Local IP in one sentence
A local IP (also called private IP) is the address your router assigns to each device so they can talk to each other on the same network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
What a local IP looks like
Most home networks use IPv4 private ranges like: 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, or 172.16–172.31.x.x.
Example: your laptop might be 192.168.1.23 while your printer is 192.168.1.50. Both are “local” because they only make sense inside your router’s network.
When you actually need it
- Connecting to a device on your network (NAS, printer, smart home hub).
- Remote control / local web dashboards (e.g., http://192.168.1.1).
- Port forwarding or firewall rules (you target the device’s local IP).
- Troubleshooting: “am I on the right Wi-Fi network?”
Local IP vs public IP
Your public IP is what websites see. Your local IP is what your router sees. Quick read here: Local IP vs public IP .
IPv6 note (optional, but common)
Some networks also show an IPv6 address. That’s normal. If a guide or app asks specifically for “IPv4”, use the 192.168… / 10… style address.