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Before joining public Wi-Fi, check that the network is set to use a randomized MAC address. It can make it harder for nearby Wi-Fi observers to identify your phone by its factory Wi-Fi address—but it does not encrypt your traffic or make an unsafe hotspot trustworthy.
What a randomized MAC address does—and does not do
A Wi-Fi MAC address is an identifier used on the local wireless connection. Android notes that Wi-Fi MAC addresses are sent without encryption and can be captured. Because a factory MAC address is globally unique and static, an observer within range could use it to recognize and track a device across Wi-Fi encounters. Android’s MAC randomization documentation explains that randomization substitutes a locally administered address to increase user privacy.
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This protection has a narrow scope: it reduces exposure of the factory Wi-Fi identifier to local observers. It does not encrypt web traffic, protect passwords by itself, confirm that a hotspot is genuine, or prevent tracking through other means. Treat it as one privacy measure, not a way to make a malicious or untrusted network safe.
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Android’s general instructions are below. Menu names and placement can differ by Android version and phone manufacturer.
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- Open Settings.
- Tap Network and Internet, then Internet.
- Tap the settings icon beside the Wi-Fi network you want to check.
- Find Randomised MAC address or the equivalent MAC privacy option, and make sure randomization is selected rather than the device MAC address.
These labels follow Google’s Android Help instructions. If you cannot find the option, search Settings for “MAC address” or consult the phone maker’s support guidance. Check the entry for the specific network you plan to use; the choice is per network.
What the available MAC address modes mean
Android 10 and newer use a randomized MAC address by default, and network details let users choose whether to use it. If randomization is disabled for a network, Android uses the phone’s factory MAC address there. The precise mode names and choices shown can depend on the device and network.
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| Mode | What happens |
|---|---|
| Persistent randomization | Android generates a randomized address for a network and reuses it for that network. Reconnecting does not necessarily produce a new address. |
| Non-persistent randomization | In supported situations, Android may change the address when a connection starts. Android 12 and later support this in certain network-suggestion scenarios; it is not a promise of a new address on every reconnect. |
| Factory MAC | The phone uses its hardware Wi-Fi address instead of a randomized one for that network. |
Android’s framework can select a randomization strategy automatically, and user preferences affect whether a generated address is used. The Android WifiConfiguration API reference describes the available modes. The platform’s implementation guidance also documents the Android 10 default: Implement MAC randomization.
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MAC randomization and Private DNS address different concerns. Private DNS is a separate Android setting; Google says it is used by default with networks that support it and recommends keeping it on. It is not a substitute for MAC randomization, and MAC randomization does not replace encryption or other precautions when using public Wi-Fi. See Google’s guidance on advanced network settings for the Private DNS setting.
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