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HOW-TO GUIDE

How to Find Your Router IP Address on Any Device

Locate the active default gateway instead of guessing common router addresses, and understand why a modem, mesh system or second router may show a different IP.
✓ Step-by-step guideUpdated July 19, 2026
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What is a router IP address?

In a typical home network, the router has a private address that acts as the default gateway for connected devices. Phones and computers send traffic to this gateway when the destination is outside the local network. The same address often opens the router administration page.

Common examples include 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, 10.0.0.1, 192.168.178.1 and 192.168.100.1. These examples are useful, but checking the active gateway is more accurate than trying a list.

Private router IP versus public IP

The router's local address is not the same as the public IP used on the internet. A private address works only inside the local network and can be reused by many unrelated homes. The public address is assigned to the internet-facing connection and may be shared, dynamic or hidden behind carrier-grade NAT.

To open the router settings, use the local gateway. Entering the public IP in a browser is unnecessary and may expose a remote-management page only when someone has deliberately enabled it. Remote administration should remain disabled unless it is specifically required and secured.

Find the router IP on Windows

Method 1: Command Prompt

  1. Connect the computer to the router by Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
  2. Press Windows + R.
  3. Type cmd and press Enter.
  4. Run ipconfig.
  5. Find the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter.
  6. Read the value beside Default Gateway.

Ignore disconnected adapters, VPN interfaces and virtual machines. The gateway under the adapter currently carrying network traffic is normally the router address.

Method 2: Windows Settings

Open Settings, choose Network & Internet, select the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection and view its hardware or network properties. Look for IPv4 default gateway. Menu wording can differ slightly between Windows releases.

Method 3: PowerShell

Open PowerShell and run Get-NetRoute -DestinationPrefix 0.0.0.0/0. When several routes appear, the active route normally has the most appropriate interface and metric. This method is helpful on computers with multiple adapters.

Find the router IP on macOS

Using System Settings

  1. Open System Settings.
  2. Select Network.
  3. Choose the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet service.
  4. Open Details and locate TCP/IP information.
  5. Read the address beside Router.

Using Terminal

Run route -n get default and read the gateway line. Another option is netstat -rn, but the first command is easier when several routes exist.

Find the router IP on iPhone or iPad

  1. Open Settings and choose Wi-Fi.
  2. Tap the information button beside the connected network.
  3. Find the IPv4 section.
  4. Read the value labelled Router.

Do this while connected to the main network. A guest network may report the same gateway but still block the administration page.

Find the router IP on Android

Open Wi-Fi settings, select the connected network and view its details. The address may appear under Gateway, Router or Network Details. On some Android versions, expand Advanced settings or switch the IP display from a simplified summary.

Manufacturer menus differ. Do not use the phone's mobile-network gateway; make sure Wi-Fi is connected and mobile data is not the active route while testing the router page.

Find the router IP on Linux

Open a terminal and run:

ip route

Look for a line beginning with default via. The address following via is the gateway for that route. On systems using NetworkManager, the graphical connection details can show the same information.

Find the router IP on ChromeOS

Open Quick Settings, select the connected Wi-Fi network and view network details. Expand the Network section and locate Gateway. ChromeOS menu labels can change, but the connected-network details remain the correct place to look.

Find the gateway on a game console or television

Open the device's network status or advanced connection information. The gateway is often listed with the local IP, subnet mask and DNS servers. Consoles and televisions are useful for confirmation but are less convenient for opening a full administration interface.

Use the router label and documentation

The label on the back or underside may list a default IP, local hostname, QR code, Wi-Fi password and administrator password. This information describes the factory configuration. It may no longer be correct after someone changes the LAN address or places the router in access-point mode.

Use the label when the device is new or recently reset, and use the active gateway for a configured network.

Why the default gateway is blank

A blank gateway usually means the device has not received a valid network configuration. It may be disconnected, connected to an isolated link, using an incorrect static address or failing to obtain DHCP information.

  • Reconnect to Wi-Fi or reseat the Ethernet cable.
  • Renew the network connection or restart the client.
  • Return the client to automatic DHCP unless the network requires static settings.
  • Check whether the router's DHCP server is enabled.
  • Try another client to separate a router problem from a device problem.

Why you see more than one gateway

Computers with Ethernet, Wi-Fi, VPN, virtual-machine and mobile-tethering adapters can show several routes. Select the gateway associated with the adapter actually connected to the router. A VPN may install a default route that hides the local path, so pause it while identifying the router.

IPv6 can also provide a default gateway. Many router admin pages still use an IPv4 address or local hostname, but some devices support IPv6 management. Follow the model documentation when no ordinary IPv4 gateway is shown.

Modem, router and mesh addresses

A network can contain more than one management address:

  • ISP modem or ONT: may use an address such as 192.168.100.1.
  • Main router: appears as the default gateway for household devices.
  • Mesh nodes: usually receive addresses from the main router and are managed through the controller.
  • Access points and repeaters: can have separate addresses assigned by DHCP.
  • Managed switches or controllers: use their own local addresses but are not the internet gateway.

The default gateway normally opens the main routing device. To find a secondary device, review the main router's connected-client or DHCP list.

What changes in access-point or bridge mode?

In router mode, the device normally owns a predictable LAN address and provides DHCP. In access-point mode, an upstream router can assign its management address. In bridge mode, the modem or ONT may stop acting as the gateway while a separate router receives the internet connection.

This is why a factory address can stop opening even though the device still works. Do not reset it immediately; first inspect the upstream router's client list.

Open the router page after finding the IP

  1. Stay connected to the same local network.
  2. Enter the address directly, such as http://192.168.1.1.
  3. Try HTTPS only when the device documentation or redirect indicates it.
  4. Use the administrator credentials for the router.
  5. Do not enter credentials on an unrelated public website.

If the page still fails, continue with the router login troubleshooting guide.

Common mistakes when identifying a router IP

  • Using the device's own local IP instead of the gateway.
  • Reading the DNS server and assuming it is the router.
  • Checking a disconnected adapter.
  • Searching for the address instead of entering it directly.
  • Trying the public IP from inside the network.
  • Assuming the brand always uses one factory address.
  • Forgetting that an upstream router controls an access point.

Common router IPs by network type

Addresses can suggest a likely use but do not prove the brand or model. 192.168.8.1 is often seen on mobile broadband equipment, 192.168.178.1 is common in FRITZ!Box networks, and 192.168.31.1 is associated with many Xiaomi routers. Always verify the gateway locally.

Security and authorisation

A private gateway is not secret, but the administrator credentials and configuration are sensitive. Access only networks you own or are authorised to manage. Do not expose the management interface to the public internet merely to make login more convenient.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is my router IP address?

It is usually the private address shown as the default gateway or router in the active network connection.

How do I find the router IP on Windows?

Run ipconfig and read Default Gateway under the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter.

How do I find the router IP on iPhone?

Open Wi-Fi settings, tap the information button beside the connected network and read the Router value.

How do I find the router IP on Android?

Open the connected Wi-Fi network details and look for Gateway or Router.

How do I find the router IP on macOS?

Open Network settings and view the active connection's TCP/IP details, or run route -n get default in Terminal.

Why is the default gateway blank?

The device may not have a valid connection or DHCP configuration. Reconnect and check automatic IP settings.

Why do I have several default gateways?

Multiple adapters, VPNs and virtual networks can create several routes. Use the gateway belonging to the active local connection.

Is the router IP the same as my public IP?

No. The router IP is private and used inside the LAN; the public IP identifies the internet-facing connection.

Why does the label IP not work?

The LAN address may have changed, or the device may now be an access point with an address assigned by another router.

Can a modem and router have different IP addresses?

Yes. A modem or ONT, main router, mesh node and access point can each have a separate management address.

What should I do after finding the gateway?

Enter it directly in a browser while connected to the network and sign in with authorised router credentials.

Is it safe to share my router IP?

A private IP is not usually secret, but do not share passwords, serial numbers, public IPs or configuration screenshots.

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