What is my MAC address?

A MAC address is a hardware address for each network connection on your device, such as its Wi-Fi or its Ethernet port. It's six pairs of characters, for example 3C:22:FB:9A:12:4E. Your router uses it to tell your devices apart.

Why this site can't show your MAC address

Your MAC address only travels within your local network, between your device and your router. Websites see your public IP address instead, so no website can show you your MAC address. If a site claims it can, be careful.

Find it on your device

Windows

Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi (or Ethernet), choose Hardware properties, and look for Physical address (MAC). Or open Command Prompt and type getmac /v or ipconfig /all, and look for Physical Address.

Mac

On recent versions of macOS, open System Settings > Wi-Fi, choose Details next to your network, then Hardware. Or open Terminal and type ifconfig en0 | grep ether; on MacBooks, en0 is usually the Wi-Fi connection.

iPhone and iPad

Open Settings > General > About and look for Wi-Fi Address. That's the device's own address. To see the address a particular network sees, open Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the info button next to the network, and look at Wi-Fi Address.

Android

Open Settings > About phone, then Status or a similar section, and look for Wi-Fi MAC address. Menu names vary by phone maker. To see the address a network sees, open that network's settings under Wi-Fi and look under Privacy.

Why the address can change: private Wi-Fi addresses

Phones and computers now often use a different, random MAC address for each Wi-Fi network, so networks can't track them from place to place. iPhones call it a private Wi-Fi address, Android calls it a randomized MAC, and Windows calls it random hardware addresses.

That's why a device in your router's list may show an address you don't recognize, and why MAC filtering on a router can stop working after a phone update. If you need a fixed address on your home network, for example to reserve an IP for a game console, you can turn the feature off for that one network.

When you need your MAC address

• Spotting devices in your router's list. See how to see the devices on your network.
• Reserving a fixed local IP address for a printer, console, or camera.
• MAC filtering on a router. It's weak protection, so a strong Wi-Fi password matters far more.
• Activating a cable modem with your internet provider.

MAC address or IP address?

Your MAC address identifies a device on your local network and usually stays the same. Your IP address is how the internet reaches you, and it changes more often. Websites only ever see your public IP address.