What is My MAC Address? Complete Guide & Tools

Important Privacy Notice

Websites cannot directly detect your MAC address for security and privacy reasons. Your MAC address is only accessible to your local network and connected devices. To find your MAC address, you need to check it directly on your device using the instructions below.

MAC Address Tools

MAC Address Generator

Generate random MAC addresses for testing or network configuration:

MAC Address Structure

00:1A:2B
OUI (Manufacturer)
3C:4D:5E
NIC Specific

MAC Address Manufacturer Lookup

Identify the device manufacturer from a MAC address:

Manufacturer information will appear here

MAC Address Validator

Verify if a MAC address is valid and get its properties:

Validation results will appear here

What is a MAC Address?

A MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique identifier assigned to your device's network interface controller (NIC). Think of it as your device's physical address on a network, whereas an IP address is its logical address.

Globally Unique

Every network adapter has a unique MAC address assigned during manufacturing.

Hardware-Based

Unlike IP addresses, MAC addresses are tied to the physical hardware.

Layer 2 Address

Used at the data link layer for local network communications.

Private to Your Network

Not transmitted beyond your local network for security reasons.

MAC Address Format

A MAC address consists of 12 hexadecimal digits (0-9, A-F), typically displayed in one of these formats:

00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E    00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E    001A.2B3C.4D5E

The first 6 digits (00:1A:2B in the example) represent the Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI), which identifies the manufacturer. The last 6 digits are assigned by the manufacturer to make the address unique.

How to Find Your MAC Address

Finding MAC Address on Windows

Method 1: Using Command Prompt

  1. Press Win + X and select "Command Prompt" or "Windows PowerShell"
  2. Type ipconfig /all and press Enter
  3. Look for "Physical Address" under your network adapter (Ethernet or Wireless)
  4. It will display as six pairs of hexadecimal digits (e.g., 00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E)
Windows Command Prompt showing MAC address

Method 2: Using Settings (Windows 10/11)

  1. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Status
  2. Click on "View hardware and connection properties"
  3. Find your active connection and look for "Physical address (MAC)"

Finding MAC Address on macOS

Method 1: Using System Information

  1. Click the Apple menu → About This Mac → System Report
  2. Select Network from the sidebar
  3. Choose your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
  4. Look for "MAC Address" in the details panel

Method 2: Using Terminal

  1. Open Terminal (Applications → Utilities → Terminal)
  2. Type ifconfig en0 for Ethernet or ifconfig en1 for Wi-Fi (on newer Macs, Wi-Fi might be en0)
  3. Look for "ether" followed by the MAC address
macOS Terminal showing MAC address

Finding MAC Address on Linux

Method 1: Using Terminal Commands

  1. Open Terminal
  2. Type one of these commands:
    • ip link
    • ifconfig (may require net-tools to be installed)
    • nmcli device show
  3. Look for "link/ether" or "HWaddr" followed by the MAC address
Linux Terminal showing MAC address

Finding MAC Address on iPhone/iPad

Method 1: Using Settings

  1. Go to Settings → General → About
  2. Look for "Wi-Fi Address" - this is your Wi-Fi MAC address
iOS Settings showing MAC address

Note: In iOS 14 and later, Apple uses Private Wi-Fi Address (random MAC) by default for enhanced privacy. To see or disable this feature:

  1. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi
  2. Tap the (i) icon next to your connected network
  3. You'll see the "Private Wi-Fi Address" toggle

Finding MAC Address on Android

Method 1: Using Settings (may vary by device)

  1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Status (or Settings → System → About Phone)
  2. Look for "Wi-Fi MAC address" or "Bluetooth address"

Method 2: Wi-Fi Settings

  1. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi
  2. Tap the gear icon next to your connected network (or tap "Advanced")
  3. Look for "MAC address" in the network details
Android Settings showing MAC address

Note: Newer Android versions (10+) use MAC randomization by default for enhanced privacy. To see or disable this feature, check your Wi-Fi advanced settings.

Common Uses for MAC Addresses

Network Access Control

MAC filtering can be used to allow or deny specific devices on a network.

DHCP Reservations

Assign the same IP address to specific devices every time they connect.

Network Troubleshooting

Identify devices causing network issues or conflicts.

Device Authentication

Some systems use MAC addresses as an additional authentication factor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can websites see my MAC address?

No. For security and privacy reasons, your MAC address is not exposed to websites or servers on the internet. It's only visible to devices on your local network (like your router). The MAC address does not travel beyond your router when you browse the internet.

Can I change my MAC address?

Yes, on most devices you can use software to temporarily "spoof" or change your MAC address. This might be useful for troubleshooting network issues or enhancing privacy, but keep in mind:

  • The change is typically temporary and resets after reboot
  • Some networks may flag or block devices with changed MAC addresses
  • Changing MAC addresses might violate terms of service for some networks

Why do I have multiple MAC addresses on one device?

Each network interface on your device has its own MAC address. For example, your laptop will have different MAC addresses for:

  • Wi-Fi adapter
  • Ethernet port
  • Bluetooth adapter

Why do modern phones use random MAC addresses?

Modern smartphones (iOS 14+, Android 10+) use MAC address randomization by default to enhance privacy. Since MAC addresses can be used to track a device across different networks, randomization helps prevent this type of tracking, especially in public places.

I lost a device. Can I track it using its MAC address?

Not directly. MAC addresses only operate at the local network level. However:

  • If the device connects to your home network, you might see it in your router's connected devices list
  • Some device tracking/management systems may use MAC addresses for identification within a controlled network
  • For lost devices, dedicated tracking services like Find My iPhone (Apple) or Find My Device (Android) are more effective