How to Find the IP Address of a Printer

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Your printer has an address. Not a street address, of course. It has an IP address. Think of it like a tiny name tag that says, “Hey, I am the printer. Send the documents here.” If your computer, phone, or router cannot find that address, printing can feel like a treasure hunt with no map.

TLDR: You can find your printer’s IP address from the printer screen, a printed network report, your router, or your computer settings. Look for something called IP Address, IPv4 Address, or Network Address. It usually looks like 192.168.1.25. Once you have it, you can use it to connect, troubleshoot, or add the printer manually.

What Is a Printer IP Address?

An IP address is a set of numbers. It helps devices talk to each other on a network.

Your laptop has one. Your phone has one. Your smart TV may have one. And yes, your printer has one too.

A common printer IP address looks like this:

192.168.1.45

It may also look like this:

10.0.0.23

If you see four groups of numbers with dots between them, you are probably looking at the right thing.

Why Would You Need It?

You may need the printer IP address when your printer plays hide and seek. This happens more often than anyone wants.

You may need it to:

  • Add a printer to a computer.
  • Fix printing problems.
  • Open the printer settings page in a web browser.
  • Check if the printer is online.
  • Set up scanning or other features.

Good news. Finding it is usually easy. You just need to know where to look.

Method 1: Check the Printer Screen

This is the easiest way if your printer has a screen.

Walk over to the printer. Say hello if you want. Then look for network settings.

The exact menu names can change by brand. But they usually sound like this:

  • Settings
  • Network
  • Wireless
  • WiFi Settings
  • TCP/IP
  • Network Status

Inside that menu, look for IP Address or IPv4 Address.

Write it down. Or take a photo. Your future self will thank you.

Method 2: Print a Network Configuration Page

Some printers do not show much on the screen. Some have no screen at all. No problem.

Many printers can print a network configuration page. This page lists the printer’s network details. It is like the printer’s little ID card.

Look in the printer menu for:

  • Reports
  • Network Report
  • Wireless Test Report
  • Configuration Page
  • Printer Status Report

Print the page. Then scan it with your eyes like a detective. Look for IP Address, IPv4, or TCP/IP.

If your printer has only buttons, check the manual. Often, you hold a button for a few seconds. The printer then spits out the report like it knows secrets.

Method 3: Find It on Windows

If the printer is already installed on your Windows computer, you can find the IP address there.

Try these steps:

  1. Click the Start button.
  2. Open Settings.
  3. Go to Bluetooth & devices.
  4. Click Printers & scanners.
  5. Choose your printer.
  6. Click Printer properties or Manage.
  7. Look for a tab called Ports.

In the ports list, you may see an IP address next to the printer. It may be listed as a Standard TCP/IP Port.

If you see something like WSD instead, Windows is being Windows. It may not show the IP address clearly. Try the router method below.

Method 4: Find It on a Mac

Mac users can also find printer info in system settings.

Try this:

  1. Click the Apple menu.
  2. Open System Settings.
  3. Go to Printers & Scanners.
  4. Select your printer.
  5. Click Options & Supplies.

The IP address may appear under Location, General, or a similar area.

If you do not see it, open a browser and try the printer name shown there. Some Macs use Bonjour names instead of numbers. Cute name. Still not always helpful.

Method 5: Check Your Router

Your router is like the host of the network party. It knows who is connected.

To use this method, you need to log in to your router.

Here is the simple version:

  1. Open a web browser.
  2. Type your router address. Common ones are 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.
  3. Log in with your router username and password.
  4. Find a section called Connected Devices, Device List, or DHCP Clients.
  5. Look for your printer name.

Next to the printer name, you should see an IP address.

If the device names are strange, look for brand names like HP, Canon, Epson, Brother, or Lexmark.

Method 6: Use the Printer App

Many printer brands have apps. These apps often show the printer IP address.

Common examples include:

  • HP Smart
  • Canon PRINT
  • Epson Smart Panel
  • Brother Mobile Connect

Open the app. Select your printer. Look for Printer Information, Network, or Settings.

The IP address should be hiding in there. Probably not wearing a disguise.

Method 7: Use Command Prompt on Windows

This method is a little more techy. But do not panic. It is not wizard school.

First, open Command Prompt. Then type:

arp -a

Press Enter.

You will see a list of IP addresses on your network. This may include the printer. The tricky part is knowing which one is the printer.

To narrow it down, try turning the printer off. Run the command. Then turn the printer on. Run it again. The new address that appears may be the printer.

This is not the easiest method. But it can help when other paths fail.

How to Test the IP Address

Once you find the IP address, test it.

Open a web browser. Type the IP address into the address bar. Press Enter.

If the printer has a web control page, it should open. You may see ink levels, paper settings, scan options, or network details.

If the page opens, great. You found the printer. Give yourself a tiny parade.

If nothing opens, the address may be old. Printers can get a new IP address when they reconnect to WiFi. Very dramatic behavior for a machine that mostly eats paper.

What If the IP Address Keeps Changing?

Sometimes a router gives your printer a new IP address. This can break connections.

To stop this, you can set a reserved IP address in your router. This tells the router, “Always give this printer the same number.”

The setting may be called:

  • Address Reservation
  • DHCP Reservation
  • Static Lease

This is very helpful for home offices. It keeps the printer from wandering around the network like a lost goose.

Quick Troubleshooting Tips

If you still cannot find the printer IP address, try these fast fixes:

  • Make sure the printer is turned on.
  • Check that it is connected to the same WiFi network as your computer.
  • Restart the printer.
  • Restart the router.
  • Print a new network report.
  • Move the printer closer to the router.

Also check for WiFi names. If your phone is on one network and the printer is on another, they may not see each other. They are basically at different parties.

Final Thoughts

Finding a printer IP address sounds technical. But it is mostly just looking in the right place.

Start with the printer screen. Then try a network report. If that does not work, ask your computer or router. One of them usually knows the answer.

Once you have the IP address, keep it somewhere safe. Put it in a note. Stick it on the printer. Tattoo it on your memory if you must.

Your printer may still jam. It may still complain about cyan ink. But at least now, you know where it lives on the network.