Your Minecraft server IP is basically your server’s home address on the internet—without it, nobody can connect to play with you. Whether you’re running a server on your own computer, renting one from a hosting provider, or jumping into a friend’s world, knowing how to find that IP address is essential.
Quick answer: If you’re hosting locally, open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac/Linux) and type ipconfig or ifconfig to find your internal IP. For rented servers, check your hosting provider’s control panel. For servers you’re joining, ask the server owner or check your server list in the multiplayer menu.
Finding Your Minecraft Server IP: The Basics
There are three main scenarios when you need a server IP address, and each one has a slightly different process. The good news is that none of them are complicated—most people just don’t know where to look.
Local Server (Running on Your Computer)
If you’re hosting a Minecraft server directly from your PC, you’ll need your local IP address so other players on your network can join. This is different from your public IP, which is what people outside your home network use.
For Windows:
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog
- Type
cmdand hit Enter - In Command Prompt, type
ipconfig - Look for “IPv4 Address” under your active network connection—this is usually something like
192.168.1.100
For Mac:
- Open Terminal (find it in Applications > Utilities)
- Type
ifconfigand press Enter - Find your local IP under “inet” in the active connection—typically starts with
192.168or10.0
For Linux:
- Open a terminal window
- Type
hostname -Iorifconfig - Your local IP will display immediately
Once you have this address, players on your home network can connect using it directly in their Minecraft launcher. If you want people outside your network to join, you’ll need to set up port forwarding on your router and share your public IP instead.
Rented Server (Hosting Provider)
If you’ve rented a Minecraft server from a hosting company like GameTeam.io, finding your server IP is even simpler. Your provider assigns you a dedicated IP address and displays it prominently in your account.
Here’s where to look:
- Control Panel: Log into your hosting provider’s dashboard—your server IP is usually on the main server page or overview section
- Welcome Email: Check the confirmation email you received when you set up your server; it typically includes your IP address and port number
- Server Details Page: Most providers show your IP, port, and connection info in one convenient location
Your rented server IP usually looks something like 123.45.67.89:25565, where the numbers after the colon represent your server port. Players can connect directly using this address in their multiplayer menu.
If you’re looking to set up a reliable, affordable server without the hassle of port forwarding and technical setup, GameTeam.io offers Minecraft server hosting starting at just $1/GB, with 20% off for a limited time. Your IP is ready to use immediately after purchase.
Joining Someone Else’s Server
When you want to play on a friend’s server or a public Minecraft server, you need their server IP. This is the easiest scenario because you don’t have to find anything—they give it to you.
- Direct Message: Ask your friend for their server IP and port
- Server Website: Public servers list their IP on their website or server page
- Server List Sites: Websites like Planet Minecraft or Minecraft Server List display IPs for thousands of public servers
- Discord or Forums: Many server communities post their connection info in Discord channels or community forums
Once you have the IP, open Minecraft, go to Multiplayer, click “Add Server,” paste the IP into the server address field, and you’re done.
Understanding Server IP Addresses vs. Ports
People often confuse these two, so let’s clear it up. Your server IP address is the location, and your port is the specific door people use to enter.
A complete server address looks like this: 192.168.1.100:25565
192.168.1.100= Your server IP (the address)25565= The default Minecraft port (the door)
The default port for Minecraft servers is always 25565, so you usually don’t need to type it. However, if your server uses a custom port (like 25566 or 25570), you’ll need to include it. Your hosting provider will tell you if you’re using anything other than the default.
What If You Can’t Find Your Server IP?
For local servers: Double-check that your server software is actually running. You can’t connect to a server that isn’t active. Also make sure you’re on the same network—if someone’s trying to connect from outside your home, they need your public IP, not your local one.
For rented servers: Log into your hosting control panel again and look for a “Server Status” or “Connection Info” section. If you still can’t find it, contact your hosting provider’s support team—they’ll send you the details in minutes. Most providers have live chat support available.
For joining servers: If the IP doesn’t work, the server might be offline, or you might have a typo. Ask the server owner to verify the IP is correct and that the server is currently running.
Common Issues When Connecting
Finding your IP is one thing; getting players to actually connect is another. Here are the most common problems:
Connection Refused or Timeout
This usually means the server isn’t running or the IP/port combination is wrong. Make sure your Minecraft server software is actually started and listening on the correct port. If you’re using a local server, verify the port in your server.properties file matches what players are using.
Players Can’t Connect From Outside Your Network
If people can’t reach your local server from outside your home, you haven’t set up port forwarding yet. Your router blocks incoming connections by default for security. You’ll need to configure port forwarding to forward traffic from your public IP to your local server. Check out our complete port forwarding guide for step-by-step instructions.
Server Shows Wrong IP in Multiplayer Menu
Sometimes Minecraft displays an incorrect IP in your server list. This usually happens with local servers. Just re-add the server with the correct IP address and it should fix itself.
Why Your Server IP Matters
Your server IP is the foundation of multiplayer Minecraft. Without it, there’s no way for players to find and connect to your world. Whether you’re running a small survival server for friends or managing a larger community server, your IP is the one piece of information everyone needs.
If you’re tired of dealing with port forwarding, dynamic IP changes, or technical headaches, that’s exactly why hosted servers exist. With a rented server, the hosting provider handles all the backend infrastructure—your IP stays stable, your server stays online 24/7, and you focus on playing instead of troubleshooting.
FAQ: Finding Your Minecraft Server IP
Can my server IP change?
Yes, if you’re using a local server on a home internet connection. Your ISP can assign you a new public IP periodically (sometimes daily). This is why port forwarding can be frustrating for home servers. Rented servers have static IPs that never change, which is one reason they’re more reliable for communities.
Is my server IP the same as my public IP?
Not necessarily. Your local IP (like 192.168.1.100) only works on your home network. Your public IP is what the internet sees and is what people outside your network use to connect. You can find your public IP by searching “what is my IP” in Google.
Can I hide my server IP?
Not really. If people are connecting to your server, they need your IP—it’s unavoidable. What you can do is limit who you share it with. Only give your IP to trusted players, or use a whitelist to control who can join.
What’s the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?
IPv4 addresses look like 192.168.1.100 (four sets of numbers). IPv6 addresses look like 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334 (much longer, with letters and numbers). Minecraft typically uses IPv4, so stick with that unless you have a specific reason to use IPv6.
Do I need to memorize my server IP?
No. Write it down somewhere or save it in a document. Your hosting provider’s dashboard will always have it available, and you can add your server to the multiplayer menu so you don’t have to type it every time.
Finding your Minecraft server IP is straightforward once you know where to look. Whether you’re running a local server, renting from a provider, or joining someone else’s world, the process takes just a few minutes. If you want to skip the complexity of home hosting entirely, GameTeam.io has you covered with affordable, reliable server hosting that’s ready to go the moment you need it.
