How to Find Router IP Address on Windows (5 Easy Methods)

Complete guide for Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7 with step-by-step instructions and screenshots

Find Router IP → Windows Guide

Quick Answer: Fastest Method

Press Windows + R, type cmd, press Enter, then type:

ipconfig | findstr "Default Gateway"

Your router's IP address will appear next to "Default Gateway"

Table of Contents

Method 1: Using Command Prompt (Recommended)

The Command Prompt method is the fastest and most reliable way to find your router's IP address on any Windows version. This method works on Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and even XP.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt

There are several ways to open Command Prompt on Windows:

  • Windows 11/10: Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Enter
  • Alternative: Press Windows + X and select "Command Prompt" or "Windows Terminal"
  • Search method: Click Start, type "cmd" or "Command Prompt", and click the result
  • Run as Administrator: Right-click Command Prompt and select "Run as administrator" (optional)

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Windows Run dialog with 'cmd' typed

Step 2: Execute the ipconfig Command

In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:

ipconfig

This command displays basic network configuration information for all network adapters on your computer.

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Command Prompt with ipconfig output

Step 3: Locate the Default Gateway

Look for the section that corresponds to your active network connection (usually "Ethernet adapter" or "Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi"). Find the line that says "Default Gateway" - the IP address next to it is your router's IP address.

Example Output:

Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi:

 Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : 
 IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.105
 Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
 Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

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

Step 4: Filter Results (Optional)

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

ipconfig | findstr "Default Gateway"

This will display only the default gateway lines, making it easier to spot your router's IP address.

💡 Pro Tip

For even more detailed network information, use ipconfig /all to see comprehensive network adapter details including DNS servers, DHCP settings, and physical addresses.

Method 2: Using PowerShell (Advanced Users)

PowerShell offers more advanced networking commands and better formatting options. This method is particularly useful for system administrators and power users who prefer modern command-line tools.

Step 1: Open PowerShell

Launch PowerShell using one of these methods:

  • Windows 11/10: Press Windows + X and select "Windows PowerShell" or "Terminal"
  • Search method: Press Windows, type "PowerShell", and click the result
  • Run dialog: Press Windows + R, type powershell, and press Enter

📸 Screenshot placeholder: PowerShell window opening

Step 2: Use Get-NetRoute Command

PowerShell provides several commands to find the default gateway. The most effective is:

Get-NetRoute -DestinationPrefix 0.0.0.0/0 | Select-Object NextHop

This command specifically looks for the default route (0.0.0.0/0) and displays the next hop, which is your router's IP address.

Step 3: Alternative PowerShell Commands

Here are additional PowerShell commands for finding your router's IP:

Simple Gateway Lookup:
(Get-NetRoute | Where-Object {$_.DestinationPrefix -eq "0.0.0.0/0"}).NextHop
Detailed Network Information:
Get-NetIPConfiguration | Select-Object InterfaceAlias, IPv4DefaultGateway

PowerShell Advantages

Method 3: Windows Settings App (GUI Method)

The Windows Settings app provides a user-friendly graphical interface to find network information. This method is perfect for users who prefer visual navigation over command-line tools.

1

Open Windows Settings

Access the Settings app using any of these methods:

  • Keyboard shortcut: Press Windows + I
  • Start menu: Click Start button and select the Settings gear icon
  • Search: Press Windows, type "Settings", and click the result

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Windows Settings main page

2

Navigate to Network Settings

The path differs slightly between Windows versions:

  • Windows 11: Click "Network & internet" in the left sidebar
  • Windows 10: Click "Network & Internet" tile

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Network & Internet settings page

3

Access Network Properties

Find your active connection and view its properties:

  • Wi-Fi users: Click "Wi-Fi" → Click your connected network name → Click "Properties"
  • Ethernet users: Click "Ethernet" → Click your connection → Click "Properties"

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Wi-Fi network properties page

4

Locate Gateway Information

Scroll down to the "Properties" section and look for network details. You'll find:

  • IPv4 address: Your device's IP address
  • IPv4 DNS servers: DNS server addresses
  • Default gateway: Your router's IP address

The IP address listed next to "Default gateway" is your router's IP address.

📝 Note for Windows 11 Users

Windows 11 has reorganized some network settings. If you can't find the exact path mentioned above, try going to Settings → Network & internet → Advanced network settings → Network adapters, then right-click your active adapter and select "Properties".

Method 4: Control Panel (Classic Method)

The traditional Control Panel method works across all Windows versions and provides detailed network adapter information. This method is particularly useful when the modern Settings app isn't available or accessible.

1

Open Control Panel

Access Control Panel using one of these methods:

  • Run dialog: Press Windows + R, type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter (direct to network adapters)
  • Search method: Press Windows, type "Control Panel", and click the result
  • Windows + X menu: Press Windows + X and look for "Network Connections"

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Control Panel main window

2

Navigate to Network Adapters

If you opened Control Panel directly:

  1. Click "Network and Internet"
  2. Click "Network and Sharing Center"
  3. Click "Change adapter settings" in the left sidebar

If you used ncpa.cpl, you'll go directly to the Network Connections window.

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Network Connections window showing adapters

3

Access Adapter Properties

Find your active network connection (it will show "Connected" status) and:

  1. Right-click on your active network adapter
  2. Select "Status" from the context menu
  3. In the status dialog, click "Details..." button

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Network adapter status dialog

4

Find Default Gateway

In the Network Connection Details window, look for the "IPv4 Default Gateway" entry. The IP address shown here is your router's IP address.

Common entries you'll see:
  • IPv4 Address: Your device's IP (e.g., 192.168.1.105)
  • IPv4 Subnet Mask: Network mask (e.g., 255.255.255.0)
  • IPv4 Default Gateway: Router IP (e.g., 192.168.1.1)
  • IPv4 DNS Server: DNS servers in use

Method 5: Network Adapter Properties (Advanced)

This method provides the most comprehensive network information and allows you to see both automatic (DHCP) and manual IP configurations. It's particularly useful for troubleshooting network issues.

1

Open Network Connections

Use the fastest method to access network adapters:

ncpa.cpl Press Windows + R, type this, and press Enter

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Network Connections window

2

Access TCP/IP Properties

For detailed configuration information:

  1. Right-click your active network adapter
  2. Select "Properties"
  3. Double-click "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)"

📸 Screenshot placeholder: Network adapter properties dialog

3

View IP Configuration

In the TCP/IPv4 Properties dialog, you'll see your IP configuration:

  • Obtain an IP address automatically: Using DHCP (most common)
  • Use the following IP address: Manual configuration

If using manual configuration, the "Default gateway" field shows your router's IP. If using automatic configuration, click "Advanced..." for more details.

4

Advanced TCP/IP Settings

For comprehensive gateway information:

  1. Click "Advanced..." button
  2. In the "IP Settings" tab, look at the "Default gateways" section
  3. Your router's IP address will be listed here

This method also shows multiple gateways if configured and their metric values.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

🚫 No Default Gateway Shown

Possible Causes:

  • Not connected to any network
  • Network adapter disabled
  • DHCP client service stopped

Solutions:

  1. Check network connection status
  2. Restart network adapter: ipconfig /release then ipconfig /renew
  3. Restart DHCP Client service in Services.msc

🔄 Multiple Default Gateways

Common Scenarios:

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

Identification:

The primary gateway is usually the one with the lowest metric value. Use route print to see routing table with metrics.

🌐 Can't Access Router Interface

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

  1. Try different browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
  2. Use HTTP instead of HTTPS: http://192.168.1.1
  3. Try common ports: :8080, :8443, :80
  4. Disable Windows Firewall temporarily
  5. Clear browser cache and cookies

⚡ Command Not Recognized

If commands don't work:

  • Ensure you're in Command Prompt, not PowerShell (for ipconfig)
  • Check spelling and syntax carefully
  • Try running as Administrator
  • Use full path: C:\Windows\System32\ipconfig.exe

Understanding the Results

What is a Default Gateway?

The default gateway is your router's IP address on your local network. It serves as the "gateway" between your local network and the internet. When your device needs to communicate with anything outside your local network, it sends the data to the default gateway first.

Common Router IP Address Ranges

192.168.1.x Network

Router IP: 192.168.1.1

Device Range: 192.168.1.2 - 192.168.1.254

Common with: Linksys, Netgear, D-Link routers

192.168.0.x Network

Router IP: 192.168.0.1

Device Range: 192.168.0.2 - 192.168.0.254

Common with: Belkin, some D-Link models

10.0.0.x Network

Router IP: 10.0.0.1

Device Range: 10.0.0.2 - 10.0.0.254

Common with: ISP-provided routers, some Apple routers

What to Do Next

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

  1. Test Access: Open a web browser and navigate to the IP address
  2. Login: Use default credentials (usually admin/admin or admin/password)
  3. Bookmark: Save the IP address for future reference
  4. Document: Write down the IP address and login credentials

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to find my router's IP address?

You need your router's IP address to access its administrative interface for tasks like changing Wi-Fi passwords, configuring security settings, setting up port forwarding, managing connected devices, and troubleshooting network issues.

Is the router IP address the same as my public IP?

No, these are different. Your router's IP address (like 192.168.1.1) is for local network access only. Your public IP address is what websites see when you browse the internet. You can find your public IP by searching "what is my IP" on Google.

Can I change my router's IP address?

Yes, you can change your router's IP address through its administrative interface. However, this will require updating any devices that have static IP configurations and may temporarily disrupt network connectivity.

What if my router uses a different IP address?

Some routers use non-standard IP addresses like 192.168.2.1, 192.168.10.1, or others. The methods described above will find whatever IP address your router is using, regardless of the specific address.

Why do I see multiple default gateways?

Multiple default gateways appear when you have multiple network connections active (like both Wi-Fi and Ethernet) or when VPN software is running. Windows uses routing metrics to determine which gateway to use for internet traffic.

Do these methods work on Windows 7?

Yes, all command-line methods (ipconfig, PowerShell) work on Windows 7. The GUI methods may look slightly different, but the Control Panel method works identically on Windows 7.

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