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What Is a MAC Address? How to Find It on a PC, Phone and Router

Sunucun 3 min read

A MAC address (Media Access Control address) is the hardware address of a network interface (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) that identifies a device on the local network. It is 48 bits long and usually written as six pairs of hexadecimal digits separated by colons or hyphens, e.g. 3C:22:FB:7A:10:4E. A device with several interfaces (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth) has a separate address for each.

Illustration: What Is a MAC Address?

What Is It Used For?

Devices on the same local network use MAC addresses to deliver frames to each other; switches and routers forward data to the right device by its MAC address. It is also used for:

  • Router settings: MAC filtering and DHCP reservations (fixed local IP for a device).
  • Company and campus networks: device registration and access control.
  • Troubleshooting: identifying devices in the router’s connected-devices list.

MAC Address vs IP Address

MAC addressIP address
IdentifiesThe network interface (hardware)The device’s location on a network
ScopeLocal network only (layer 2, data link)Local network and internet (layer 3, network)
Format48 bits, e.g. 3C:22:FB:7A:10:4EIPv4 32 bits (e.g. 192.168.1.20) or IPv6 128 bits
Assigned byManufacturer (first half from its IEEE registration)Router (DHCP), ISP or administrator
Changes?Hardware address is fixed; the OS can use a random oneCan change with the network or over time

On a local network, ARP (IPv4) or NDP (IPv6) maps IP addresses to MAC addresses. Websites cannot see your MAC address; they see your router’s public IP. See what is an IP address.

Structure

The first 24 bits are the OUI (Organizationally Unique Identifier), assigned by the IEEE to the manufacturer; the last 24 bits are assigned by the manufacturer. MAC lookup tools use the OUI list to show the vendor; they cannot tell you who owns a device or where it is.

How to Find Your MAC Address

DeviceSteps
Windows (command)Run ipconfig /all; the Physical Address under the adapter is the MAC. For a short list, run getmac.
Windows (Settings)Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) > Hardware properties > Physical address (MAC).
MacSystem Settings > Network > Wi-Fi > Details next to the network > Hardware.
iPhone / iPadSettings > General > About > Wi-Fi Address. For the address used on a network: Settings > Wi-Fi > (i) next to it.
AndroidSettings > About phone (or Wi-Fi > network details) > Wi-Fi MAC address; menu names vary by brand.
LinuxRun ip link; see the link/ether value.
RouterOn the device label or the status page of the admin panel; connected devices are listed under DHCP clients.

Private (Random) MAC Addresses on Phones

  • iPhone: according to Apple, Private Wi-Fi Address arrived with iOS 14. On iOS 18 and later you can choose Off, Fixed or Rotating per network; Fixed is the default on WPA2 or stronger networks, and Rotating changes the address every 2 weeks.
  • Android: according to the Android Open Source Project, MAC randomization is on by default from Android 10; you can switch to the device MAC per network under Privacy in the network details.

If your router uses MAC filtering or DHCP reservations, turn off the private address for that network or register the address the phone actually uses there.

Can a MAC Address Be Changed?

The burned-in address doesn’t change, but the operating system can present a different one. On some Windows adapters you can set it under Device Manager > adapter > Advanced > Network Address. That is why MAC filtering alone is weak security; protect Wi-Fi with WPA2/WPA3 and a strong password.

See also what is a router and what is a network. For servers with fixed IPs or additional IPv4 addresses, see our VDS server and IPv4 leasing services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a MAC address reveal location?

No. It is visible only on the local network and isn’t carried in internet traffic. Lookups show only the vendor.

Can two devices have the same MAC address?

Manufacturer addresses are allocated to be unique. Manually changed or random addresses can rarely collide; a clash on the same network causes connection problems.

Is the Bluetooth address the same as the Wi-Fi MAC?

No. Each interface has its own address; phones list Wi-Fi and Bluetooth addresses separately.

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