Your Mac address is a unique identifier built into your network hardware

Your MAC address (Media Access Control address) is a 48-bit number assigned to your network card when it leaves the factory. It looks like this: 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E. Every device that connects to a network—your laptop, phone, printer, smart TV—has one. Your MAC address is different from your IP address; the IP address is assigned by your router and can change, but your MAC address stays the same as long as you own the hardware.

You might need to find your MAC address to register a device on a network, troubleshoot connection problems, or set up a printer or other device on your home network. The steps differ depending on whether you use Windows, macOS, or Linux, but the process takes less than a minute on any system.

Key Takeaways

  • Your MAC address is a unique identifier for your network card and appears as a series of six pairs of numbers and letters separated by colons.
  • On Windows, open Command Prompt and type ipconfig /all to find the "Physical Address" listed for your active network connection.
  • On macOS, go to System Settings, select Network, choose your connection, and click Advanced to see the MAC address under Wi-Fi Address or Ethernet Address.
  • On Linux, open a terminal and type ip link show or ifconfig to display your MAC address next to "link/ether" or "HWaddr".
  • If you have multiple network cards (wired and wireless), you will see multiple MAC addresses—find the one for the connection you are actually using.

Finding your MAC address on Windows

Open Command Prompt by pressing the Windows key, typing cmd, and pressing Enter. In the black window that appears, type ipconfig /all and press Enter. A list of information will appear for each network connection on your computer.

Look for the section labeled with your active connection—usually "Ethernet adapter" if you are plugged in with a cable, or "Wireless LAN adapter" if you are on Wi-Fi. In that section, find the line that says Physical Address. The value next to it is your MAC address. It will be formatted as six pairs of numbers and letters separated by hyphens, like 00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E. If you need to type it elsewhere, replace the hyphens with colons.

If you see multiple network adapters listed, check which one is actually connected. Look for the line that says "Media State: Connected" to confirm you are looking at the right adapter.

Finding your MAC address on macOS

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions). In the sidebar, click Network. Select the connection you want to check—Wi-Fi if you are wireless, or Ethernet if you are plugged in with a cable.

Click the Advanced button in the bottom-right corner. A new window will open. Look for the tab labeled TCP/IP. In that tab, you will see either "Wi-Fi Address" or "Ethernet Address" depending on your connection type. The value shown is your MAC address, formatted with colons between each pair of numbers and letters.

If you have both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connected, you will see both MAC addresses—one for each connection. Make sure you are looking at the address for the connection you are actually using.

Finding your MAC address on Linux

Open a terminal window. Type ip link show and press Enter. A list of network interfaces will appear. Look for the interface you are using—usually eth0 for wired Ethernet or wlan0 for Wi-Fi. Next to the interface name, you will see a line that starts with link/ether followed by your MAC address.

If ip link show does not work on your system, try ifconfig instead. Look for the line labeled HWaddr (hardware address) in the output. The value next to it is your MAC address.

If you see multiple interfaces listed, identify which one is active by looking for the word "UP" in the status line. That is the connection currently in use.

What to do if you have multiple network adapters

Many computers have both a wired Ethernet port and a Wi-Fi card, which means you will have two different MAC addresses. Each one is unique to that specific piece of hardware. If you are registering your device on a network or troubleshooting a connection, use the MAC address for the connection type you are actually using.

If you are unsure which connection is active, check your network settings. On Windows, look at the Network icon in the system tray—it will show which connection is connected. On macOS, the Wi-Fi or Ethernet icon in the menu bar will show your active connection. On Linux, the ip link show command displays "UP" next to active interfaces.

Common reasons you might need your MAC address

Network administrators sometimes use MAC addresses to restrict which devices can connect to a network. If you are setting up a new device on a find Wi-Fi network, the network owner might ask for your MAC address to add you to an approved list. This is common in offices, schools, and apartment buildings with shared networks.

You might also need your MAC address to register a printer, smart TV, or other device on your home network. Some devices require you to enter your computer's MAC address during setup so they can communicate with your computer directly. Additionally, if you are troubleshooting network problems with technical support, they may ask for your MAC address to help diagnose the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my MAC address the same as my IP address?

No. Your MAC address is a permanent identifier for your network hardware and never changes. Your IP address is assigned by your router and can change each time you connect or restart your device. MAC addresses work on local networks; IP addresses work across the internet.

Can I change my MAC address?

Yes, but it is not permanent. Most operating systems allow you to spoof or change your MAC address temporarily through software, but it resets when you restart your computer. The actual hardware address cannot be changed. Spoofing a MAC address is rarely necessary for home users.

Why do I see different MAC addresses for Wi-Fi and Ethernet?

Because they are different pieces of hardware. Your Wi-Fi card and your Ethernet port are separate network adapters, each with its own unique MAC address. If you switch from Wi-Fi to a wired connection, you are using different hardware, so the MAC address changes.

What if I cannot find my MAC address using these steps?

Make sure you are looking at the correct section for your active connection. On Windows, confirm "Media State: Connected" appears next to your adapter. On macOS, verify you selected the right connection type in Network settings. On Linux, check that the interface shows "UP" status. If you still cannot find it, restart your computer and try again.