How to find your MAC address

A MAC address is the hardware ID of a network adapter, six pairs of hex digits like 3C:22:FB:12:34:56. Found one on your router and want to know whose device it is? Paste it into the MAC address lookup.

Windows 10 and 11

Command Prompt: getmac /v or ipconfig /all (look for “Physical Address”).
Settings → Network & internet → Wi‑Fi (or Ethernet) → Hardware properties.

macOS

System Settings → Wi‑Fi → Details next to your network → Hardware (or Advanced). Terminal: ifconfig en0 | grep ether.

iPhone and iPad

Settings → General → About → Wi‑Fi Address shows the hardware address. For the address your iPhone uses on a particular network, go to Settings → Wi‑Fi → ⓘ next to the network. If Private Wi‑Fi Address is on, it uses a random one there.

Android

Settings → About phone → Status (or Hardware information) → Wi‑Fi MAC address. Per-network: Settings → Network & internet → Wi‑Fi → the gear next to the network → Privacy; “Use randomised MAC” is the default on Android 10 and later.

Linux

ip link, then look for link/ether.

PS5, Xbox and smart TVs

PS5: Settings → Network → Connection Status → View Connection Status. Xbox: Settings → General → Network settings → Advanced settings. Most TVs list it under Settings → Network → Network status or About.

Random (private) MAC addresses

Phones and laptops now invent a different MAC address per Wi‑Fi network so shops and hotspots can’t track you between locations. You can recognise them: the second character is 2, 6, A or E. If MAC filtering on your router stops working, turn off the private address for your home network only.

MAC address vs IP address

The MAC address is fixed to the adapter and only seen on your local network. The IP address is assigned by the network and changes. Websites see your public IP address, never your MAC address.

Frequently asked questions

Can I find a device’s owner from its MAC address?

No, only the manufacturer of the network adapter, using a MAC vendor lookup.

Can two devices have the same MAC address?

They shouldn’t, since manufacturers assign unique numbers, but random and spoofed addresses can occasionally collide on a network.

Is the MAC address the same as the serial number?

No. The serial number identifies the whole device; the MAC address identifies one network adapter. A laptop has separate MAC addresses for Wi‑Fi, Ethernet and Bluetooth.