How to Find a Printer’s IP Address

Find a network printer’s IP address on its network-status screen or a freshly printed network configuration report. If it is already installed in Windows 11, you can also check Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > your printer > Printer properties > Ports. The printer’s own report is the better fallback when Windows lists a hostname, WSD port, or old address.

These methods cover Wi-Fi and Ethernet printers, including finding the address without a computer. Printer menu names and report buttons vary by model. Instructions were checked against HP, Brother, Microsoft, and TP-Link documentation on October 2, 2026.

Find the Address on the Printer

1. Turn on the printer and confirm it is connected to your Wi-Fi or Ethernet network.
2. On a printer with a screen, open its Network, Wireless Summary, or similar status menu. Check the manual for the exact path.
3. Record the IP address for the active connection. A printer with both wired and wireless interfaces may show separate addresses. Typing the address into a browser opens the printer settings page, which is how you change the AirPrint name on an HP Photosmart 6510.

HP’s IP-address guide uses Wireless Summary or Network Settings on supported touchscreen models. For a printer without a display, use the manual’s Information Report or Network Configuration Report procedure, then look for the IP address on the printout. HP notes that the report buttons vary by model; do not assume one button combination works for every printer.

An IPv4 address looks like 192.168.1.50; this is an example, not an address to copy into your setup. Use the address labeled for the connected Wi-Fi or Ethernet interface, not the router’s gateway address or a separate Wi-Fi Direct connection.

Find an Installed Printer in Windows 11

1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Select Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
3. Select the correct printer, then choose Printer properties. This is different from Printing preferences.
4. Open the Ports tab and inspect the checked port used by that printer. If the entry shows a numeric address, note it.
5. If it shows only a hostname, WSD identifier, shared-printer path, or no useful address, use the printer’s screen or network report instead.

Brother documents this Windows Settings and Ports path for its supported models. Windows’ stored port can be out of date if the printer’s network address changed. Compare it with a fresh printer report before using it to troubleshoot. A USB or shared-print-server connection does not necessarily expose the physical printer’s own network address here.

Use the Manufacturer App or Router

If you already have the supported manufacturer app, select your printer and look for its network details. For example, the HP guide above says to select the printer image in HP Smart, then Network Information. App names and menus vary; use your model’s current documentation. Keep the device running the app on the same local network as the printer. To compare addresses, see how to find the IP address on an Android phone; on a typical home network the phone and printer addresses start with the same numbers.

Alternatively, open your router’s authorized management app or page and inspect its connected-device or DHCP-client list. Match the printer’s model/hostname and MAC address to its network report before trusting an unfamiliar device name. Router menus vary, and this approach can also work from a phone or tablet.

If the Address Is Missing or Keeps Changing

• USB-only printer: it does not have its own network address. A network-capable printer connected by USB may still have an address for a separately configured network connection.
• Printer disconnected: reconnect it using the model’s setup instructions, then print a new network report. Do not guess an address from an old printout.
• Windows address differs from the report: use the current report to check the printer’s connection. See adding a printer in Windows 11 or 10 for setup by address.
• Address changes after reconnecting: consider a DHCP reservation in a router you administer. TP-Link explains address reservation and how it differs from manually setting a static address on the device. Follow your router’s instructions; ask the administrator on a managed network.

Common Questions

Does ipconfig show my printer’s IP address?

No. Microsoft documents ipconfig as reporting the computer’s network-adapter configuration. The IPv4 address beside your Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter belongs to the computer, not the printer. Use one of the printer-specific methods above. If the computer’s address is the one you need, see how to find your IP address on Windows 11.

Can I do this on a Mac, iPad, or phone?

Yes: the printer’s own screen or report works without a computer. A supported manufacturer app or your router’s device list may also show it. Do not assume the location label in a computer’s printer settings is the printer’s IP address.

What should I do after finding it?

Keep the address with the printer’s model and the date you checked it. Use it for supported network setup or compare it with the address configured on a computer. Finding it does not require changing the printer’s address or resetting the router.

If you need a stable address or an approved address change, follow our guide to changing a printer’s IP address, which distinguishes router reservations, manual printer settings and computer connections.

For other printing tasks, browse our Windows printer and printing guides.