The fastest way: check your router's connected devices list

Your router keeps a list of every device connected to it, including your Raspberry Pi. Log into your router's admin panel by typing your router's IP address into a web browser — usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, depending on the brand. You'll find the login credentials on a sticker on the router itself or in the manual.

Once you're logged in, look for a section called "Connected Devices," "DHCP Clients," "Device List," or "Network Map." The exact name varies by router brand (Netgear, TP-Link, Linksys, etc.), but it's always there. Scroll through the list and find the entry labeled "raspberry" or "raspberrypi" — that's your device, and the IP address will be listed right next to it.

This method works whether your Raspberry Pi is running Raspberry Pi OS, Ubuntu, or another operating system. It's also the most reliable because your router is the central point that assigns and tracks all IP addresses on your network.

Key Takeaways

  • Your router's admin panel shows all connected devices and their IP addresses — log in with the credentials on the router itself.
  • If you named your Raspberry Pi during setup, search for that name in your router's device list to find it faster.
  • On the Raspberry Pi itself, you can run hostname -I in the terminal to see the IP address without touching the router.
  • If your Raspberry Pi is not showing up anywhere, check that the ethernet cable is plugged in or that Wi-Fi is enabled and connected.
  • Write down or bookmark your Raspberry Pi's IP address — you'll need it every time you want to connect remotely.

Finding the IP address directly on the Raspberry Pi

If you have a keyboard and monitor plugged into your Raspberry Pi, you can find the IP address without touching the router. Open a terminal window and type hostname -I (capital I, not lowercase L), then press Enter. The IP address will appear on the next line.

This command works on any Linux-based Raspberry Pi system. If you're using Raspberry Pi OS with the desktop, you can also click the network icon in the top-right corner of the screen — it will show your IP address in a small popup.

The address you see here is the same one your router assigned. If you see multiple addresses, the first one is usually the one you need.

Using your Raspberry Pi's hostname instead of the IP address

If you know the hostname of your Raspberry Pi (the name you gave it during setup, or the default "raspberrypi"), you may not need the IP address at all. Many home networks support mDNS (multicast DNS), which lets you connect to devices by name instead of number.

Try typing raspberrypi.local into your browser or SSH command instead of the IP address. If your network supports mDNS — most modern home networks do — this will work without you ever needing to know the actual IP address. If you renamed your Raspberry Pi, use yourname.local instead.

This is often easier than memorizing numbers, especially if your Raspberry Pi's IP address changes (which can happen if your router restarts). The hostname stays the same.

What to do if your Raspberry Pi is not showing up

If you don't see your Raspberry Pi in the router's device list, the most common reason is that it's not actually connected. Check that the ethernet cable is firmly plugged into both the Pi and the router, or if you're using Wi-Fi, verify that the Pi is connected to the correct network.

If you're using Wi-Fi and the Pi is not connecting, you may need to configure the network settings. On Raspberry Pi OS, you can do this through the desktop settings or by editing the wpa_supplicant.conf file in the boot folder if you're setting up a headless Pi (one without a monitor).

Another possibility: your router may have a setting that hides certain devices from the admin panel, or the device list may be on a different page than you expect. Check your router's manual or search for "[your router brand] how to view connected devices" if you're having trouble finding the list.

Static IP addresses: when and why to set one

By default, your router assigns a new IP address to your Raspberry Pi each time it connects — this is called DHCP. Most of the time this is fine, but if you're running a service on your Pi that you want to access regularly (a web server, a file share, a security camera), a changing IP address becomes annoying.

You can tell your router to always give your Raspberry Pi the same IP address. In your router's admin panel, look for "DHCP Reservation" or "Static IP" settings. You'll need the Pi's MAC address (a unique identifier), which you can find in the router's device list or by running hostname -I and then ip link show on the Pi itself.

Once you set a reservation, your Raspberry Pi will always get the same IP address, and you won't have to hunt for it again. This is a one-time setup that takes about five minutes.

Accessing your Raspberry Pi remotely using SSH

Once you know the IP address, you can connect to your Raspberry Pi from another computer on the same network using SSH (find Shell). On Mac or Linux, open a terminal and type ssh pi@192.168.1.100 (replace the IP address with your actual one). On Windows, you can use PuTTY or Windows Terminal with the same command.

The default username on Raspberry Pi OS is pi, and you'll be prompted for a password. If you haven't changed it, the default password is raspberry — though you should change this when ready for security reasons.

SSH lets you control your Raspberry Pi from anywhere on your home network without needing a monitor or keyboard plugged in. This is especially useful if your Pi is tucked away in a closet or mounted on a wall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Raspberry Pi's IP address keep changing?

Your router assigns IP addresses automatically using DHCP, and it may assign a different one each time the Pi reconnects. If you need the same address every time, set up a DHCP reservation in your router's admin panel. This tells the router to always give your Pi the same number.

Can I find my Raspberry Pi's IP address if I don't have a monitor?

Yes. Log into your router's admin panel from any computer on the network and look for your Pi in the connected devices list. You can also use a tool like Angry IP Scanner on another computer to scan your network, though the router method is faster and more reliable.

What's the difference between a static IP and a DHCP reservation?

A static IP is set on the Raspberry Pi itself and never changes. A DHCP reservation is set on the router and tells it to always assign the same address to that Pi. For home networks, DHCP reservation is simpler and more flexible — if you move the Pi to a different network, it will work normally without reconfiguration.

Is it safe to use the default password after I find my Pi's IP address?

No. The default password "raspberry" is public knowledge, and anyone on your network could connect to your Pi. Change it when ready by running passwd in the terminal. If your Pi is accessible from outside your home network, this becomes even more important.

Can I access my Raspberry Pi from outside my home network?

Not through the IP address alone — that address only works on your home network. To access your Pi from outside, you would need to set up port forwarding on your router or use a service like Tailscale or ngrok. These add a layer of security between your Pi and the internet, which is important because exposing a Raspberry Pi directly to the internet can create security risks.