How to Find Router IP Address on macOS (4 Easy Methods)

Complete guide for all macOS versions including Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, and earlier

Quick Answer: Fastest Method

Press Command + Space, type Terminal, press Enter, then type:

route -n get default | grep gateway

Your router's IP address will appear next to "gateway:"

Method 1: Using Terminal (Recommended)

The Terminal method is the fastest and most reliable way to find your router's IP address on macOS. This method works on all macOS versions from Snow Leopard to the latest Ventura and beyond.

Open Terminal

There are several ways to open Terminal on macOS:

Spotlight Search: Press Command + Space, type "Terminal", and press Enter
Finder: Go to Applications → Utilities → Terminal
Launchpad: Open Launchpad, find "Other" folder, click Terminal
Dock: If Terminal is in your Dock, simply click it

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Spotlight search showing Terminal

Execute the Route Command

In the Terminal window, type the following command and press Enter:

route -n get default

This command queries the routing table for the default route, which points to your router.

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Terminal with route command output

Locate the Gateway

Look for the line that says "gateway:" in the output. The IP address next to it is your router's IP address.

Example Output:

   route to: default
destination: default
       mask: default
    gateway: 192.168.1.1
  interface: en0
      flags: <UP,GATEWAY,DONE,STATIC,PRCLONING>
 recvpipe  sendpipe  ssthresh  rtt,msec    rttvar  hopcount      mtu     expire
       0         0         0         0         0         0      1500         0

In this example, 192.168.1.1 is your router's IP address.

Filter Results (Optional)

For a cleaner output showing only the gateway, use this filtered command:

route -n get default | grep gateway

This will display only the gateway line: gateway: 192.168.1.1

💡 Pro Tip

You can also use netstat -rn | grep default for a more traditional Unix approach that shows the routing table in a different format.

Method 2: System Preferences/Settings (GUI Method)

The graphical method through System Preferences (or System Settings in macOS Ventura+) provides an intuitive way to find network information. The exact steps vary slightly depending on your macOS version.

Choose Your macOS Version:

🍎 macOS Ventura and Later (System Settings)

Open System Settings

Access System Settings using any of these methods:

Apple Menu: Click the Apple logo → System Settings
Spotlight: Press Command + Space, type "System Settings"
Dock: Click the System Settings icon if it's in your Dock

📸 Screenshot placeholder: macOS Ventura System Settings main window

Navigate to Network Settings

In the System Settings sidebar, click on "Network". You'll see your available network connections listed.

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Network settings in macOS Ventura

Select Your Active Connection

Click on your active network connection:

Wi-Fi: Click "Wi-Fi" and ensure it shows "Connected"
Ethernet: Click your Ethernet connection (usually shows as "Connected")

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Wi-Fi connection details in System Settings

View Advanced Details

Click the "Details..." button next to your connected network. In the details window, look for the "Router" field - this shows your router's IP address.

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Network details showing router IP

🍎 macOS Monterey and Earlier (System Preferences)

Open System Preferences

Access System Preferences using any of these methods:

Apple Menu: Click the Apple logo → System Preferences
Spotlight: Press Command + Space, type "System Preferences"
Dock: Click the System Preferences icon

📸 Screenshot placeholder: System Preferences main window

Open Network Preferences

Click on the "Network" icon in System Preferences. This opens the Network preference pane where you can see all your network interfaces.

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Network preferences pane

Select Active Connection

In the left sidebar, select your active network connection (it will have a green dot and show "Connected"):

Wi-Fi: Usually shows your network name
Ethernet: May show as "USB 10/100/1000 LAN" or similar

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Active Wi-Fi connection selected

View Network Details

With your active connection selected, you'll see network information on the right. Click the "Advanced..." button to see detailed settings.

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Network connection details

Find Router IP in TCP/IP Tab

In the Advanced settings window, click the "TCP/IP" tab. Look for the "Router" field - this displays your router's IP address.

You'll see information like:

Configure IPv4: Using DHCP (most common)
IPv4 Address: Your Mac's IP address
Subnet Mask: Network mask
Router: Your router's IP address

Method 3: Network Utility (Legacy Method)

Network Utility was a built-in macOS application that provided various network diagnostic tools. While it's been removed from recent macOS versions, it's still available on older systems and can be manually installed on newer ones.

📋 Availability Note

Built-in: macOS High Sierra (10.13) and earlier
Manual Installation: Can be copied from older macOS versions to newer systems
Alternative: Use Terminal methods on newer macOS versions

Open Network Utility

If available on your system:

Spotlight: Press Command + Space, type "Network Utility"
Finder: Go to Applications → Utilities → Network Utility
Terminal: Type open /System/Library/CoreServices/Applications/Network\ Utility.app

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Network Utility application window

Access Info Tab

In Network Utility, click on the "Info" tab. This tab displays detailed information about your network interfaces.

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Network Utility Info tab

Select Network Interface

From the dropdown menu, select your active network interface:

en0: Usually the first Ethernet port
en1: Often Wi-Fi on older Macs
en2, en3, etc.: Additional network interfaces

Look for the interface that shows an IP address in your local network range.

Find Router Information

With the correct interface selected, scroll down in the information panel to find network details including the router/gateway IP address.

Method 4: Advanced Terminal Commands

For power users and system administrators, macOS provides several advanced command-line tools for network analysis. These methods offer more detailed information and scripting capabilities.

🔍 Alternative Route Commands

Traditional netstat approach:

netstat -rn | grep default

Shows routing table with default gateway information

Detailed route information:

route get default

Provides comprehensive routing details including interface and flags

🌐 Network Configuration Commands

Interface configuration:

ifconfig | grep -A 1 "inet "

Shows IP addresses for all active interfaces

DHCP lease information:

ipconfig getpacket en0

Displays DHCP lease details including router IP (replace en0 with your interface)

🔧 System Configuration Commands

System configuration database:

scutil --nwi

Shows network interface information from system configuration

DNS configuration:

scutil --dns | grep nameserver

Lists DNS servers (often includes router IP)

🚀 Advanced Tip: One-liner Script

Create a simple script to always find your router IP:

echo "Router IP: $(route -n get default | awk '/gateway/ {print $2}')"

Troubleshooting Common Issues

🚫 No Default Route Found

Possible Causes:

Not connected to any network
Network interface is down
DHCP lease expired

Solutions:

Check Wi-Fi/Ethernet connection status
Renew DHCP lease: sudo ipconfig set en0 DHCP
Restart network interface: Turn Wi-Fi off and on
Reset network settings in System Preferences

🔄 Multiple Gateways Shown

Common Scenarios:

Both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connected
VPN connection active
Multiple network interfaces

Identification:

Use netstat -rn to see the full routing table with priorities. The route with the lowest metric is typically used.

🌐 Router Interface Inaccessible

If you found the IP but can't access it:

Try different browsers (Safari, Chrome, Firefox)
Use HTTP: http://192.168.1.1 (not HTTPS)
Try alternative ports: :8080, :8443
Disable firewall temporarily
Clear browser cache and cookies
Try from Terminal: curl -I http://192.168.1.1

⚡ Command Not Found

If commands don't work:

Ensure you're using Terminal (not another app)
Check command spelling and syntax
Some commands require sudo privileges
Try full paths: /usr/sbin/netstat
Update Xcode Command Line Tools: xcode-select --install

Understanding macOS Network Interfaces

Common Network Interface Names

en0

Type: Ethernet (wired)

Description: Primary Ethernet port on most Macs

en1

Type: Wi-Fi (wireless)

Description: Built-in Wi-Fi adapter on most Macs

en2, en3...

Type: Additional interfaces

Description: USB adapters, Thunderbolt, etc.

lo0

Type: Loopback

Description: Local loopback interface (127.0.0.1)

Understanding Route Output

Sample route command output:

   route to: default
destination: default
       mask: default
    gateway: 192.168.1.1
  interface: en1
      flags: <UP,GATEWAY,DONE,STATIC,PRCLONING>

Key fields explained:

gateway: Your router's IP address
interface: Which network adapter is being used
flags: Route properties (UP means active, GATEWAY means it's a gateway route)

What to Do Next

Once you've found your router's IP address:

Test Connectivity: ping 192.168.1.1 (replace with your router's IP)
Access Web Interface: Open Safari and go to http://192.168.1.1
Document the Information: Save the IP address for future reference
Bookmark: Add the router's web interface to your bookmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these methods work on all Mac models?

Yes, these methods work on all Intel and Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3). The Terminal commands are universal across all macOS versions, while GUI methods may vary slightly between macOS versions.

Why do I see different interface names (en0, en1)?

macOS assigns interface names based on the order interfaces are detected. en0 is typically Ethernet, en1 is usually Wi-Fi, but this can vary depending on your Mac model and connected adapters.

What's the difference between router and gateway?

In home networks, these terms are often used interchangeably. The "gateway" is the IP address of your router that connects your local network to the internet. It's the "gateway" between your local network and external networks.

Can I use these commands in scripts?

Absolutely! The Terminal commands are perfect for scripting. You can create shell scripts, use them in automation tools, or integrate them into network monitoring solutions.

Why might I have multiple default gateways?

Multiple gateways occur when you have multiple active network connections (Wi-Fi + Ethernet) or VPN connections. macOS uses service order and route metrics to determine which gateway to use for internet traffic.

Is it safe to access my router's web interface?

Yes, accessing your router's web interface from your local network is safe. However, always change default passwords and keep your router's firmware updated for security.