How to Show IP Address on Apple macOS Big Sur [Tutorial]
0How to Show IP Address on Apple macOS Big Sur [Tutorial]
An IP address, short for "Internet Protocol" address, is how individual computers on the internet are identified. Every Google search, or other internet-based activity, is sent out using your IP address.
And although it may sound like it's a single address, you can actually have two types of IP addresses — an internal (or local) one, and an external (or public) one — if your computer is connected to a network as well as the internet. Either way, Macs are built to make it easy to access that information.
Need to know your Mac's IP address? You've come to the right place. We show how to find this information, as well as explaining what an IP address is and the difference between internal and external IP addresses.
What is an IP address?
Your IP address is your computer or device's location online. It's where the internet can find you, and how it can identify you, essentially.The IP address is assigned to you by your ISP (Internet Service Provider).
Networking hardware needs to know this address in order to connect you to the internet, but it does this automatically, and it's quite rare that you'll need to know your IP address yourself.
Your IP address can also be used to identify you and track your online activities. Google uses your IP address to localise your search results, for example. If that bothers you, it would be wise to use a VPN - we recommend NordVPN, but there are other options in our Best Mac VPNs roundup.
Issues addressed in this tutorial:
Your IP address is sort of like your home address: without it, the mailman wouldn’t know where to deliver your packages. Well, without an IP address, the internet wouldn’t know where to send your packets of information either. It’s important to find your computer’s IP address if you want to make changes to your WiFi username and password, or your security preferences. Here’s how to find your computer’s IP address on a Mac.
This tutorial will apply for MacBook Pro, Air, Mini's running the macOS operating system. This tutorial was performed on a macOS Big Sur system.
macOS, macOS Big Sur, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook Mini, Mac tutorials, how to use MacBook