Have you ever wondered how to find the MAC address of your computer's network adapter? A MAC address, short for Medium Access Control address, is used by network hardware as the source and destination identifier when data packets move across a network.
Every network interface card, whether Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or virtual, has its own unique MAC address. You have likely landed here because you need to locate the MAC address of a network adapter on your Windows PC or Linux computer.
The process is simple, but before diving in, it helps to understand what a MAC address actually is and why it matters.
What Is a MAC Address?
Medium Access Control addresses are used by a computer as the source and destination identifier for the transfer of data packets on a local network.
A MAC address is a unique 12 digit hexadecimal value, typically written in pairs like:
00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E
The first 6 digits identify the manufacturer of the network interface card. The remaining 6 digits uniquely identify that specific piece of hardware. Think of a MAC address as the permanent name of your network adapter, much like a home address uniquely identifies a location.
Unlike IP addresses, which can change, a MAC address is tied to the hardware itself.
Locate a MAC Address in Windows 95, 98, and ME
- Click Start -> Run
- Type winipcfg and press Enter
- From the drop down menu, select the network interface
- Look for the line labeled Adapter Address
Find a MAC Address in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and XP
- Click Start -> Run
- Type cmd and press Enter
- In the command window, type:
ipconfig /all
- Look for your active adapter
- Your MAC address appears as the Physical Address
You will often see multiple adapters listed. Focus on the one labeled Ethernet or Wi-Fi that is currently connected.
Find a MAC Address on Linux (Modern Systems)
On most modern Linux distributions, the ip command has replaced ifconfig.
- Open a terminal
- Type:
ip link
The MAC address appears as link/ether next to each interface.
Example:
2: eth0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP>
link/ether 08:00:27:4a:9b:2c
You can also use NetworkManager on desktop systems:
nmcli device show
Look for the field labeled GENERAL.HWADDR.
Why You Might Need Your MAC Address
- Connecting to secured Wi-Fi networks
- Registering devices on school or enterprise networks
- Configuring routers or access control lists
- Troubleshooting network issues
Whether you are on Windows or Linux, your MAC address is only a few keystrokes away. Once you know where to look, finding it becomes second nature.