If users need to know their machine’s IP address within the network, they have to use tools on the computer itself. The Web page Find an IP Address includes information for how to do this on most systems. It is also possible to use a search engine like Google or Bing to learn how to find the IP address of other devices on a network, like a smartphone, game console, or network printer.

Internal IP addresses are a little more private because only devices inside the network can see the IP addresses assigned to the devices in that network. In this respect, the internal IP addresses are like office or apartment numbers inside a large building. Visitors can find the public address easily, but they might need help finding a specific office in the building once they arrive.