How to Find the MAC Address on Your Mac
Introduction
The MAC address is present on every iMac, MacBook Pro/Air, Mac Pro, Mac Studio and Mac Mini, because all devices that are on the network also have a MAC address. This serves as a unique identification of the device in WiFi or LAN.
MAC Address (Graphic: Midjourney)
What Exactly is a MAC Address?
A MAC address is a unique identifier for a device's network component, such as the network adapter of an Apple Mac. It consists of six blocks of hexadecimal numbers and uniquely identifies each device in a network - but it can also be changed.
Where to Find the MAC Address?
Via System Settings
- Open the Apple menu at the top left and select "System Settings".
- Click on "Network".
- Select the active network connection (e.g., WiFi).
- Click on the "Details" button.
- The MAC address will be displayed in the new window.
Find MAC address via System Settings → Network.
Via Terminal
- Open Terminal (via Spotlight search or in the "Utilities" folder).
- Enter the command
ifconfigand press Enter. - In the output, look for "en0" (for WiFi) and then for "ether". The MAC address is displayed after it.
How to find the MAC address via Terminal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a MAC address?
A MAC address (Media Access Control address) is a unique identification number assigned to a network interface (such as WiFi or Ethernet card) of a device to uniquely identify it in a network.
Why is each MAC address unique?
Each MAC address is globally unique because it is assigned by the manufacturer of the network device according to the guidelines of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) to ensure unique identification.
Can a MAC address be changed?
While the MAC address is hardware-fixed in a device, some operating systems and software tools allow the address to be changed or "spoofed" on the software side. This can be useful for privacy or testing purposes, but should be handled responsibly.