How to Find IP Address Using CMD Prompt? Know Best Ways

Approved By Aswin Vijayan

Published On April 11th, 2024

Reading Time 7 Minutes Reading

Category Updates

For finding the digital traces of any device, the IP address (Internet Protocol) plays the role of connecting the devices while exchanging the chunks of data packets. Often there are various instances where forensics experts and individuals search methods to find IP address using cmd. In this article, we will discover methods to trace the IP address while using the Common Prompt command.

Moreover, IP addresses commonly refer to the backbone of communication, exchange, and data networking. It enables devices to seamlessly develop interconnection and provides the route packets. Most importantly, the dynamic numbers of IP addresses provide the location of any devices connected to network premises.

Hence, it allows users to trace the path of devices when strings with any website or online service. Now, read this article to learn the methods for how to trace IP address in CMD commands.

Know the Difference Between Local vs Private IP Address

Before diving into the step guidance, let’s first understand the major difference between local and private IP addresses. The public IP address is linked with a common internet router i.e. in-house internet service. Hence, the unique address of all devices will be the same if connected with public wifi or router.

On the other hand, using the adapter or specific network connection offers individual unique addresses to your devices. Compared to public IP addresses, private IP addresses are secure and prevent any DDoS attack or data tampering practices. Now, let’s move down to know how to find IP address using CMD prompt.

Reasons to Trace an IP Address Using Command Prompt

This section will address the common need for tracking or tracking IP addresses. These terms are used interchangeably but remain different from each other. Moreover, tracking the IP address typically involves the process of identifying the route packets or data sources from source to destination.

On the other hand, tracking an IP address is mainly used for monitoring specific IP addresses when visiting any website, server, or even connected to the server. Now, let’s move to explore the reasons to trace or find IP address using CMD prompt.

Perform Network Troubleshooting:- Users can perform the different command prompts for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux to trace the location of the IP address. Moreover, it enables users to discover the routing issue, loss of packets, and more.
Diagnose Performance of Network:- Another need to trace an IP address using command prompt includes analyzing the network performance and connectivity error. Utilizing the CMD method users can compare or trace the problematic network error.
Security & Investigation Concerns:- Often forensic or cyber protagonists purposely trace IP address using CMD commands to find the exchange database forensics evidence. With this, professionals can identify the traces of malicious attempts for hacking, phishing, or cyberattacks.

Overall, these are the common factors to find an IP address with command prompt. As it enables experts to get insights into network performance, behavior, and even security. It further helps to analyze the geolocation of hackers behind rising cybercriminals and online frauds.

Manual Methods to Find IP Address Using CMD Prompt

In this section, we will unfold the complete step-by-step guidance to trace an IP address using command prompt on Windows and Mac operating machines. For the same, users need to understand the tracert command as it is designed to trace the traveling time of a packet from the local computing system to the destination domain address.

Hence, tracing the IP address enables professionals to analyze the traffic of the visitors, location, and their behavior across the website. Besides this, it leverages users to prevent themselves from unauthorized disruptions and harm. Now, before delving into the step guidance, let’s first uncover the ways to find IP address through CMD:-

Find IP Address Using CMD via Windows (XP)
Trace IP Address in Windows (Vista 7)
Tracking IP Address Through CMD in Mac OSX

Trace IP Address Using CMD Prompt for Microsoft Windows (XP)

Firstly, enter Windows Key + R to Run the Window.
After this, press CMD and again press Enter to open the Command Prompt > Input the IP address.
Now, enter on Tracert and then, a space. With this, the IP address will automatically move to the destination source.
Lastly, press the Enter key.

Find IP Address Using CMD in Microsoft Windows (Vista, 7)

Open the interface of the control panel on your operating system.
Move to Programs.
After this, “Programs and Features” and go to “Turn Windows features on or off”.
Now, check out the box nearer to “Telnet Client”.
Click on OK.
Go to Start and then, Run.
Input the “CMD” and then, press OK.
After this, type the command “Tracert” which is followed by Space > IP address.
Lastly, go to the Enter key.

Steps to Trace an IP Address Using Command Prompt for Mac OSX

Open the folder of Applications.
Move to Network Utilities.
Click on the tab of Traceroute.
Input the IP address or domain name > Trace.

How to Trace the IP Address of an Email?

Previously, we have explained the complete steps guidance to find IP address using CMD command. In this section, we will unfold the steps and instructions to trace the IP address or domain name of the received email in your mailbox. Hence, learn the below-mentioned step guidance:-

Open the interface of Gmail.
After this, select the desired email for tracing its IP address.
Now, click on the three vertical dots and click on “Show Original” from the drop-down menu.
In the next interface, check out the “Received” header.
Lastly, copy the complete IP address and then, paste it on the IP lookup tool for tracing.

Implementing these steps, professionals can easily trace the route packets to gather the raw data for investigation and other law enforcement needs. Hence, it is a secure yet proficient solution for tracing the domain address of any sender.

Other IP Configuration Command (ipconfig)

Step 1: – Press the Windows Key to access the Start screen. Enter cmd in the field and click OK.

Step 2: – Enter “ipconfig” and press the (Enter key).

The IPv4 Address is your computer’s IP address.
The IPv4 Default Gateway is your router’s IP address.
Subnet Mask identifies the network address of an IP address by performing a bitwise AND operation on the netmask.

IP Configuration Command (Ping)

Users can use the ping command to test the ability of the source computer to reach a specified destination computer. The ping command is usually used to verify that a computer can communicate over the network with another computer or network device.

Number of Pings: – By default, the ping cmd sends out 4 packets of 32 bytes each.

Size of Packet: – By default, the packets sent are a small 32 bytes. So, a user can set their own size up to the maximum of 65500 bytes.

Time Out: – The timeout by default is 4,000 milliseconds which amounts to 4 minutes.

Also, read about email forensics analysis.

Concluding Words

In this article, we have addressed different approaches to find IP address using CMD. Since there are several needs for professionals behind tracing the domain address or route packet of destination sources. Hence, exercising the above step guidance is considered a useful task for identifying the location of any individual behind data tampering of a business or website.