How do I find my device's MAC address? (macOS)

Question

I have been asked to find the MAC address of my Apple computer for wireless configuration. Where do I look to find it, and what's a MAC address, anyway?

Solution

The Media Access Control address (MAC address; no relation to Apple or Macintosh computers) is a unique identifier for computing devices on a network. A MAC address is somewhat like a serial number.

Every device that has an Internet connection must have a unique MAC Address. Modern computers will have two MAC Addresses: one wireless local area network (Wireless LAN) adapter and one Ethernet adapter.

MAC address is synonymous with Ethernet Hardware Address, Hardware Address, Physical Address, and Burned-in Address.

Here is the step-by-step for finding your MAC address on macOS.

1. Click on the Wi-Fi Icon at the top of the screen. When the drop-down menu appears, select Open Network Preferences...

Click on the Wi-Fi symbol in top right of device. Scroll to the bottom of the list for network preferences.

2. In the Network window select the adapter that the computer is connected through to the network, Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Then click on Advanced.

Select your connected network in the top left. Then in the bottom right of the new window that pops up, select "Advanced"

3. Once the advanced adapter settings have opened, select Hardware.

In the properties window that opens, select Hardware in the far right tab.

4. At the top of the settings shown under the Hardware tab, the MAC Address is visible.

The MAC address will be listed below

Details

Article ID: 41565
Created
Fri 10/27/17 2:01 PM
Modified
Thu 8/24/23 4:25 PM

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The UO offers both wireless and wired access to the internet. The wireless network you use will depend on your affiliation. UO students, staff, and faculty can use uowireless or UO Secure. Guests to campus can use UO Guest or, if they're from an eduroam-participating institution, they can use eduroam.