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How to find the MAC address on a device

How to find the MAC address on a device

Every device connected to a network has a Media Access Control (MAC) address, that uniquely identifies it. The MAC address is a 12 character hexadecimal number. These instructions describe how to find the MAC address (Wireless or wired) of devices and operating systems.

It is important to note that manufacturers sometimes use different names to describe the MAC address, such as Hardware ID, Physical Address, Wireless ID, Wi-Fi Address, etc.

Mobile Devices

Android (Smartphone and Tablet)

On most recent Android versions, the steps are nearly identical across manufacturers.

Method 1: Settings Menu

  1. Unlock the device and open Settings.

  1. Scroll down and tap About phone or About tablet (sometimes located under System).

  1. Tap Status or Hardware information.

  1. Look for Wi-Fi MAC address; it will follow the format 00:11:22:AA:BB:CC.

Method 2: Network Settings (Recommended for Samsung/Pixel)

  1. Open Settings > Network & internet (or Connections).

  1. Tap Wi-Fi, then tap the gear icon next to your connected network.

  1. Scroll down to view the MAC address for that specific connection.

Note: If you see "Randomized MAC," this is a privacy feature. Use the "Device MAC" if you are registering the device for a static network whitelist.

iOS & iPadOS (iPhone and iPad)

Method 1: Connection Details

  1. Open the Settings app.

  1. Tap Wi-Fi.

  1. Tap the "i" (info) icon next to your connected network.

  1. Locate Wi-Fi Address—this is your MAC address.

Method 2: General Settings

  1. Go to Settings > General > About.

  1. Scroll down to Wi-Fi Address.

 Desktop & Laptop Computers

Windows 11

Wireless (Wi-Fi) MAC Address

  1. Open Settings > Network & internet.

  1. Click Wi-Fi > Hardware properties.

  1. Find Physical address (MAC).

Wired (Ethernet) MAC Address

  1. Open Settings > Network & internet.

  1. Click Ethernet (the device must be plugged in).

  1. Click Hardware properties and locate Physical address (MAC).

Command Line Method (Fastest)

  1. Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter.

  1. Type ipconfig /all and press Enter.

  1. Look for the "Physical Address" line under the relevant adapter.

macOS

Wireless (Wi-Fi) MAC Address

  1. Click the Apple Menu > System Settings (or System Preferences).

  1. Click Wi-Fi in the sidebar.

  1. Click Details… or Advanced….

  1. Look for Wi-Fi MAC address or Hardware Address.

Wired (Ethernet) MAC Address

  1. Click the Apple Menu > System Settings > Network.

  1. Select your Ethernet connection (e.g., "USB LAN" or "Thunderbolt Ethernet").

  1. Click Details… and find the Hardware Address.

Terminal Method

  1. Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities).

  1. Type ifconfig en0 (usually Wi-Fi) or ifconfig en1 (usually Ethernet) and press Enter.

  1. The address follows the word ether.

Ubuntu Linux

Graphical Interface (GUI)

  1. Open the System Menu (top-right corner).

  1. Click Settings > Wi-Fi or Network.

  1. Click the gear icon next to your active connection.

  1. Look for Hardware Address.

Terminal Method

  1. Open Terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T).

  1. Type ip link and press Enter.

  1. Locate your interface (e.g., wlan0 or eth0).

  1. The MAC address is listed next to link/ether.

 

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