MAC Address

What is a MAC address?

A MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique identifier assigned to the network hardware in your devices. Every computer, phone, tablet, smart TV, and router has one. It looks like a series of letters and numbers separated by colons, like 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E.

Think of it as a license plate for your network card. While your IP address can change depending on what network you're on, your MAC address is (usually) permanent and unique to that specific piece of hardware.

Why it matters

MAC addresses help networks direct traffic to the right device. Your router uses MAC addresses to keep track of which device is which on your local network.

Some networks use MAC address filtering for security—only allowing known devices to connect. MAC addresses can also help with troubleshooting: if you're having problems with a specific device, the MAC address helps identify it in router logs or network monitoring tools.

What you can do

For most people, you'll never need to think about MAC addresses. But here's when they come in handy:

• If a device suddenly can't connect to your WiFi, check your router's admin page—it might be accidentally blocked
• Use MAC addresses to identify mystery devices on your network (most routers show connected devices with their MAC addresses)
• If you see "Private Address" or "Random MAC" in your device's WiFi settings, that's a privacy feature—it's good, not a problem
• Some networks (like corporate WiFi or hotels) require you to register your device's MAC address before connecting
• If your ISP requires you to register a MAC address, they'll walk you through finding it on your device

What Network Weather shows you

Network Weather displays your device's MAC address and can show the MAC addresses of devices on your network.