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In Windows, a MAC address is usually labeled Physical address. For a quick lookup, open Settings > Network & internet, choose Wi-Fi or Ethernet, then open the relevant network or adapter properties. If the labels differ or you need to compare adapters, open Command Prompt or Windows Terminal and run getmac /v /fo list. Choose the Wi-Fi or Ethernet entry that matches the network you need; a PC can have several MAC addresses.
Find a MAC address in Windows Settings
Settings is the easiest option when you need the address for the network you are using. The exact labels and placement can vary between Windows 10 and Windows 11 builds, and an adapter that is disconnected or disabled may show fewer details.
For Wi-Fi
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Go to Network & internet > Wi-Fi.
- Open the connected network’s properties. On some builds, you may need to select the network or open its details.
- Find Physical address (MAC), MAC address, or a similarly named field.
Microsoft documents the Wi-Fi properties path in its Windows Wi-Fi connection guidance. If the field is missing or your Settings layout differs, use getmac or ipconfig /all below.
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- Open Settings > Network & internet > Ethernet.
- Select the relevant adapter or connection to open its properties.
- Look for Physical address (MAC) or MAC address.
If Windows lists more than one Ethernet connection, such as Ethernet and Ethernet 2, use the one matching your cable, dock, or USB adapter. The adapter’s status and description in PowerShell can help identify it.
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List adapters with Command Prompt
For a readable list of installed or visible network interfaces, open Command Prompt or Windows Terminal and run:
getmac /v /fo listMatch the entry’s connection name and adapter description to Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or the specific interface you need. The MAC address may be called Physical Address or MAC Address. Output can include disconnected adapters, so do not assume the first address listed is the right one.
Other useful formats are:
getmac
getmac /v
getmac /v /fo csvThe default output is compact; /v adds adapter details, /fo list is easier to read, and /fo csv is useful for processing results. Microsoft’s getmac reference documents these options and remote-computer syntax.
Find the address with ipconfig
Run this in Command Prompt or Windows Terminal:
ipconfig /allFind the section for the adapter you want, such as Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter Ethernet. Read its Physical Address line. Do not confuse it with IPv4 Address, IPv6 Address, Default Gateway, or DNS Servers; those are different network details. Microsoft’s ipconfig documentation explains that /all displays full configuration information for adapters.
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Use PowerShell to inspect adapters
PowerShell is useful when you want to compare interface names, status, descriptions, and MAC addresses:
Get-NetAdapter | Select-Object Name, InterfaceDescription, Status, MacAddress, LinkSpeedTo show only physical network adapters:
Get-NetAdapter -Physical | Select-Object Name, Status, MacAddressTo include hidden adapters:
Get-NetAdapter -Name * -IncludeHidden | Select-Object Name, Status, MacAddressFor an optional CSV export to your desktop:
Get-NetAdapter |
Select-Object Name, InterfaceDescription, Status, MacAddress |
Export-Csv "$env:USERPROFILEDesktopmac-addresses.csv" -NoTypeInformationMicrosoft documents the Get-NetAdapter command and its physical and hidden adapter options in the NetAdapter module reference.
Which MAC address should you use?
Use the address for the interface that will connect to the network in question:
- Wi-Fi registration or router controls: Use the Wi-Fi adapter’s address, and check whether Windows is using a randomized address for that network.
- Wired network registration: Use the Ethernet adapter connected by cable, including a USB Ethernet adapter or dock if that is the connection in use.
- School or work access: Confirm whether the administrator wants the current address Windows uses or the adapter’s permanent address. Do not guess if the distinction matters.
Windows may display hyphens, colons, or no separators depending on the tool. These are formatting differences; copy the value as shown unless the network’s instructions require another format. Check for accidental spaces or mistyped characters if a registration form rejects it.
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Why Windows shows more than one MAC address
A MAC address identifies a network interface on a local network link, not the computer as a whole. A laptop may have separate Wi-Fi and Ethernet addresses, and Windows can also list Bluetooth networking, cellular connections, USB adapters, VPN clients, virtual-machine switches, and disconnected or disabled interfaces.
Use the adapter Name, Status, and InterfaceDescription to choose correctly. An Up status can help identify an active connection, but a disconnected adapter may still have an address. Ignore VPN and virtual adapters unless the network administrator specifically asks for one.
A MAC address is not an IPv4 address such as 192.168.1.25, an IPv6 address, your router’s public Internet address, your PC name, or your Windows device ID. MAC addresses are generally used on a local network segment, not as identifiers routed across the public Internet.
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Windows supports random hardware addresses for Wi-Fi scanning and connections, including controls for individual known networks. This privacy feature can make the address Windows uses on a particular Wi-Fi network differ from the adapter’s manufacturer-assigned address or from an older registration record. A router or managed network may therefore see an address that does not match a label, a past record, or another tool’s result.
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To check the Wi-Fi setting, open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi and look for Random hardware addresses. For a particular saved network, go to Manage known networks, select that network, and inspect its random-address setting. Availability and labels may vary by Windows build and adapter support. Microsoft describes these controls in its Wi-Fi guidance; its netsh wlan reference also covers wireless randomization and notes that support can depend on the adapter.
“Permanent,” “factory,” and “current” MAC address are not always interchangeable. The adapter has a manufacturer-assigned address, but randomization or driver and adapter settings can result in a different effective address. If a router or administrator asks for a “permanent” address, ask whether they mean the manufacturer-assigned value or the address Windows currently uses for that Wi-Fi network. Avoid turning off randomization as a blanket fix: a stable address may help with a network’s registration rules, but randomization provides a privacy benefit.
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The Settings path or label does not match
Windows 10 and Windows 11 builds can arrange network details differently. Try getmac /v /fo list for a concise adapter list, or ipconfig /all and locate the relevant Physical Address line.
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The address is missing or the adapter does not appear
Try Get-NetAdapter -Name * -IncludeHidden or ipconfig /all. If Windows still does not detect the interface, open Device Manager > Network adapters to check that the hardware appears and that its driver is working. A disabled, missing, or undetected adapter may not expose the details you expect.
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A router or registration form rejects the address
Confirm you copied the correct interface: Wi-Fi for a wireless connection, Ethernet for a wired one. Check the Wi-Fi random hardware address setting, verify each character, then reconnect and compare with the router’s current client list. If it still fails, ask the network administrator whether the system expects the current randomized address, a permanent adapter address, or additional registration beyond MAC filtering.
Can I check an address without connecting?
Usually, yes. getmac /v /fo list, ipconfig /all, and Get-NetAdapter -Physical can show detected adapters even if they are disconnected. Settings may provide less information when an adapter is disabled or not detected.
Can I look up another Windows computer?
getmac supports remote syntax, for example:
getmac /s COMPUTERNAME /v /fo listThis requires suitable network access and permissions. It is not a way to discover any computer’s MAC address over the Internet: MAC addresses are local-link identifiers, not public Internet routing addresses.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is a MAC address the same as an IP address?
No. A MAC address identifies a network interface on a local network link; IPv4 and IPv6 addresses are network-layer addresses and are separate values.
Does every Windows PC have one MAC address?
No. Each network interface can have its own address, so Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and virtual adapters may all appear separately.
Does a VPN change my physical MAC address?
A VPN may create a virtual network adapter with its own listed address, but that is distinct from the physical Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter’s address. Use the interface requested by the network or administrator.
Is it safe to share a MAC address?
It is not a password, but it is a device-network identifier. Share it only where needed for a trusted router or network registration, and avoid posting it publicly without a reason.
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