What a MAC address is and why you need it

A MAC address is a unique identifier assigned to your computer's network card — the hardware that connects you to Wi-Fi or ethernet. It looks like six pairs of numbers and letters separated by colons, such as 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E. Your device has one MAC address per network connection, so a laptop with both Wi-Fi and ethernet will have two different MAC addresses.

You need your MAC address when you register a device on a network that requires it — some workplaces, schools, and apartment buildings use MAC filtering to control which devices can connect. Your internet service provider may also ask for it when setting up a new modem. Some routers let you reserve a specific IP address for a device, and that process requires the MAC address too.

Key Takeaways

  • Your MAC address appears in your network settings on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and the steps differ slightly for each operating system.
  • On Windows 10 or 11, open Settings, go to Network & Internet, then Status, and look for the physical address under your active connection.
  • On macOS, open System Preferences, select Network, choose your connection, and click Advanced to find the MAC address listed as Wi-Fi Address or Ethernet Address.
  • You can also find your MAC address by opening Command Prompt on Windows or Terminal on macOS and running a single command.

Finding your MAC address on Windows 10 and 11

The easiest route on Windows is through Settings. Click the Start button, type "Settings" into the search box, and open the Settings app. Navigate to Network & Internet, then select Status from the left sidebar. Scroll down until you see your active connection — either Wi-Fi or Ethernet — and click on it.

A new window will open showing details about that connection. Scroll down to the section labeled Properties and look for the line that says Physical address. That string of characters is your MAC address. If you are connected to Wi-Fi, this is the MAC address for your Wi-Fi card. If you are using ethernet, this is the MAC address for your ethernet port.

If you need the MAC address for a connection you are not currently using, go back to the Network & Internet page, select the other connection type from the left sidebar, and repeat the process.

Finding your MAC address on macOS

On a Mac, open System Preferences (or System Settings on newer versions) and click Network. Select the connection you want to check from the list on the left — either Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Click the Advanced button in the lower right corner, then select the Hardware tab.

Your MAC address appears on this screen as either Wi-Fi Address or Ethernet Address, depending on which connection you selected. The address will be in the same format as Windows: six pairs of characters separated by colons.

Using the command line on Windows

If you prefer not to navigate menus, you can retrieve your MAC address from Command Prompt. Press the Windows key and type "cmd" to open Command Prompt. Type the command ipconfig /all and press Enter. A list of all your network adapters will appear.

Look for the section labeled with your connection type — either "Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi" or "Ethernet adapter Ethernet". Under that section, find the line that says Physical Address. That is your MAC address. If you have multiple network adapters, each one will have its own Physical Address listed.

Using the command line on macOS and Linux

On macOS, open Terminal (search for it in Spotlight or find it in Applications > Utilities). Type the command ifconfig and press Enter. A list of all your network interfaces will appear. Look for either "en0" (usually Wi-Fi) or "en1" (usually ethernet), and find the line that starts with "ether". The address that follows is your MAC address.

On Linux, open a terminal and type ip link show or ifconfig depending on your distribution. Look for the line labeled "link/ether" under your active network interface — that is your MAC address.

What to do once you have your MAC address

Once you have found your MAC address, write it down or take a screenshot — you will need it when you register your device on a restricted network. When you submit it to your network administrator, school, or internet service provider, make sure you copy it exactly as it appears, including all the colons and letters. A single character wrong will cause the registration to fail.

If you are setting up MAC filtering on your own router, log into your router's admin panel (usually through a web browser at an address like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and look for a section labeled MAC Filtering, Device Management, or Connected Devices. The exact location varies by router model, so check your router's manual if you cannot find it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my MAC address?

Yes, but only in software — you cannot change the physical address burned into your network card. Most operating systems let you spoof a MAC address through network settings or command line, which some networks use to bypass restrictions. However, doing this on a network you do not own or manage is usually against the rules.

Why does my computer have more than one MAC address?

Each network adapter has its own MAC address. If your computer has Wi-Fi, ethernet, and Bluetooth, each one has a separate address. You only need to register the address for the connection type you actually use on that network.

Is my MAC address the same as my IP address?

No. Your MAC address is a permanent identifier for your network hardware, while your IP address is assigned by your network and can change. MAC addresses work on local networks; IP addresses route traffic across the internet.

What if I cannot find the MAC address in Settings?

Make sure you are looking at the right connection — if you are on Wi-Fi, check the Wi-Fi settings, not Ethernet. If you still cannot find it, the command line method (ipconfig on Windows or ifconfig on macOS) is more reliable and works on almost every computer.