Finding your MAC (Media Access Control) Address

The Media Access Control (MAC) address of a network device has nothing to do with Apple or Macintosh computers. A MAC address is the serial number assigned to a network adapter. As the addresses must be unique, every network adapter is given a specific range to use.

ITS will need this information when troubleshooting connection issues.

A MAC Address is sometimes called a hardware address, physical address, ethernet ID, or layer-two address. It will have 12 hexadecimal characters (ranging 0 - 9 and A - F).

The procedure to find the MAC address varies depending on the operating system on your network device (phone, computer, tablet, etc.). Please look at the appropriate section below.

The following information will guide one in finding the MAC address of specific network devices.

Windows

Open a command prompt window. Go to Start and type CMD. Then, press the Enter key.
A command prompt window should open up. At the prompt, type ipconfig /all and press the Enter key.
(see image directly below)
Look for either 'Ethernet adapter Ethernet' or 'Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi'.

You will find the MAC address to the right of Physical Address. It will have 12 hexadecimal characters (ranging 0 - 9 and A - F).

Macintosh

Click the Apple menu (top left of the screen) and click on System Settings.

NOTE: On an older Mac OS, select System Preferences.
In the Search menu of the System Settings window, type 'MAC address'.

Select the desired network adapter (Ethernet or Wi-Fi):
1. For the ethernet MAC address, select Ethernet ID under the Network listing.
  
  Look for MAC address. It will have 12 hexadecimal characters (ranging 0 - 9 and A - F).
2. For the wireless MAC address, select Wi-Fi MAC Address under the Wi-Fi listing.
  
  Look for Wi-Fi MAC address. It will have 12 hexadecimal characters (ranging 0 - 9 and A - F).

iOS

Open Settings.
Tap General and then About.
The MAC address is labeled 'Wi-Fi Address'. It will have 12 hexadecimal characters (ranging 0 - 9 and A - F).

Android

Open Settings.
In the Search menu of the Settings window, type 'MAC address'.
The MAC address is labeled 'Wi-Fi Address'. It will have 12 hexadecimal characters (ranging 0 - 9 and A - F).

Chrome OS

Sign in to your Chromebook.
Click the time (bottom right).
Click Network (left).
Click the network you would like to view the MAC address for.
The MAC address is listed below. It will have 12 hexadecimal characters (ranging 0 - 9 and A - F).

Linux

Open a terminal or console window.
Type ipconfig.
The MAC address (hardware address) will be listed ; 12 hexadecimal characters (ranging 0 - 9 and A - F).

Game Consoles and other Networked Devices

To find MAC addresses of game consoles, please click here.
To find MAC addresses digital assistants, smart devices and streaming devices, please click here.