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What is a MAC address?
Short for Media Access Control address. A MAC address is a number that is unique to each network adapter. MAC addresses are also known as hardware addresses or physical addresses. A MAC address is a hexadecimal number that looks something like this: MM:MM:MM:SS:SS:SS or MM-MM-MM-SS-SS-SS.
How to locate a MAC address on your computer: Windows : Macintosh : Linux
On Windows 7
Start menu search -> cmd -> ipconfig /all
in the command prompt -> look for "Physical Address under Wireless Network Connection"
On Windows Vista
Start -> Start Search -> cmd -> ipconfig /all
in the command prompt -> look for Physical Address [do not use Tunnel adapter local area connection]. Or Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Information -> Components -> Network -> Adaptor -> scroll to MAC address.
On Windows XP
Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt -> type ipconfig /all. Look under "Wireless LAN Adapter Wireless network connection:" The 12-digit Physical Address is the same as MAC address.
On Windows 2000
If you have TCP/IP installed, run 'ipconfig /all' from a Command Prompt window [Start -> Run -> cmd -> ipconfig/all]. The 12-digit Physical Address is the same as MAC address.
On OS 10.4 - 10.1 [Tiger and earlier]
Open System Preferences [usually found in the Dock] and select Network. Pick a location and specify the interface whose MAC address is desired in the Show: drop-down list.
For Built-In Ethernet, select the Ethernet tab. Read the MAC address labeled 'Ethernet ID.' For wireless, select 'AirPort' in the Show: dialog. Read the MAC address labeled 'AirPort ID.'
On OS 10.7 [Lion]
System Preferences in the Apple menu. Click on "Network" and select your currently active network connection from the left menu (Wi-Fi, Ethernet etc) then click "Advanced" in the lower right corner. Look at the bottom of the window for "Wi-Fi Address".
On OS 10.5 [Leopard]
Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Network. To find the wired MAC address, make sure Ethernet is highlighted on the list to the left, then select Advanced button in the bottom right. [To find the wireless MAC, select AirPort from the left instead.] Make sure the Ethernet button on the right is selected. Look for Ethernet ID, this is your MAC address.
On OS 9
Apple menu -> Control Panels -> TCP/IP -> Connect Via: Ethernet -> Configure: Manually -> Info, or choose Get Info from the File menu. The 'Hardware Address IS THE MAC ADDRESS ['This Macintosh' is the IP address].
On an iPad
Open Settings app -> tap General on the left pane -> tap About at the top of the screen -> look for Wi-Fi Address
On a Linux
Open a terminal window. In order to find the MAC address, you may need root privileges. Run the command
ifconfig -a
and look for relevant information; e.g.,
# ifconfig -a eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:60:08:C4:99:AA inet addr:131.225.84.67 Bcast:131.225.87.255 Mak:255.255.248.0 UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1 RX packets:15647904 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 TX packets:69559 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 Interrupt:10 Base address:0x300
The MAC address is listed as HWaddr.
How to locate a MAC address on your phone:
On Android:
At the Home screen, press Menu -> Settings -> slide the screen upwards and tap About phone -> Status -> tap and slide up to view the Wi-Fi MAC address
On a Blackberry:
At the Home screen, press Menu -> Options -> click Status -> Look for WLAN MAC address
On an iPhone:
At the Home menu, select Settings -> General -> About. Look for Wi-Fi Address.