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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →To find a device by its MAC address, get the address it is using on the network, then look for that exact value in your router’s connected-device list. If it is a work or school device, an administrator can search the organization’s device-management console. This identifies a device visible to that local network or management system; it does not locate a device across the internet.
Choose the MAC address for the connection you are checking
A device can have several MAC addresses because it may have multiple network adapters. Use the Wi-Fi address to match a Wi-Fi client, or the Ethernet address to match a wired client. On a computer with both, the two values are different; a printed hardware address or an address for an inactive adapter may not be the one the router currently sees. TP-Link explains how to find a computer’s adapter address, and NETGEAR outlines device-specific ways to find a MAC address.
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Find the address on the device
Windows
- Open Command Prompt.
- Run
ipconfig /all. - Under the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter, read the
Physical Addressfield. If several adapters appear, choose the one matching the connection you are checking.
TP-Link also documents a graphical method for Windows versions covered by its instructions: open Network Connections, select the relevant connection, and view Status and Details. The command-line method is a straightforward alternative when menu labels differ.
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macOS
Open System Settings > Network, select the active connection, and inspect its details for the MAC or hardware address. Labels can vary by macOS version. For Wi-Fi, distinguish the address used on the selected network from the hardware address if private addressing is enabled. Apple describes private Wi-Fi addressing and its settings in Use private Wi-Fi addresses on Apple devices.
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iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings > Wi-Fi.
- Tap the information control next to the network in question.
- Find the Private Wi-Fi Address setting or address shown for that network; the precise labels depend on the OS version.
Apple says, “By default, your device will improve privacy by using a different MAC address for each Wi-Fi network.” For iOS 18 and later, the setting can be Off, Fixed, or Rotating: Off uses the hardware MAC, Fixed uses a private address that does not rotate, and Rotating changes to a different private address every two weeks. Consequently, the value in the router may not match the device’s factory hardware MAC. Apple’s instructions cover the settings and supported versions.
Android
Android menus vary by manufacturer and version. NETGEAR gives Settings > About Device > Status as a common route to a Wi-Fi Address or Wi-Fi MAC Address. If that path is not present, search Settings for “MAC address” or follow the device maker’s instructions. NETGEAR’s device guidance also notes that steps can vary.
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Match the address in your router’s device list
- Sign in to the router’s administration page or app.
- Open its connected-device, client, or similar list. Router menu names vary.
- Search the list for the exact MAC address obtained from the relevant adapter or Wi-Fi network.
A device name may be vague or missing, so the MAC address is often the more useful match. The record is available only if the device is visible to that network; a router list is a local client view, not a general device-location service. TP-Link explains router client lists and MAC addresses.
For a work or school device, check managed inventory
Ask the organization’s network or endpoint administrator to search the relevant management console. Microsoft Intune’s Device details page includes Wi-Fi MAC and Ethernet MAC fields for supported enrolled devices. What appears depends on platform and enrollment: Intune does not show Wi-Fi MAC addresses for personally owned Android work-profile devices, and inventory refresh timing can mean the displayed details are not current. See Microsoft’s View device details – Microsoft Intune.
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Why a MAC-address search may not find the device
- Wrong adapter: You may have copied the Ethernet address while the device is on Wi-Fi, or vice versa. Check the active interface.
- Private Wi-Fi address: A phone may use a network-specific private address instead of its hardware MAC. On Apple devices, Rotating mode changes the private address every two weeks; check the selected network’s setting and use the address currently associated with that network. Apple documents the available modes.
- Not currently visible: The router list reflects devices it sees on that network, so a device that is not connected or visible may not have a current client record.
- Managed record limitations: Enrollment type, platform, and refresh timing affect which addresses an organization’s console reports. Microsoft documents Intune’s device details.
What a MAC address can—and cannot—tell you
A MAC match can help with local network inventory and troubleshooting: it lets you associate an address on a router or management system with the interface using that address. It does not identify the device’s owner or locate it over the internet. Do not treat MAC filtering as a complete security measure. It can allow or block listed addresses, but MAC addresses can be copied or spoofed. TP-Link discusses MAC filtering and this limitation.
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