How to find and change the MAC address using popular operating systems

The key element of every local (LAN) or wide area (WAN) computer network is its connected devices, whether it's a computer, mobile device, or MFP like a printer. Each device on a network needs a way to be uniquely identified, both within the network and when communicating with other networks. That’s where MAC addresses come in. It provides a unique identifier for network devices.

In simple terms, a MAC address is like the physical address of a computer or network card. It’s a unique identifier that helps distinguish it on a particular network. MAC stands for Media Access Control and is also known as a hardware, physical, or built-in address. While IP addresses are more commonly used to identify devices on the global Internet, they can change, unlike MAC addresses, which are fixed.

Every device that can connect to the Internet, like a network interface card (NIC) in a computer or even a Wi-Fi-controlled kettle, has its own MAC address. This address is assigned by the manufacturer and is built into the device's network card. Later on, we'll discuss how you can identify and change this address.

A step-by-step guide on how to change the MAC address on Windows 10

To check your MAC address, follow these steps:

1. Open the command line by pressing Win+R and entering “cmd” then click “OK”.

   

2. Type “ipconfig /all” in the command prompt and press Enter.
3. Look for the “Physical Address” value next to your network adapter, which might be listed as an “Ethernet adapter” or a “Wireless LAN adapter” for Wi-Fi.

   

Finding the MAC address can vary depending on your operating system. For example, to find it in Windows 11, you can use the command “getmac /v /fo list” in the command prompt. However, before attempting to change the MAC address on any operating system, ensure you understand the instructions thoroughly to avoid damaging your network card.

How to change MAC address on Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11

Adjusting your network connection configuration can enhance your online anonymity and security. Follow these steps to configure your network settings:

1. Run Command Prompt as an administrator by typing “cmd” in the Start menu, then right-clicking and selecting “Run as administrator”.

   

2. To identify the name of your network adapter, use the command “netsh interface show interface” to list all network interfaces.
3. Disable the network adapter by using the command “netsh interface set interface “adapter_name” admin=disable”, replacing “adapter_name” with the name of your network adapter.
4. Change the MAC address of the network adapter using the command “netsh interface set interface “adapter_name” newmac=”new_mac_address”, replacing “new_mac_address” with the desired MAC address and “adapter_name” with the name of your network adapter.
5. The MAC address should be in the format XX-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX, using numbers and letters A-F. After changing the settings, enable the network adapter again using the command “netsh interface set interface “adapter_name” admin=enable”.

Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

How to change MAC address on MacOS

Changing system settings on an Apple device requires using internal tools and the terminal. Here’s a detailed guide:

1. Locate the “System Preferences” tab on the desktop taskbar.

   

2. Navigate to the “Network” section.

   

3. In the new window, you'll find information about the network name, adapter name, and initial connection settings. To make changes, click on the “Advanced” button.

   

4. In the “Advanced” settings, select the “Hardware” tab to view the MAC address of the network card.

   

5. If you need to change your MAC address, it’s recommended to use the terminal for a quick and easy process. Open Terminal using Spotlight (Cmd + Space) and enter the command “ifconfig en0 | grep ether”, replacing “en0” with the current MAC address.
6. Disable the network adapter by using the command “sudo ifconfig en0 down” where “en0” is the name of your network adapter.
7. Change the MAC address of the network adapter using the command “sudo ifconfig en0 ether XX:XX:YY:XX:XX:XX”, replacing XX:XX:YY:XX:XX:XX with the new MAC address you want to use.
8. Enable the network adapter again to test its functionality with the command “sudo ifconfig en0 up”. Ensure that you've correctly specified the adapter name and new MAC address.

If you encounter connection problems after making these changes, you can use the rollback function to restore the previous settings or revert the MAC address change.

How to change MAC address on Android

When dealing with phone devices, changing the MAC address becomes more challenging. While viewing technical data is straightforward, making changes requires administrator rights (root access). However, altering the address is only feasible with the help of additional applications.

To find the MAC address on an Android device, follow these steps:

1. Open the “Settings” on your phone or tablet, and select the “About phone” or a similar tab.

   

2. Next, navigate to the “Detailed Info and Specs” tab. The tab’s name may vary depending on your smartphone’s brand and model.

   

3. Navigate to the section with general information about the phone.

   

4. Scroll down and locate the “Device Wi-Fi MAC address” item.

   

Alternatively, you can search through the Wi-Fi connection panel for the MAC address. To change the MAC address on Android, you’ll need root access to the system. Instructions for obtaining root access are provided below.

Attention: Using third-party applications to install root rights can lead to system malfunctions or complete disablement. Please read the guide below carefully.

1. To change the MAC address, start by installing a supporting application. Visit the “Google Play Store” and download any app designed for MAC address replacement. For this example, we’ll use “Terminal Emulator for Android”. Open the downloaded terminal app and enter the command “ip link show wlan0” to check the current Wi-Fi MAC address. If you’re looking to check the Ethernet MAC address instead, replace “wlan0: with “eth0”.
2. Among the information displayed after entering the command, locate the line with the code “ip link set dev wlan0 address XX:XX:YY:XX:XX:XX” and replace “XX:XX:YY:XX:XX:XX” with the new MAC address you want to assign.
3. After entering the command, save the changes with the code “ip link set dev wlan0 up” and reboot your Android device for the changes to take effect.

Please note that not all Android devices support changing the MAC address, even with root access.

How to change MAC address on IOS

iOS, unlike Android, does not offer root access by default. Jailbreaking is necessary to gain advanced access to iOS. Learn more about jailbreaking in the instructions below.

1. To check your current settings, open “Settings”, scroll down, and select “General”.

   

2. Tap on the “About” tab.

   

3. Scroll down to find the “Wi-Fi Address” section. You’ll see your MAC address.

   

Changing the MAC address on iOS requires jailbreaking and installing special applications. Jailbreaking can impact the stability and security of your smartphone. The simplest method to change the physical address of a network card is through the system settings.

1. Open the list of available wireless connections, select the active one, and tap the “i” button.

   

2. Disconnect from the current connection and enable the “Private Address” option.

   

This method is recommended for enhancing anonymity and protecting your data. It does not require advanced knowledge or skills and is safe for the system. While modifying technical data through the terminal is possible, you’ll need to install a specific program. Many users suggest using MobileTerminal in Cydia, which can be downloaded from the App Store or installed via .apk from a third-party site.

1. After successfully jailbreaking and installing compatible software, open MobileTerminal. To check the current configuration settings, type “ifconfig” in the terminal.
2. To spoof the MAC address of a specific interface (e.g., Wi-Fi), use the command “ifconfig interface ether new-mac-address”, replacing “interface” with the name of your interface and “new-mac-address” with the new MAC address you want to set.

   

After executing the command, reboot your iPhone to save the new settings.

Understanding how to find and change the MAC address in Windows 10, Android, iOS, and other operating systems can be helpful for debugging routers, setting up proxies, or configuring network connections.