There are a few reasons why you might want to find your MAC address: Perhaps you’re setting up a router and would like to filter certain devices out of your network for extra security. Maybe your router lists connected devices by their MAC address and you want to figure out which device is which. Or there’s a chance you’ll need to know your PC’s MAC address to diagnose or resolve some computer network errors.
What is a MAC address?
A MAC address is a unique, alphanumeric hardware identifier for a device that connects to the internet. Every network device or interface, such as your laptop’s Wi-Fi adapter, has a MAC (or “media access control”) address. A MAC address is assigned by manufacturers and embedded into the device’s network interface card — it’s permanently tied to the device, which means that a MAC address cannot be changed.
A MAC address is essential in order for your device to interact with other local network devices. When your device detects a router, its sends out its MAC address to initiate a connection. This is where the IP address comes in — your router will assign you an IP address so that you can connect to the internet.
So what’s the difference between a MAC address and an IP address? In part, MAC addresses are permanently burned into your device while IP addresses can change depending on your location. MAC addresses are used in the local network while IP addresses can be used to identify network devices all around the world.
What to Know
- On Windows laptops, open the Command Prompt and type in ipconfig/all.
- On MacBooks, you can find it in the Advanced section of the Network preference pane.
- A MAC address is a unique string of numbers and letters identifying your device on a network.
This guide will show you how to find the MAC address of your laptop, whether it’s running Windows or macOS.
How Do I Find My MAC Address on My Laptop?
On a Windows laptop, the best way to find your MAC Address is through the Command Prompt.
- Type CMD in the Windows search bar and select the corresponding result.
- In the Command Prompt window, type ipconfig/all and press Enter.
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Search through the list of information that appears. The string of letters and numbers next to your network adapter’s Physical Address is your laptop’s MAC Address.
It will look something like 00:2A:C6:4B:00:44.
How to Find the MAC Address on a MacBook
If you want to find your MAC address on a MacBook, the process is a little different.
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Open the Apple menu.
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Select System Preferences.
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Select Network.
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Select Your Wi-Fi Connection, or your Ethernet connection, depending on how you’re connected to the internet.
- Select Advanced.
- Select Hardware. From there, you should be able to view your MAC Address at the top of the window.
