How to Find Your MAC Address (Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android)
On Windows, run ipconfig /all and read the "Physical Address." On Mac, open System Settings → Wi-Fi → Details. On iPhone, go to Settings → General → About → Wi-Fi Address. On Android, open Settings → About phone → Status. Each shows the 12-digit hardware address of your network interface.
You usually need your MAC address for router access control, network registration, or troubleshooting. Here's exactly where to find it on every device.
What a MAC Address Is (Quick Recap)
A MAC address is the unique hardware identifier of a network interface, shown as six pairs of hex digits like A4:83:E7:1B:9C:2D. Each adapter (Wi-Fi, Ethernet) has its own, so a laptop has multiple. For the full background, see What Is a MAC Address?.
Find It on Windows
Command line (fastest):
ipconfig /all
Look for your active adapter and read the Physical Address line (e.g., A4-83-E7-1B-9C-2D). Or use getmac /v for a compact list.
GUI: Settings → Network & Internet → your connection → Hardware properties → "Physical address (MAC)."
Find It on macOS
- Wi-Fi: System Settings → Wi-Fi → Details… (next to your network) → the address is listed.
- Any interface: System Settings → Network → select the adapter → Hardware → "MAC Address."
- Terminal:
ifconfig en0 | grep ether
Find It on iPhone / iPad
Settings → General → About → Wi-Fi Address.
Note: iPhones show a "Private Wi-Fi Address" that is randomized per network for privacy — so this value can differ from the hardware MAC and changes between networks (see below).
Find It on Android
Settings → About phone → Status (or Status information) → Wi-Fi MAC address.
The exact path varies by manufacturer; you can also find it under Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → tap the network → Advanced. Android also defaults to randomized MAC per network.
Find a Router's MAC Address
Check a label on the router itself, or log into its admin page (often 192.168.1.1) and look under status/WAN information. To find the router's IP first, use ipconfig (Windows) or ip route (Linux).
A Note on Private / Randomized Wi-Fi Addresses
Modern phones generate a random MAC for each Wi-Fi network to stop you being tracked across locations. If your router uses MAC filtering and a device can't connect, either:
- Allow the device's private address shown for that network, or
- Disable "Private Wi-Fi Address" / "Randomized MAC" for that network in the phone's Wi-Fi settings.
Need test addresses for lab setups? Our Random MAC Generator creates valid, properly formatted MACs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find my MAC address?
Use your OS network settings or a command like ipconfig /all (Windows) or ifconfig (Mac/Linux); on phones, check the About/Status screen.
How do I find the MAC address on an iPhone? Settings → General → About → Wi-Fi Address. Note it may show a randomized "Private Wi-Fi Address" per network.
How do I find it on Windows?
Run ipconfig /all and read the "Physical Address," or check the adapter's hardware properties in Settings.
How do I find it on Android? Settings → About phone → Status → Wi-Fi MAC address (the path varies by manufacturer).
What is "private Wi-Fi address" on my phone? A randomized MAC the phone uses per network for privacy, so you can't be tracked across locations. You can disable it per network if needed.
Related Reading
Finding your MAC address takes seconds on any device — just remember that phones now show a randomized address per network, which is exactly what you want for privacy but worth knowing when you set up MAC filtering.