How to Find Your Printer IP Address: 6 Easy Methods

Why you need the printer's IP address

Every device on your home or office network, printers included, gets an IP address that other devices use to send data to it. You need that address when you want to add the printer to a new computer, open its built-in configuration pages in a browser, or figure out why a print job is stuck in the queue. The good news is that there are several reliable ways to find it, and most take less than a minute.

The method you choose depends on how the printer is connected. A printer on Wi-Fi or Ethernet has a network address; a printer connected only by USB does not. How a printer gets that address also depends on network protocols, and if you are shopping for a model, our wireless printer guide explains the difference between the connection types. The six methods below cover the common cases, from reading the printer's own display to asking your router for its list of clients.

Method 1: Check the printer control panel

If your printer has a display screen, the IP address is usually in the network menu. Look for labels such as Network, Wireless, TCP/IP, or Information, then open Network Status, TCP/IP Settings, or Summary. On many models the exact wording differs, but the address is shown alongside the subnet mask and the default gateway.

When the printer has only a few buttons and no screen, you can often reach a status menu by pressing the wireless or information button, or you can open the companion app from the manufacturer on your phone. If the menu approach does not work, move on to the next method. This tactic is especially convenient on all-in-one printers, which usually group the network status under a single information key.

Method 2: Print a network configuration page

Almost every network printer can print a network configuration page, sometimes called a self-test page, a network status sheet, or a configuration report. From the control panel, open Information or Reports and choose Print Configuration, Network Configuration, or a similar entry. On many models, holding the Go or Cancel button for a few seconds prints the same page.

The printed page lists the IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and the printer's MAC address. Keep the page handy after you set up the printer, because you will need the same values later if you configure a static address or open the printer's web interface.

Method 3: Use your router's admin page

Your router knows every device on the network, so its admin page is a reliable place to find the printer's IP even when you cannot reach the printer itself. Open a browser, go to your router's address (often printed on the router or its label), and sign in. Look for a page called Connected Devices, Device List, DHCP Clients, or Attached Devices.

The page shows each device's IP address, hostname, and MAC address. Look for an entry with the printer's hostname or a name that matches the brand and model. If you see several unknown devices, compare the MAC address with the one printed on your network configuration page or on the printer label. This method also works when the printer's display is asleep or blank.

Method 4: Use the command line

Command line tools give you a quick way to find the printer without menus, and the approach works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Start by finding your own network address, then ask the network which devices are answering. The steps look like this:

• Run ipconfig on Windows or ifconfig on macOS and Linux to see your own address and identify your subnet.
• Ping the broadcast address of your subnet so every device, including the printer, answers.
• Run arp -a to list the IP and MAC address of every device that replied.
• Look for an entry that matches your printer's hostname or brand.

Method 5: Check your operating system settings

Windows and macOS remember the address they use to talk to your printer, so you can read it back from the operating system. In Windows, open Settings, go to Bluetooth & devices, then Printers & scanners. Select your printer, open Printer properties, and look at the Ports tab. A printer using a TCP/IP port shows the IP address it is set to use.

On macOS, open System Settings, then Printers & Scanners. Select your printer and click Options & Supplies; the display URL line often shows the address. Linux users can open the CUPS web interface, which lists the connection details for every configured printer. If the address shown here does not match the one the printer actually uses, printing will fail, and you will know the stored address is wrong.

Method 6: Use software and mobile apps

Modern printers are designed to be found automatically. The IPP Everywhere standard, published by the Printer Working Group, lets computers and mobile devices discover and print to networked printers without vendor-specific software. The group reports that 98 percent of printers sold today support IPP/2.0 and DNS-SD discovery, so your phone or laptop can often find the printer's address without you doing anything.

Mopria, the mobile printing alliance, certifies printers that work with its print apps on Android, Windows, and Chromebook. If your printer is Mopria certified, the Mopria Print service on your phone can detect it on the same Wi-Fi network and show its connection details in the app. This is the easiest route when you are standing away from the printer and the router.

Keep the address stable

Most home networks use DHCP, which hands out addresses dynamically. That works fine until the printer reboots and the router assigns a new address, which breaks any computer that still points to the old one. If you want the address to stay the same, set a DHCP reservation in the router for the printer's MAC address, or set a static IP address on the printer itself using its network menu. Then update the port on each computer once.

As with any networked device, keep the printer's firmware current and do not expose its web interface to the internet, since an open management page is a way in for attackers. Review our printer security settings guide for the basics. When you eventually replace the printer, the EPA recommends recycling used electronics rather than throwing them away, and if energy use matters to you, look for an ENERGY STAR certified model, which uses power management to save energy while in sleep mode.

What to pick for your use

Questions

Where exactly do I find the IP address on the printer itself?

Open the printer's control panel and look for a Network, Wireless, or Information menu. The IP address is usually under Network Status, TCP/IP, or a summary page, and many printers can print a network configuration page that shows it directly.

Does the printer IP address change?

It can. Most routers assign addresses dynamically via DHCP, so after a power cycle the printer may receive a new IP. To prevent that, set a DHCP reservation in the router or configure a static IP on the printer.

What is the difference between the IP address and the MAC address?

The IP address identifies the printer on the network and can change. The MAC address is permanently assigned to the printer's network hardware and never changes. See our guide to printer MAC addresses for more.

Can I find the IP address when the printer is off?

No. The printer must be powered on and connected to the same network for any method to work, whether you use the control panel, the router, or the command line.

What if my router's device list does not show the printer?

Try the command line method with arp -a, or check the printer's own network page. If the printer still does not appear, it may be connected to a different network, or its Wi-Fi may have disconnected.

Do USB printers have an IP address?

No. A printer connected only by USB does not need an IP address because the computer talks to it directly over the cable. The IP address only matters for printers on Wi-Fi or Ethernet.