Whether you're troubleshooting a network issue or setting up a new device, knowing your subnet mask is essential. Here's how to find it on a Windows system using three simple methods.
Method 1: Using Command Prompt
Press Windows Key + R, type cmd, and hit Enter.
In the Command Prompt window, type ipconfig and press Enter.
Locate your active network adapter (Ethernet or Wi-Fi). The subnet mask will appear in the details listed beneath it.
Method 2: Using the Settings App
Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
Navigate to Network & Internet.
On Windows 10: Click View hardware and connection properties.
On Windows 11: Click Advanced network settings, then Hardware and connection properties.
In the network properties, you'll see your IPv4 address in CIDR notation (e.g., 192.168.1.5/24).
The number after the slash (/24) represents the subnet mask in shorthand.
/24 corresponds to 255.255.255.0, meaning the first 24 bits are used for the network portion.
Method 3: Using Control Panel
Press Windows Key + R, type control, and press Enter.
Go to Network and Internet, then Network and Sharing Center.
Click the name of your active network connection.
In the Status window, click Details.
Look for the IPv4 Subnet Mask entry in the list.
With these methods, you can quickly identify your subnet mask and better understand your network configuration. Whether you're a casual user or a network enthusiast, it's a handy bit of info to keep in your toolkit.