How to find the Mac Address of a Laptop? A Helpful Guide

In this lesson, you will learn how to find the MAC address of a laptop. This guide provides a step-by-steps instructions through defferent methods that how to find and connect both Windows and macOS laptops computer with WiFi using the MAC address.

What is a MAC address?

A MAC address (Media Access Control Address) is a unique identification number assigned to the network interface card (NIC) of any network device, such as a laptop. It consists of 12 digits and is usually expressed in hexadecimal format (e.g. 00:A1:B2:C3:D4:E5). It is used to identify a device within a network. A MAC address is also called the Physical or Hardware address. This address is permanently assigned during the manufacturing of the network card, although in some modern devices it can also be changed through software.

Importance of MAC Address in Laptop:

The importance of the MAC address in a laptop is in network communication, where it ensures the delivery of data packets to the correct device over a local area network (LAN) or Wi-Fi connection. Network administrators use MAC addresses for firewall security, network filtering, and access control lists (ACLs). Sometimes Internet service providers (ISPs) restrict network access by allowing specific MAC addresses so that only specific devices can use the Internet.

Moreover, if your is stonen by someone, then you can use some modern tracking system to help and track the location of your laptop while using the MAC address. Because this address is logged in routers every time it connects to the network.

How to find the Mac address of a laptop?

Below are the important instructions to find the MAC address of a laptop on Windows, Mac, and Chromebook.

Mac OS:

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Now choose the Network.
3. In the left-hand pane, select the network connection to which you are currently connected.
4. Click on “Advanced” in the lower right corner.
5. The device’s MAC address will be found at the bottom of the Windows next to “Wi-Fi address.”

Windows 10 & 11:

1. Click in the search box and type Command Prompt.
2. Type or simply copy this command, “ipconfig /all” and past it and then press Enter. Your network configurations will display on the laptop screen.
3. Scroll down and search the “Physical Address,” and look for the value next to it. This is your MAC address.

OR

1. Click in the search box and type Command Prompt.
2. Now type or copy this prompt “netsh wlan sh int” and past it and then press Enter.
3. Scroll down and find the “Physical Address“.

Windows 8:

1. Press the Windows Start key from the keyboard to open the Start menu.
2. Now type “cmd” in the search box and press enter.
3. The Command Prompt window will be opened on the screen. Now type or copy this “ipconfig /all” OR this “netsh wlan sh int” and press enter
4. Scroll down and find the MAC address listed next to “Physical Address“.

Windows 7:

1. Click on the Start menu, typing “cmd” in the search box, and pressing enter.
2. The Command Prompt windows will be opened.
3. Now, type or copy this prompt “getmac” and past it, and then press enter.
4. The MAC address will be listed under “Physical Address“.

Chromebook:

1. Turn on your Chromebook.
2. Click the status area, where shows your account picture.
3. Click the section that says “Connected to” (and the name of your network).
4. At the top of the box, click on pick your network.
5. A window will open that shows the Hardware address actually the MAC address of your Chromebook.

For Linux:

• Go to applications menu and open Teminal or simply press Ctrl + Alt + T.
• To Run the command type “ifconfig” (or “ip a” on some distributions) and press Enter.
• Choose your network interface like eth0 or wlan0). The MAC address will be find next to “ether” for “ifconfig” or directly under the interface name for “ip a”.

By following the above steps you will be able to find the MAC address of your laptop and you will be connec it with WiFi.