How to find printer IP address

One minute your printer seems to be working fine, the next you can’t figure out its IP address and nothing will print. Maybe you’re on a tight deadline, or you need to troubleshoot remotely, and suddenly that simple task feels like a roadblock.

Finding and managing printer IPs doesn’t have to be a headache. Whether you’re on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, or dealing with cloud-managed devices, there are clear ways to locate the information you need and keep your printers running smoothly. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to discover printer IPs safely, work around device restrictions, and make management simple and secure.

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Why printer IP addresses change or disappear

Understanding why a printer’s IP address becomes unstable or difficult to retrieve requires looking beyond a single setting. Network conditions, printer configuration choices, and supporting system behavior all play a role in whether a printer remains stable, discoverable, or appears to change unexpectedly.

The most common factors include:

• DHCP behavior: According to Xerox Support, many “printer offline” incidents are caused by IP reassignment rather than hardware failure. In most environments, printers rely on DHCP, meaning their IP address can change when a lease expires, the device reboots, or the DHCP scope is exhausted.
• Wireless network conditions: Wireless printers may roam between access points or bands, increasing the likelihood of reauthentication and IP changes compared to wired connections.
• Printer configuration choices: Printers with static IP addresses or DHCP reservations always keep the same network address, which means devices and print services can reliably locate them. Unmanaged DHCP printers may receive a new IP address when DHCP leases expire or the device restarts, causing broken connections, failed print jobs, and the need for repeated rediscovery or reconfiguration.
• Network segmentation controls: VLAN segmentation, firewall rules, and multicast filtering can block discovery traffic, making a printer appear invisible even when it is online.
• Naming conventions and port configuration: When printers are installed using Raw TCP or LPR/LPD, the IP address is stored directly in the port configuration and is easy to retrieve. IPP behaves similarly, although some drivers mask the IP behind a secure URL.
• Discovery-based protocols: WSD treats the printer as a discoverable service rather than a fixed endpoint, often displaying a WSD identifier instead of an IP address. mDNS-based installs on macOS or Linux hide the IP behind names like printer.local, requiring additional lookups.
• Interface differences: Wired versus wireless connections, dual-band radios, IPv4 versus IPv6, and multiple active NICs can influence which IP address is visible to the OS or network tools.
• Overlooked system behavior: Application and icon caching mechanisms across operating systems can complicate diagnostics. Windows relies on IconCache.db, macOS uses Launch Services, and Linux desktops depend on .desktop files and icon themes. Corruption in these layers can create visibility issues even when underlying resources exist.
• Hybrid and virtualized environments: vTPM, remote desktops, or cloud-hosted applications may cause shortcuts or access points to disappear locally while remaining available in the virtual layer.

Interface types and IP visibility

Microsoft explains that IP addresses are tied to specific network interfaces, which is why a printer’s connection type directly affects how easily its IP can be identified in system settings and network tools.

The International Journal of Research in Engineering and Science (IJRES) notes that wired printers usually keep a consistent, easy-to-find IP address, whereas wireless printers may change addresses more often because they reconnect and roam between access points. For example, a simple wired printer typically remains reachable at the same IP, making it easier to locate and manage.

Other connection types affect IP visibility as well, including:

• Dual-band radios: Printers supporting both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks may receive different IP addresses depending on the connected band.
• IPv4 vs. IPv6 addressing: Some operating systems automatically prefer IPv6 addresses when communicating on the network, even if the printer also has an IPv4 address. Administrators often troubleshoot using IPv4 because it’s still the most widely used in corporate networks. This mismatch can create visibility gaps. Your tools or scripts might look for the printer at its IPv4 address, while the system is actually using IPv6, making the printer seem “missing” or unreachable.
• Multiple active NICs: Printers with both Ethernet and Wi-Fi enabled can appear multiple times on the network, each with its own IP.
• Port and protocol abstraction: Raw TCP and LPR/LPD store the IP directly in the port configuration, while IPP may mask it behind a URL. WSD and mDNS treat the printer as a discoverable service, exposing identifiers or hostnames instead of an IP address.

How to determine a printer’s IP directly from the device

Many modern printers display their network address on the control panel, in a configuration printout, or via the embedded web server (EWS). The exact steps vary by vendor, so knowing both methods ensures accurate identification.

Xerox printers

• Control panel: Press Home > Device > About, then check the Network section for the IPv4 or IPv6 address.
• Configuration report: Print a configuration or network report by selecting Device > Information Pages > Print Configuration Report. The IP appears under the Connectivity section.
• Embedded web server: Enter the IP into a browser on a computer within the same LAN to access detailed network settings, hostname, and port information.

HP printers

• Control panel: Use the touch screen or menus to open Network, Wireless Status, or Ethernet Settings to view IP directly.
• Network configuration page: Print a network configuration page; the IP is listed under IPv4/IPv6 details.
• Embedded web server: . Once you have that IP you can enter it in a browser on a same-LAN computer to reach the printer’s embedded web server (EWS), which also reveals configuration tabs (network port, status, hostname, etc.)

Vendor menus, network info placement, and default IP settings vary widely. Always verify a printer’s IP using both the on-screen menus and a printed configuration page before adding it to your network. This simple step prevents errors caused by DHCP reassignments or recent device relocations.

How to find a printer’s IP address on Windows

Windows offers several ways to uncover a printer’s IP address. Each method suits a slightly different situation, whether your printer is working normally, acting up, or the graphical interface is unreliable. Here’s how to do it:

Method 1: Using command prompt

Command Prompt is useful when the printer UI is unreliable or you want a complete list of network printers. This method exposes IPs even when the GUI fails and works well for IT troubleshooting.

1. Search “Command Prompt” in the Windows Search box and then click “Run as administrator”

2. Type netstat -r and press Enter

3. Type ping printername (replace with your printer’s name)

4. Run wmic printer get name, portname, drivername to see every printer with its network port

Method 2: Using Windows settings

Windows 10 and 11 users can use the modern Settings app for a more visual approach.

1. Press Windows + I

2. Go to Bluetooth & devices

3. Select printers & scanners

4. Click on your printer name

5. Click Printer properties or Hardware properties

6. Look for the IP under Web Services or Location

Take note: On Windows 11, the IP may appear directly on the main printer page, saving an extra click.

Method 3: Using PowerShell

This method is best for domain environments, WSD printers, or when CMD is insufficient.

1. Search “PowerShell” in the Windows Search box and then click “Run as administrator”

2. To see the actual IP addresses associated with the printer ports, type: Get-PrinterPort | Format-Table Name, PrinterHostAddress

The best part is that you do not need to manually run PowerShell on every machine. With Atera’s RMM platform, you can deploy scripts, such as those that retrieve printer IPs, across your entire network from a single dashboard. You can schedule regular checks during maintenance windows, collect results centrally, and track printer status without visiting each device.

AI Copilot lets you turn plain-language instructions into ready-to-run scripts, so no scripting experience is required. Alerts can be configured to notify your team if a printer goes offline, loses its IP, or has configuration errors.

How to find a printer’s IP address on Mac

Mac systems provide several ways to locate a printer’s IP address.

Method 1: System settings

System Settings offers a quick view of printer details, including the IP.

1. Open system settings: Click the Apple menu → System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
2. Go to printers: Select Printers & Scanners from the sidebar.
3. Select your printer: Click the printer you want from the list.
4. View details: Click Options & Supplies (or the info “i” button in Ventura and later).
5. Check the address: The IP appears under Location or in the URL field.

This method is best for standard network printers where macOS displays the connection directly.

Method 2: CUPS web interface

CUPS gives a detailed view of printer settings and network info.

1. Open a browser: Use Safari, Chrome, or another browser.
2. Access CUPS: Enter http://localhost:631 in the address bar.
3. View printers: Click Printers in the top menu.
4. Select your printer: Click its name.
5. Find the connection: The printer’s IP shows in the Connection field.

CUPS also allows you to check print history and access advanced settings. This makes it especially useful when the IP isn’t shown in System Settings, or for AirPrint/IPP printers that macOS references by service name rather than a numeric IP.

How to find a printer’s IP on mobile devices (iOS & Android)

On mobile devices, discovering a printer’s IP typically depends on whether the printing interface or related apps expose network details.

iOS

1. Start by opening the Share menu and selecting Print.

2. Tapping the printer name may reveal the IP, but AirPrint often only shows the printer’s service name. For a more reliable method, check Settings or the printer’s companion app.

Android

1. Open Settings on your Android phone.

2. Go to Connected Devices (sometimes called Connections > Printing).

3. Tap Printing or Default Print Service. Look for your printer in the list. Some devices show the IP address directly.

If this does not work, network scanning tools such as Fing or Net Analyzer can identify printers on local subnets, displaying hostnames, IP addresses, and relevant ports like IPP or JetDirect.

Stay on top of printer IPs without the headaches

For IT teams managing network infrastructure, Atera’s Network Discovery add-on helps identify all devices on your network, including printers. Using NMAP-powered scanning, Network Discovery detects connected devices, reveals IP addresses and network configuration, and provides visibility into your complete network topology. Its unified dashboard gives you network-wide visibility that includes printer discovery alongside all other managed devices, making it easier to monitor, manage, and secure your network from a single place.

What might normally be a stressful, manual process becomes straightforward and reliable. Whether you’re troubleshooting a single device or managing a larger IT environment, you can handle it all remotely, respond to issues instantly, and keep your network secure without extra hassle.

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