Miami Network / Locate the MAC address for a computer

Objective

  • To provide instruction on locating the MAC address for a personal macOS or Windows computer

Environment

  • 10139: Wi-Fi Network
  • Network Registration
  • Personally Owned Computer
    • macOS
    • Windows

Rationale

  • All network interfaces have a unique media access control identifier (MAC address) used for communication purposes on a network. You might be asked to locate and provide the MAC address of a computer or other device when you, for example, register a computer for access to the network
  • Your device may have more than one MAC address, if you have both wired and wireless interfaces
  • The format for a MAC address (also called a physical address or Ethernet hardware address) is 12 alphanumeric characters, usually separated by colons: XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX

Resolution

On a macOS computer

  1. Press the Command+Space keys to open Spotlight
  2. In the search bar, type Network Utility
  3. Press the Enter key to open the first result
  4. In the Network Utilities window, click the Info tab
  5. From the drop-down, select the network interface (Wi-Fi or Ethernet/Wired) for which you want the MAC address
    • Your MAC Address will display next to the title Hardware Address or Ethernet Hardware Address

Note: If your Mac does not have an Ethernet port, you must use an Ethernet adapter to register your computer for wired network access. Because hardware address is tied to the adapter, you will be able to view your Ethernet hardware address only when the adapter is plugged into your Mac.

Reference: See Stanford Student Technology Help

 

On a Windows 10 computer

  1. Open the Start menu
  2. Type Command Prompt in the search box and press the Enter key
  3. In the search results, click Command Prompt
  4. In the Command Prompt window, type ipconfig/all and press the Enter key
  5. Under the Ethernet adaptor Ethernet header, locate the Physical Address title
    • Your MAC Address will display next to the title Physical Address

 

On a Windows 8 computer

  1. Open the Start menu
  2. Type cmd in the search box and press the Enter key
  3. In the search results, click Apps
  4. Click cmd.exe
  5. In the Command Prompt window, type ipconfig/all and press the Enter key
  6. Under the Ethernet adaptor Local Area Connection header, locate the Physical Address title
    • Your MAC Address will display next to the title Physical Address

 

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