Your MAC address is a unique hardware identifier associated with a network interface on your Windows 11 PC. You may need to find it when configuring a router, setting up MAC filtering, troubleshooting a network connection, identifying a device on your local network, or managing network access.
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| Learn how to find your Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and other network adapter MAC addresses in Windows 11 using built-in Settings, Command Prompt, and PowerShell tools. |
Windows 11 provides several built-in ways to check a MAC address. You can find it through Settings, Command Prompt, PowerShell, Windows Terminal, or the System Information interface.
In this guide, you'll learn how to find the MAC address of your Wi-Fi adapter, Ethernet adapter, and other network interfaces, understand the difference between a MAC address and an IP address, and troubleshoot common MAC address problems.
What Is a MAC Address?
A MAC address, or Media Access Control address, is an identifier associated with a network interface.
A traditional MAC address is commonly displayed as six groups of hexadecimal characters.
For example:
00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E
It can also be displayed in other formats, such as:
00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E
The exact MAC address on your computer will be different.
A Windows 11 PC can have multiple MAC addresses because each network interface can have its own address.
For example, a laptop may have separate MAC addresses for:
- Wi-Fi
- Ethernet
- Bluetooth
- Virtual network adapters
- VPN-related network interfaces
MAC Address vs IP Address
A MAC address and an IP address are not the same thing.
| Feature | MAC Address | IP Address |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Identifies a network interface | Provides network-layer addressing |
| Common format | Hexadecimal | IPv4 decimal or IPv6 hexadecimal |
| Example | 00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E | 192.168.1.25 |
| Can change? | Yes, in some situations | Yes, commonly through DHCP or configuration |
| Associated with | Network interface | Network configuration |
For a simple home network, your router may use both MAC addresses and IP addresses when managing connected devices.
Method 1: Check MAC Address Using Windows 11 Settings
The easiest graphical method is through the Windows 11 Settings app.
- Press Windows + I.
- Select Network & internet.
- Select Wi-Fi if you are using a wireless connection.
- Open the properties of your connected Wi-Fi network.
- Look for the network hardware information.
- Find the Physical address (MAC) entry if it is displayed.
For an Ethernet connection:
- Open Settings.
- Select Network & internet.
- Select Ethernet.
- Open the Ethernet connection properties.
- Look for the physical or MAC address information.
The exact location and wording can vary between Windows 11 versions and network configurations.
Method 2: Check MAC Address Using Command Prompt
Command Prompt is one of the quickest ways to find MAC addresses in Windows 11.
Follow these steps:
- Press Windows + S.
- Type Command Prompt.
- Open Command Prompt.
- Type:
getmac
Press Enter.
Windows will display the physical addresses associated with network connections.
Because your computer may have multiple adapters, you may see more than one MAC address.
Method 3: Use ipconfig /all
Another simple method is the ipconfig /all command.
Open Command Prompt and enter:
ipconfig /all
Press Enter.
Find the network adapter you are currently using.
Under the adapter, look for:
Physical Address
For example:
Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi: Description . . . . . . . . . . : Wi-Fi Adapter Physical Address. . . . . . . . : 00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.25
The value beside Physical Address is the MAC address for that network interface.
Method 4: Check MAC Address Using PowerShell
PowerShell provides a convenient way to display network adapter information.
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run:
Get-NetAdapter
Press Enter.
You will see information about available network adapters.
Look for the MacAddress column.
For example:
Name InterfaceDescription MacAddress ---- -------------------- ---------- Wi-Fi Wireless Network Adapter 00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E Ethernet Ethernet Adapter 11-22-33-44-55-66
Your values will be different.
Method 5: Use PowerShell to Show Only MAC Addresses
If you want a more compact result, use:
Get-NetAdapter | Select-Object Name, MacAddress
This displays the adapter name and its MAC address.
For example:
Name MacAddress ---- ---------- Wi-Fi 00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E Ethernet 11-22-33-44-55-66
This method is useful when your PC has several network adapters and you want to quickly identify their MAC addresses.
Method 6: Check MAC Address Using Windows Terminal
Windows Terminal can run both Command Prompt and PowerShell commands.
To use it:
- Right-click the Start button.
- Select Terminal.
- Open a Command Prompt or PowerShell tab.
- Run one of these commands:
getmac
or:
Get-NetAdapter
Both methods can show MAC address information.
How to Find the Wi-Fi MAC Address in Windows 11
If you specifically need the MAC address of your Wi-Fi adapter, do not simply copy the first address displayed by a command.
Your computer may have multiple network interfaces.
With Command Prompt, run:
ipconfig /all
Look for:
Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi
Then find:
Physical Address
Alternatively, with PowerShell:
Get-NetAdapter
Find the adapter named Wi-Fi and read the value under MacAddress.
How to Find the Ethernet MAC Address
If your PC is connected to the router using an Ethernet cable, look for the Ethernet adapter.
Run:
ipconfig /all
Then locate:
Ethernet adapter Ethernet
Look for:
Physical Address
You can also use:
Get-NetAdapter
and identify the adapter named Ethernet.
Why Does My PC Have Multiple MAC Addresses?
It is normal for a Windows 11 PC to have multiple MAC addresses.
Each physical network interface can have its own MAC address.
For example, a laptop might have:
| Adapter | Possible MAC Address |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | 00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E |
| Ethernet | 11-22-33-44-55-66 |
| Bluetooth | AA-BB-CC-DD-EE-FF |
Virtualization software and VPN applications can also create additional network interfaces.
What Is a Random Hardware Address in Windows 11?
Windows 11 can use randomized hardware addresses for Wi-Fi networks.
This feature can make it more difficult for networks to consistently identify the same device based solely on its Wi-Fi MAC address.
Depending on your settings and Windows version, you may see an option related to Random hardware addresses in the Wi-Fi network settings.
This is important when troubleshooting networks that use MAC address-based access control.
Why Does My Wi-Fi MAC Address Appear Different?
If you notice that the Wi-Fi MAC address appears different from the hardware address you expected, a randomized hardware address may be enabled.
Other possibilities include:
- Different network adapters
- Virtual network interfaces
- Network driver behavior
- Hardware replacement
- MAC address spoofing or manual configuration
Before changing anything, confirm that you are checking the correct Wi-Fi adapter.
How to Check the MAC Address of All Network Adapters
The easiest PowerShell command is:
Get-NetAdapter
For a more focused list:
Get-NetAdapter | Select-Object Name, MacAddress, Status
This can show the adapter name, MAC address, and connection status.
For example:
Name MacAddress Status ---- ---------- ------ Wi-Fi 00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E Up Ethernet 11-22-33-44-55-66 Disconnected
This makes it easier to identify which MAC address belongs to the active connection.
How to Find a MAC Address with getmac
The getmac command can quickly display MAC addresses.
Open Command Prompt and run:
getmac
For additional information, you can use:
getmac /v
The verbose output can provide additional information about network connections.
If your PC has many network adapters, compare the adapter information carefully before selecting an address.
What Is a Physical Address?
In Windows network configuration output, the term Physical Address commonly refers to the MAC address associated with a network interface.
For example:
Physical Address : 00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E
Therefore, when using:
ipconfig /all
you should look for Physical Address rather than an entry literally named "MAC Address."
Can a MAC Address Be Changed?
In some situations, a MAC address can be changed or randomized by software or network adapter settings.
However, you generally should not change it unless you have a specific reason.
Changing a MAC address unnecessarily can cause problems with:
- Network access control
- Router configuration
- DHCP reservations
- MAC filtering
- Corporate network policies
If your network administrator has assigned a specific configuration, follow the appropriate network policy before making changes.
Why Does a Router Need My MAC Address?
A router can use MAC addresses to identify devices connected to a local network.
Some routers provide features such as:
- DHCP reservations
- MAC filtering
- Device identification
- Access control
- Parental controls
For example, a DHCP reservation can associate a particular device's MAC address with a specific local IP address.
MAC Address and DHCP Reservations
Suppose your Windows 11 PC normally receives:
192.168.1.25
A router can sometimes be configured to reserve that address for a particular network interface based on its MAC address.
This can be useful for devices that need a predictable local IP address, such as:
- Printers
- Local servers
- Network storage
- Home automation devices
- Remote access systems
When configuring a reservation, make sure you use the MAC address of the correct network interface.
MAC Address Troubleshooting
Problem 1: Router Does Not Recognize My PC
Check whether the router is seeing the same MAC address that Windows reports for the active adapter.
Remember that Wi-Fi and Ethernet have different MAC addresses.
Problem 2: MAC Filtering Blocks My PC
Check whether the router is using a MAC allowlist or blocklist.
If randomized Wi-Fi hardware addresses are enabled, the address used by the PC may not be the address you previously added to the router.
Problem 3: Multiple MAC Addresses Appear
This is usually normal. Identify the active adapter before making changes.
Problem 4: MAC Address Does Not Match the Router
Check whether you are comparing the Wi-Fi adapter with an Ethernet adapter or another network interface.
How to Check MAC Address and IP Address Together
If you are troubleshooting a local network problem, it can be useful to view both MAC and IP information.
Run:
ipconfig /all
You may see:
Physical Address : 00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E IPv4 Address : 192.168.1.25 Subnet Mask : 255.255.255.0 Default Gateway : 192.168.1.1
This gives you a useful overview of how the network adapter is configured.
How to Check MAC Address Without Installing Software
You do not need third-party software to find your MAC address in Windows 11.
The operating system includes several built-in methods:
- Settings
- Command Prompt
- ipconfig
- getmac
- PowerShell
- Windows Terminal
For most users, Settings or ipconfig /all is sufficient.
Which MAC Address Should You Give Your Network Administrator?
If someone asks for your MAC address, first determine which connection they are referring to.
If you use Wi-Fi, provide the MAC address of the Wi-Fi adapter.
If you use Ethernet, provide the MAC address of the Ethernet adapter.
If the administrator specifically asks for the MAC address shown by a particular network interface, use that interface rather than another adapter.
Is a MAC Address the Same as a Serial Number?
No.
A MAC address identifies a network interface, while a serial number identifies a physical product or component according to the manufacturer's numbering system.
They serve different purposes and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Is It Safe to Share Your MAC Address?
A MAC address is primarily useful within local network environments and is not the same as a public IP address.
However, you should still avoid posting hardware and network information publicly when it is not necessary.
If a trusted network administrator or technical support representative asks for your MAC address for troubleshooting, provide the address for the correct network adapter.
Quickest Way to Check MAC Address in Windows 11
If you only need the MAC address quickly:
- Press Windows + S.
- Search for Command Prompt.
- Open it.
- Type:
ipconfig /all
That value is the MAC address of the selected network interface.
Best Method for Checking MAC Address
| Method | Difficulty | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Settings | Easy | Graphical interface |
| ipconfig /all | Easy | MAC plus complete IP configuration |
| getmac | Easy | Quick MAC address lookup |
| PowerShell | Intermediate | Multiple adapters and scripting |
| Get-NetAdapter | Intermediate | Adapter status and MAC addresses |
Related Articles
- How to Check Wi-Fi Signal Strength in Windows 11
- How to Check Internet Speed in Windows 11
- How to Check IP Address in Windows 11
- How to Check Windows 11 Version
- How to Check Windows 11 Build Number
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check my MAC address in Windows 11?
Open Settings and inspect your network connection properties, or open Command Prompt and run ipconfig /all. Look for the Physical Address entry.
What command shows the MAC address in Windows 11?
You can use getmac or ipconfig /all. PowerShell users can also run Get-NetAdapter.
How do I find my Wi-Fi MAC address?
Run ipconfig /all, find the Wireless LAN adapter for Wi-Fi, and look for its Physical Address.
How do I find my Ethernet MAC address?
Run ipconfig /all and find the Ethernet adapter. The Physical Address listed under that adapter is its MAC address.
Why does my computer have more than one MAC address?
Each network interface can have its own MAC address. A PC may have separate addresses for Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and virtual network adapters.
Can a MAC address change?
Yes. Some network adapters, operating-system features, and software can use randomized or modified MAC addresses. Wi-Fi networks may also use randomized hardware addresses.
Is a MAC address the same as an IP address?
No. A MAC address identifies a network interface, while an IP address provides network addressing for communication.
Do I need software to check my MAC address?
No. Windows 11 includes Settings, Command Prompt, getmac, PowerShell, and Windows Terminal for checking MAC addresses.
Final Thoughts
Checking your MAC address in Windows 11 is simple and does not require third-party software.
For a graphical method, use the Windows 11 Network & internet settings. For a quick command-line lookup, use:
getmac
For complete network information, use:
ipconfig /all
PowerShell users can use:
Get-NetAdapter
Remember that your computer may have multiple MAC addresses. Always identify whether you need the MAC address for Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or another network adapter before using the address for router configuration or troubleshooting.
If you are troubleshooting a network problem, checking your MAC address together with your IP address, default gateway, Wi-Fi signal strength, and internet speed can provide a much clearer picture of the connection.