MAC address (Media Access Control) is a unique identifier of the network interface of your device, which is used for identification in local networks. On Android smartphones, this address may be needed when setting up a router, connecting to a corporate network, or solving connection problems. Unlike the IP address, which can change, the MAC address is strictly tied to the hardware device (although it can be temporarily changed programmatically).

In this article we will analyze all the current ways to obtain the MAC address on Android - from standard settings to using hidden commands and specialized applications. We will pay special attention to the nuances for different versions of the operating system (including Android 14 and newer), and also explain why on some devices the address may be displayed incorrectly or hidden by the manufacturer.

1.MAC address through Android settings (the easiest way)

Most modern smartphones allow you to find out the MAC address of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth through system settings. This method does not require root access or additional apps, but the interface may differ depending on the shell (MIUI, One UI, ColorOS etc.).

General algorithm:

  • 📱 Open the application Settings (gear icon).
  • 🔍 Go to section About phone → General information (or Software information).
  • 🔧 Find Status, Network information or Wi-Fi MAC address.
  • 📋 Write down or copy the displayed address (format: 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E).

On some devices (for example, Xiaomi or Realme) the MAC address may be hidden deeper:

Settings → Wi-Fi → ⚙️ Advanced → Status
⚠️ Attention: Starting from Android 10, some manufacturers began to hide the real MAC address for privacy purposes, displaying a randomly generated one instead. In this case, use alternative methods from the following sections.
📊 What is the brand of your Android smartphone?
Samsung
Xiaomi
Huawei
Google Pixel
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2.Using the developer menu (for advanced users)

If the standard settings do not show the MAC address, it can be found through menu. DeveloperThis method works on 90% of devices, but requires prior activation of the hidden mode.

Instructions:

  1. Activate the developer menu: 
    Settings → About phone → Build number (tap 7 times)
  2. Return to the main settings menu and open a new section For developers.
  3. Scroll down to the block Network and find the items:
    • 📶 Wi-Fi MAC address
    • 🔵 Bluetooth MAC address

On Samsung Galaxy s One UI 5.0+ the path may differ: 

Settings → For developers → Debugging → Network debugging

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If the developer menu does not appear after 7 clicks, check if the settings were reset after updating the OS. Sometimes you need to repeat the procedure.

3. ADB commands: how to find the MAC address through a computer

For advanced users who have access to ADB (Android Debug Bridge), there is a way to get the MAC address through the command line. This method is guaranteed to show the real hardware address, even if it is hidden in the interface.

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Install ADB drivers on your PC.
  2. Connect your smartphone via USB and enable debugging (turn it on in Settings → For Developers).
  3. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and enter: 
    adb shell

    cat /sys/class/net/wlan0/address

    For Bluetooth:

    adb shell

    settings get global bluetooth_address

    4. If the command returns 02:00:00:00:00:00 or an empty line, this means that the manufacturer has blocked access to the real MAC address. In this case, only physical access to the Wi-Fi chip will help (which is impossible without disassembling the device).

    Command Description Example output
    cat /sys/class/net/wlan0/address MAC address of the main Wi-Fi module a4:2b:b0:1c:f5:89
    ip link show wlan0 Alternative method (does not work on all devices) link/ether a4:2b:b0:1c:f5:89 brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    settings get global bluetooth_address MAC address of the Bluetooth module a4:2b:b0:1c:f5:90 or null

    4. Third-party viewing applications MAC addresses

    If system methods do not work, specialized utilities from Google Playwill come to the rescue. They not only show MAC addresses, but also provide additional information about network interfaces.

    Top 3 tested applications:

    • 🛠️ WiFi Analyzer (from farproc) - shows the MAC address of the access point and device in the Info.
    • 📡 Network Info II — displays all network interfaces, including virtual ones (VPN).
    • 🔍 DevCheck — a universal utility for diagnosing hardware, where the MAC address is indicated in the block Network.

    Warning: some applications (for example, MAC Address Changer) require rights root for work. Without them, they may show incorrect data or randomly generated addresses.

    Install Network Info II from Google Play

    Open the Wi-Fi tab

    Check the "MAC Address" line

    Compare with the data from the settings phone-->

    5.Features on different versions of Android

    Starting with Android 10, Google introduced a feature MAC address randomization to protect privacy. This means that when connecting to a new network, a device can generate a random address instead of using a hardware one. However, the real MAC is still stored in the system.

    How it works in practice:

    • 🔄 Android 9 and below: always shows the real MAC address.
    • 🎭 Android 10–13: randomization is enabled by default, but the real address can be found through ADB or the developer menu.
    • 🔒 Android 14+: some manufacturers (for example, Google Pixel) completely hide the real MAC, leaving only a random one.

    To disable randomization on Samsung:

    Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi → ⚙️ Advanced → Use random hardware address (disable)
    ⚠️ Warning: Disabling randomization may reduce your privacy on public networks, as attackers will be able to track your device by MAC address.
    Why do manufacturers hide MAC addresses?

    Since 2020, Google has obligated vendors to implement MAC randomization to protect users from tracking in public networks (airports, cafes, shopping centers). The real address is now used only for authorization in trusted networks (for example, a home router).

    6. Frequent problems and their solutions

    Sometimes users are faced with the fact that the MAC address is displayed as 02:00:00:00:00:00, unavailable or is completely absent in the settings. Let's look at typical causes and ways to eliminate them.

    Problem 1: The MAC address is not displayed in the settings.

    • 🔄 Reboot the device - sometimes this resets temporary network stack errors.
    • 📱 Check if Is the Wi-Fi adapter disabled in Settings → Connections → Mobile mode (on some devices).
    • 🛠️ Update the firmware - in older versions of the OS there could be bugs with displaying the network information.

    Problem 2: ADB returns empty result.

    This means that the manufacturer has blocked access to the real MAC. Solutions:

    • 🔧 Try an alternative command: adb shell ifconfig wlan0.
    • 📦 Use the application DevCheck - it sometimes bypasses restrictions.
    • 📄 Check the box from the device - some brands (for example, Huawei) indicate MAC address on the sticker.

On devices with a chip MediaTek (for example, Redmi Note 11), the real MAC address can be stored in the section /efs, which can only be accessed with root access.

7.How to change the MAC address on Android (without root)

In rare cases, users need to temporarily change the MAC address - for example, to bypass network restrictions or test. This can be done without root access only at the level of software randomization (not hardware changes!).

Methods:

  1. Enable randomization in Wi-Fi settings (see section 5).
  2. Use applications like MAC Changer (requires Android 8.0 or lower).
  3. For Android 10+ connect to the network, then “forget” it and connect again - the system will generate a new random MAC.
⚠️ Attention: Changing the MAC address may disrupt the operation of corporate networks where MAC binding is used. This may also be considered an attempt to bypass security in some public access points.
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The real MAC address (Burned-in Address) cannot be changed without root. All “changes” are temporary masking at the OS level.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

❓ Is it possible to find out the MAC address of someone else's device via Wi-Fi?

No, if the device is not connected to your network. MAC addresses are visible only within the local network (for example, in the router administration panel). On public networks they are usually hidden due to randomization.

❓ Why is the MAC address on Android different from the one on the box?

This is normal: the hardware MAC (Burned-in Address) is indicated on the box, and a random (randomized) address may be displayed in the settings. The real MAC can only be seen through ADB or in the developer menu.

❓ How to find the Ethernet MAC address on Android?

Most smartphones do not have an Ethernet port, but if you use a USB adapter (for example, on Samsung DeX), the MAC address will be appear in Settings → Network and Internet → Ethernet.

❓ Can the MAC address change after a factory reset?

No, the hardware MAC address does not change during a reset. However, after a reset, the randomization setting may be reset, and the device will begin to use the real address again.

❓ Where is the MAC address physically stored?

The address is written in the non-volatile memory of the network chip (Wi-Fi/Bluetooth module). On most devices this is a separate chip from Broadcom, Qualcomm or MediaTek, soldered on the motherboard.