtual private network (VPN). VPNs hide your IP address and encrypt all of your online traffic. This means that even if a hacker is able to compromise your device, they won’t see your real IP address, and all of your data will be scrambled and illegible. Consider the following list of our favorite VPNs:

• NordVPN: NordVPN offers robust security features, boasts over 5,000 servers to choose from, and has a simple, easy-to-use interface — making it an excellent VPN for beginners.
  
  Get NordVPN | Read Our NordVPN Review
• ExpressVPN: ExpressVPN is known as one of the fastest VPNs on the market. Stealth server technology makes it even easier to bypass censorship or stream blocked content, naming it the perfect VPN for streaming enthusiasts.
  
  Get ExpressVPN | Read Our ExpressVPN Review
• Surfshark: Surfshark is affordable yet still provides a wide array of useful features such as static and rotating IP, smart DNS, and unlimited simultaneous connections.
  
  Get Surfshark | Read Our Surfshark Review

Printer IP address FAQ

Bottom line

Printers can be frustrating, but knowing how to find your printer’s IP address simplifies tasks such as connecting to networks and devices or troubleshooting connection problems. We think the easiest way to find your printer’s IP address is through your Mac or Windows system settings.

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Author Details

Juliana Kenny

About the Author

Juliana Kenny is a freelance writer with 13 years of experience specializing in cybersecurity topics. Her expertise includes endpoint security, cloud security, and networking technologies like secure access service edge (SASE). She has written for technology giants, including Oracle, Hitachi Vantara, and Comcast. When she's not diving deep into security news, you can find her bird-watching or baking.