How to Find the IP Address of Your Wi-Fi Router in Windows 11

When troubleshooting network connection issues, configuring a smart home device, or setting up port forwarding, you will often need to access your Wi-Fi router’s administrative dashboard. To do this, you must know the router’s internal IP address, which is referred to in Windows 11 as the “Default Gateway.” Finding this address only takes a few moments using built-in Windows tools.

What is a Default Gateway?

In networking terms, a gateway is the node that routes traffic from your local network to the outside internet. In a standard home network setup, your Wi-Fi router acts as this gateway. Therefore, the “Default Gateway” IP address listed in your Windows network settings is the exact IP address you need to type into your web browser to access the router’s configuration page (commonly `192.168.1.1` or `192.168.0.1`).

Method 1: Using the Windows Settings App

The most user-friendly way to find your router’s IP address is through the modern Windows 11 Settings interface.

1. Click the Start button and open the Settings app (the gear icon). Alternatively, press Windows Key + I.
2. In the left-hand sidebar, select Network & internet.
3. Click on Wi-Fi (or Ethernet, if you are using a wired connection to the router).
4. Click on the name of the network you are currently connected to (listed under “Wi-Fi properties”).
5. Scroll down the page until you find the section labelled IPv4 DNS servers or just look for the entry titled IPv4 default gateway.
6. The number listed next to IPv4 default gateway (e.g., `192.168.1.254`) is the IP address of your Wi-Fi router.

Method 2: Using the Command Prompt

If you prefer using command-line tools or need the information quickly without navigating through menus, the Command Prompt provides the fastest route.

1. Click the Start button, type cmd, and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.
2. In the black command window, type the following command exactly as shown and press Enter: ipconfig
3. The command will output a list of your network adapters. Look for the section titled Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi.
4. Scan down that section until you see the line labelled Default Gateway.
5. The IP address displayed on that line is your router’s address.

Accessing Your Router

Once you have located the Default Gateway IP address, simply open any web browser (such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge), type that exact IP address into the URL address bar, and press Enter. This will load the router’s login page, where you can enter your administrative credentials to configure your network settings.