Windows 11 lets you change your MAC address through Device Manager or the command line, but the method depends on whether your network adapter supports it

A MAC address is a unique identifier assigned to your network adapter — the hardware that connects your computer to the internet. Windows 11 does not have a built-in settings panel to change it the way some other operating systems do. Instead, you use either Device Manager (the graphical tool) or PowerShell (the command-line tool). Not every network adapter supports MAC address changes, so you may find the option is straightforward not available for your hardware.

The fastest route is Device Manager if you are comfortable clicking through menus. If that does not work, PowerShell offers an alternative. Both methods take under five minutes once you know the steps.

Key Takeaways

  • Device Manager is the easiest method: right-click your network adapter, select Properties, find the Advanced tab, and look for "Locally Administered Address" or "Network Address".
  • Not all network adapters support MAC address changes — if the option does not appear in Device Manager, your hardware does not allow it.
  • PowerShell offers a command-line alternative if Device Manager does not show the option, using the Set-NetAdapter command.
  • After you change your MAC address, restart your computer or disable and re-enable the network adapter for the change to take effect.
  • Changing your MAC address is temporary unless you save it in your adapter settings — restarting your computer may revert it to the original address depending on your hardware.

Changing your MAC address through Device Manager

Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting "Device Manager" from the menu. If that option does not appear, type "Device Manager" into the Windows search box and open it from the results.

Expand the "Network adapters" section by clicking the arrow next to it. Right-click the network adapter you want to change — usually labeled something like "Ethernet" or "Wi-Fi" — and select "Properties" from the menu.

Click the "Advanced" tab at the top of the Properties window. Scroll through the list on the left side to find an option called "Locally Administered Address", "Network Address", or sometimes "MAC Address". If you do not see any of these options, your adapter does not support MAC address changes and you will need to use a different method or different hardware.

Click the option when you find it. On the right side, select the "Value" field and type your new MAC address. MAC addresses are 12 hexadecimal characters (0–9 and A–F) with no spaces or colons — for example, 001A2B3C4D5E. Click "OK" to save the change.

Using PowerShell to change your MAC address

Right-click the Start button and select "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" or "Terminal (Admin)". If you see only "Terminal", click it and PowerShell will open inside it.

Type the following command and press Enter, replacing Ethernet with the name of your network adapter if it is different:

Get-NetAdapter -Name "Ethernet" | Format-List Name, MacAddress

This command shows you your current MAC address so you can verify the change later. Write down the adapter name exactly as it appears in the output.

Type the next command, replacing Ethernet with your adapter name and 001A2B3C4D5E with your new MAC address:

Set-NetAdapter -Name "Ethernet" -MacAddress "001A2B3C4D5E"

Press Enter. If the command runs without an error message, the change was successful. If you see an error, your adapter does not support MAC address changes through PowerShell.

Making the change take effect

After you change your MAC address in either Device Manager or PowerShell, you need to restart your network adapter or your entire computer for the change to set up. The fastest way is to disable and re-enable the adapter: right-click your network icon in the system tray, select "Network and internet settings", click "Advanced network options", find your adapter in the list, click it, and then click "Disable" followed by "Enable".

Alternatively, restart your computer. When it boots back up, your new MAC address will be in use.

To verify the change worked, open Device Manager or PowerShell again and check your MAC address using the same steps above. It should now show the new address you entered.

Why your MAC address change might not stick

Some network adapters revert to their original MAC address when you restart your computer, even if the change appeared to work. This happens because the adapter stores its true MAC address in firmware, and Windows can only temporarily override it. If your change does not persist after a restart, your hardware does not support permanent MAC address changes.

A few adapters allow you to save the new MAC address permanently through their driver settings. Check the manufacturer's website for your specific network adapter model to see if a driver update or utility program offers this option. Otherwise, you will need to change the address again each time you restart.

When you cannot change your MAC address

If Device Manager shows no "Locally Administered Address" option and PowerShell returns an error, your network adapter hardware does not support MAC address changes. This is common with built-in adapters on laptops and some desktop motherboards.

Your options are to use a different computer, connect through a different network adapter (such as a USB Ethernet adapter), or contact the manufacturer to ask whether a driver update enables the feature. Some manufacturers disable the feature intentionally for security reasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is changing my MAC address illegal?

Changing your MAC address itself is not illegal. However, using a changed MAC address to impersonate another device on a network, bypass access controls, or commit fraud is illegal. Changing your MAC address for legitimate reasons — such as testing network equipment or troubleshooting — is permitted.

Will changing my MAC address affect my internet speed?

No. Your MAC address is only used on your local network to identify your device to your router and other nearby devices. It does not affect your connection speed or your ability to reach the internet.

Do I need to change my MAC address back to the original?

Not necessarily. If your adapter reverts to the original address on restart, you do not need to do anything. If the change persists, you can change it back by following the same steps and entering your original MAC address, which you can find in Device Manager or PowerShell before you make any changes.

What happens if I use the same MAC address as another device on my network?

Your router will become confused about which device is which, and both devices may lose internet connectivity or experience intermittent connection problems. Always use a unique MAC address on your network, or make sure the other device with that address is not connected at the same time.

Can I change my MAC address on Wi-Fi instead of Ethernet?

Yes. The steps are identical — just select your Wi-Fi adapter instead of your Ethernet adapter in Device Manager or PowerShell. Some Wi-Fi adapters are less likely to support MAC address changes than Ethernet adapters, so you may encounter the "option not available" problem more often.