How To Find A Printer IP Address [4 Easy and Simple Ways!]

Knowing your printer’s IP address is essential when troubleshooting or sharing your printer with other devices.  With your printer connected to a network, you will use your printer’s IP address to connect new devices. Without your printer’s IP, you can’t send print jobs.

There are a few methods used to find a printer’s IP address. The method you will use depends on a few factors, like network access and printer type. Below are a few methods you can use to get your printer’s IP. Have a look, and you can pick one that is most convenient for you.

1- Printer’s Onboard Configuration Menu

Most printers come equipped with a UI. Using this UI, you can find your printer’s IP address. Depending on the type of printer you have, this process will vary. Use the printer’s documentation to find the process given to your printer. The following process, however, applies to most printers.

1. On the printer’s UI, press the menu button, navigate through the menu options, and select network setup or networking.
2. Use the printer’s navigation keys, move through the options available. Select a listed option similar to network status, wi-fi status, TCP/IP, or IP address.
3. Your IP address will be listed on the menu that opens here.

2- Using Your Router

If you have administrative rights to your router, you can use the router setup menu to find the IP address. Try not to change any options on the router, or you may bring down the entire network. The following steps will help guide you through;

1. To log in to your router. Type 192.168.1.1 on your web browser’s address bar. Press enter and wait for the page to load.
2. Log in to the router; the password and username are usually admin by default. If you don’t have access to the router logins, kindly ask your network admin to assist. If you have forgotten your router’s login password, you will have to reset the router back to default settings. You can use this link to get the steps needed to perform a reset.
3. Go down to the local network tab and click on it. Once open, find the DHCP client table or client list option. On the open list, you should find the printer’s IP address by clicking on your printer.

The information above may appear differently depending on your router. Kindly use the router’s documentation to find the steps specific to your router.

Read also: The 6 Best Printers for Stickers 2021

3- Using Command Prompt On Windows

On windows, one of the easiest methods to find a printer’s IP address is by using the command prompt option. The steps needed are pretty much straight forward as shown below.

1. On the search box on the windows home screen, type command prompt or CMD in short. 
2. Once the cmd screen opens, type netstat –r, and a list of devices connected to your computer will appear.

Please note that if you are using a wireless printer, the cmd command netstat –r will not list it. You can also use the command apr –a, as shown below.

1. Open cmd and type ipconfig, and press enter. Look for the IPv 4 address.
2. Type ping followed by the IPv 4 address on a new line, then press enter.
3. Next type apr –a on a new line loading all the dynamic and static connections to your computer.
4. Copy the dynamic IP addresses displayed and past them on your web browser’s address bar. Please make sure you paste each IP on its own tab. The IP address that opens a printer setup tab will be your printer’s IP address.

4- System Preference On A Mac

For those that use MacBooks, the steps used are different but still easy to follow.

1. Click on the apple logo and open the system preference option.
2. Click on the printers and scanners option on the popup menu that appears.
3. You will find your printer’s 12 digits IP address listed under locations.

Alternatively, you can use the CUPS web page to find a printer’s IP address on a MacBook.

1. Open your applications folder, followed by utilities, and finally open the terminal.
2.  Now type cupsctl WebInterface=yes and press enter. This process will enable the CUPS web interface.
3. Open safari and on your address bar type in localhost:631/printers.
4. You will find your printer’s IP address listed in the location column.

Now you know how to find your printer’s IP address by the use of different methods.  Fixing issues with the printer should be easy with this IP address handy. As stated earlier, it’s best to use your printer’s documentation to find the IP address. Using the documentation is one of the safest and easiest methods to get a hold of the IP address.  Just remember to keep all your IP addresses secure, as people can use them to destroy your network.

Check also: How to Add a Printer on Windows 10