192.168.1.4 is the fourth IP address in the range between 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.1.255. Home broadband routers often use this range when assigning addresses to local devices. A router can automatically assign 192.168.1.4 to each device on a local network, or an administrator can do this manually.

Computers and other devices that support dynamic address assignment using DHCP can automatically obtain an IP address from a router. The router decides which address to assign from the range it has set up to manage (the DHCP pool).

For example, a router configured with a local IP address of 192.168.1.1 normally maintains all addresses beginning with 192.168.1.2 and ending with 192.168.1.255 in its DHCP pool. The router typically assigns these pooled addresses in sequential order (although the order is not guaranteed). In this example, 192.168.1.4 is the third address in line (after 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.1.3) for assignment.

Computers, phones, game consoles, printers, and other devices allow you to manually set an IP address. The text 192.168.1.4 or the numbers 192, 168, 1, and 4 must be entered into an IP or Wi-Fi configuration screen on the device. However, entering the IP number does not guarantee that the device can use it. The local network router must also have its subnet (network mask) configured to support 192.168.1.4.