How to Find Your Default Gateway on Any Computer


How to Find Your Default Gateway

 

Finding Your Default Gateway on Windows

Step 1: Open “Command Prompt”

If you are using a Windows-based computer, you simply need to access a Command Prompt to find out what the Default Gateway is. To access a Command Prompt, click on the Start menu button and search for CMD. Click to open.

The Windows Start menu showing search results for “cmd.”

If you are having a difficult time locating the Command Prompt using the start menu you can press the Windows Key on your keyboard while also pressing the R key. This will bring up the Run Menu. Now you can simply type CMD and click OK.

The Windows Run menu preparing to open Command Prompt

After opening the Command Prompt you should see a small black window like the one below.

Newly opened Windows Command Prompt

Step 2: Open “ipconfig”

In the Command Prompt window, type ipconfig and press Enter/Return on your keyboard. You will see a lot of information generated in this window. If you scroll up you should see “Default Gateway” with the device’s IP address listed to the right of it.

Windows Command Prompt displaying a device’s Default Gateway and IP address

Finding Your Default Gateway on Mac OS

Step 1: Access System Preferences

First, click the Apple icon in the top left corner and select System Settings.

Step 2: Find Your Current Connection and IP Information

Click Wi-Fi or Network and find your current connection, then click Details…

Wi-Fi Settings on Mac operating system displaying location of Details option.

Your default gateway will appear next to Router. See image below.

Note: An IP Address is the internal address of the computer you are on.

“System Preferences” menu on a Mac operating system displaying a device’s default gateway.

Finding Your Default Gateway on Linux

Open a terminal session and use the command: ip route | grep default

The result should look something similar to this:

default via 192.168.0.1 dev wlp58s0 proto dhcp metric 600

Accessing Your Router On Any Operating System

Once you have located the Default Gateway IP address on your Operating System of choice, open any web browser and input the IP address into the Address Bar and press Enter/Return on your keyboard.

A box should appear prompting you to enter the router’s username and password. This information can sometimes be found on your router, or in your information guide.

If you can’t find it on either, you can search the Internet by typing your router’s make and model and “Default Administrator Password” into any search engine. This will only work if you have not changed the password on your router. If you have changed the default password and forget it, you will need to reset your router.