Networking 2 min read

Your device knows how to talk directly to other devices on your local network. For everything else, the whole internet, it sends traffic to one address: the default gateway. At home that is your router.

What the default gateway does

When your laptop wants to reach a website, it checks whether the destination is on the same local network, using its IP address and subnet mask. If not, it hands the packet to the gateway, which forwards it toward the internet and performs NAT so the answer finds its way back.

Typical gateway addresses are 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1 and 10.0.0.1.

How to find your default gateway

  • Windows: open Command Prompt and run ipconfig. Look for Default Gateway.
  • macOS: System Settings → Network → your connection → Details → TCP/IP → Router. Or in Terminal: route -n get default.
  • iPhone and iPad: Settings → Wi-Fi → ⓘ → Router.
  • Android: Settings → Network & internet → Internet → ⚙ next to your network → Gateway (sometimes under Advanced).
  • Linux: ip route | grep default.
  • Chromebook: Settings → Network → your network → Network → Gateway.

Type the address into your browser to open the router's settings. See how to log in to your router.

Default gateway vs public IP

Default gateway Public IP
Example 192.168.1.1 81.2.69.160
What it is Your router's address inside your network Your router's address on the internet
Where to find it Your device's network settings Our home page

Fixing "default gateway is not available"

This Windows message means your device lost contact with the router.

  1. Restart the router and your device.
  2. Update or reinstall the network adapter driver (Device Manager → Network adapters).
  3. Turn off the adapter's power saving: adapter Properties → Power Management → untick "Allow the computer to turn off this device".
  4. Reset the network stack: netsh winsock reset and netsh int ip reset in an administrator Command Prompt, then restart.
  5. If it happens on all devices, the router may be failing.

Frequently asked questions

Can I change my default gateway?

You can change the router's local address in its settings, and DHCP will hand the new gateway to your devices.

Why do I have no default gateway?

Your device did not get settings from DHCP, often shown as an address starting with 169.254. See what is DHCP.

Is the default gateway the same as DNS?

Often the router acts as both, so the same address appears in both fields. They are different jobs.