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The MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique identifier assigned to network devices for communication within a network. It consists of six pairs of alphanumeric characters separated by colons. To successfully connect to a network, you need the MAC address of your router. To locate the MAC address on any networked device, use one of the following methods.
Steps
Windows Vista, 7, or 8 Operating Systems
Connect to the network. This method is only available if your computer is currently connected to a network. Connect to the network protocols for which you need the MAC address (also known as the physical address or device identifier). These protocols include Wi-Fi for the wireless network card's MAC address and Ethernet for the wired network card's MAC address.
Click on the connection icon in the system tray. The icon resembles a small image (refer to the image above) or a tiny computer screen. After clicking, select "Open Network and Sharing Center."
- For Windows 8, run the desktop app from the Start screen. In Desktop Mode, right-click the connection icon in the system tray and choose "Network and Sharing Center."
Locate the network name and click on it. It is always displayed after the word Connections. Clicking it will open a small window, as shown in the image.
Click on Details. A list of network configuration information will appear, similar to the output of the IPConfig tool in the Command Prompt.
Look for the Physical Address line. This is the MAC address information you need.
Windows 98 and XP Operating Systems
Connect to the network. This method is only available if your computer is currently connected to a network. Connect to the network protocols for which you need the MAC address (also referred to as the physical address or device identifier). The connection protocols include Wi-Fi for the wireless network card's MAC address and Ethernet for the wired network card's MAC address.
Open Network Connections. If this icon is not on your desktop, locate it in the taskbar (found at the bottom-right corner of the Windows toolbar) and click on it to view details about the current connection or a list of available connections.
- You can also access Network Connections from the Control Panel, located in the Start menu.
Right-click on the current connection and select Status.
Choose Details. However, in some versions of Windows, it might be located under the Support tab. A list of network configuration information will then appear, similar to the output of the IPConfig tool in the Command Prompt.
Look for the Physical Address line. This is the MAC address information you need.
Any Version of Windows
Open Command Prompt. Press ⊞ Win+R and type cmd into the Run dialog. Press ↵ Enter to open Command Prompt.
- For Windows 8, press ⊞ Win+X and select Command Prompt from the menu.
Run the GetMAC command. In the Command Prompt window, type getmac /v /fo list and press ↵ Enter. The configuration details for all networks will then be displayed on the screen.
Locate the Physical Address. This is another way to describe your MAC address information. Ensure you identify the correct physical address for the connected device you need – as multiple devices may be listed. For example, your wireless connection will have a different MAC address than your Ethernet connection.
Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) and Newer Versions
Open System Preferences. You can find it by clicking the Apple icon located at the top-left corner of the screen. Ensure your computer is connected to the network for which you want to find the MAC address information.
Select your connection. Choose Network and select either Airport or Built-in Ethernet, depending on the type of connection you are using. The connections will be listed in the left pane.
- For Ethernet connections, select Advanced and navigate to the Ethernet tab. At the top, you will see the Ethernet ID, which is the MAC address you need.
- For AirPort connections, select Advanced and go to the AirPort tab. There, you will find the AirPort ID, which is the MAC address you need.
Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) and Older Versions
Open System Preferences. You can find it by clicking the Apple icon located at the top-left corner of the screen. Ensure your computer is connected to the network for which you want to find the MAC address information.
Select Network.
Select the connection from the Show menu. The Show menu will list all network-connected devices. Choose either Ethernet or AirPort.
Locate the AirPort ID or Ethernet ID. When you select a connection from the Show menu, click on the corresponding tab (Ethernet or AirPort). The MAC address for the Ethernet ID or AirPort ID will be displayed.
Linux Operating System
Open Terminal. Depending on your system, it might be called Terminal, Xterm, Shell, Command Prompt, or something similar. Typically, you can find it in the Accessories folder within the Applications menu (or equivalent).
Open the configuration interface. Type ifconfig -a and press ↵ Enter. If access is denied, type sudo ifconfig -a and enter your password.
Locate the MAC address. Scroll down until you find the connection you need (the primary Ethernet port will be labeled eth0). Look for HWaddr, which is your MAC address.
iOS Operating System
Open Settings. You can find the Settings app on your Home Screen. Select the General option.
Choose About. The screen will display specific device information. Scroll down until you see the Wi-Fi Address. This is the MAC address of your device.
- This guide applies to all iOS devices: iPhone, iPod, and iPad.
Find the Bluetooth MAC address. If you need the Bluetooth address, you can find it just below the Wi-Fi Address section.
Android Operating System
Open Settings. From the Home Screen, press the Menu button and select Settings. You can also access Settings by opening the app from the App Drawer.
Scroll down to About Device. This option is usually located at the bottom of the Settings list. Under About Device, select Status.
Locate the MAC address. Scroll down until you find the Wi-Fi MAC address information. This is the MAC address of your device.
Find the Bluetooth MAC address. The Bluetooth MAC address is displayed just below the Wi-Fi MAC address. Ensure Bluetooth is enabled before viewing its address.
Windows Phone 7 or Newer Versions
Open Settings. You can access this by navigating to the Home Screen and swiping to the left. Scroll down until you find the Settings option.
Locate About. In the Settings menu, scroll down and select About. Then, choose More Info. The MAC address you need will be displayed at the bottom of the screen.
Chrome OS
Select the Network icon. This icon is located at the bottom-right corner of the desktop and resembles four radiating bars.
Open Network Status. In this menu, select the "i" icon located at the bottom-right corner. A message will appear displaying the device's MAC address.
Gaming Devices
Find the MAC address of a PlayStation 3. From the PlayStation main menu, scroll left to the Settings category. Continue scrolling down until you see System Settings.
- Scroll down and select System Information. The MAC address will be displayed below the IP address.
Locate the MAC address of an Xbox 360. Open System Settings from the Dashboard. Navigate to Network Settings and select Configure Network.
- Choose the Additional Settings tab and select Advanced Settings. Then, select Alternate MAC Address.
- The MAC address will be listed here. It may not be separated by colons.
Find the MAC address of a Wii. Select the Wii icon at the bottom-left corner of the Channel menu. Scroll to page 2 of the Settings menu and choose Internet. Select "Console Information," and the MAC address will be displayed here.
Tips
- A MAC address consists of 6 pairs of characters separated by hyphens (or colons as mentioned earlier).
- You can find your MAC address using third-party network utilities or by checking the network device information in the Device Manager.
- For Mac OS X, you can use the Linux method via the Terminal software. This is possible because Mac OS X uses the Darwin (BSD) kernel.
Warnings
- You can temporarily change your MAC address using appropriate software – if your device allows it (older devices may have fixed MAC addresses). This is known as MAC address spoofing. It is not recommended unless absolutely necessary. To identify your computer on a network, a MAC address is required. Changing the MAC address can confuse the router. This is only useful if you need to trick the router into thinking you are using a different computer.
