How to find the Bluetooth MAC address on Android

Modern Android smartphones are complex computing centers, where each network interface has a unique identifier. Understanding how to find Bluetooth MAC addressis often required not only by enthusiasts, but also by ordinary users when connecting specific equipment or setting up a smart home. Unlike Wi-Fi, where the address is often hidden behind randomization, the Bluetooth interface has a more rigid connection to the physical module.

Knowledge of this code is necessary for filtering devices at the router level, diagnosing pairing failures, or when developing your own applications. However, manufacturers are constantly changing the location of settings in shells, making access to technical information more difficult. In this article we will look at all current methods of obtaining data: from the standard menu to using debugging commands.

It is worth noting right away that in new versions Android 10, 11, 12 and higher the privacy policy has become stricter. The system can replace the real address with a random one when scanning, but the physical hardware identifier remains unchanged and is accessible through certain system calls.

Searching for an address through the standard menu settings

The easiest and safest way to find out the module identification number is to use the standard operating system interface. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware manufacturer, be it MIUI, One UI or Stock Android. Usually the information is hidden in the "About phone" section or in the advanced settings of Bluetooth itself.

First, open the main menu and go to the section Settings. Find item About phone (or System → About phone). A block Status or General informationis often located here, where the IMEI, serial number and Bluetooth address are listed. If this section is empty, try going directly to the Bluetooth menu.

In some shells, for example on smartphones Samsung or Xiaomi, you need to click on the three dots in the corner of the screen or on the gear next to the Bluetooth switch. In the menu that opens, there may be a “Device Address” item. Please note that if you have the "Random MAC Address" feature enabled for enhanced privacy, the displayed value may differ from the physical one.

⚠️ Attention: On Android 12 and later, only a temporary address may be displayed in the standard menu. To get the real physical ID, use the methods below.

Using the engineering menu and service codes

Engineering menu is a hidden diagnostic section designed for testing the hardware components of a smartphone. It is accessed through a set of special USSD codes in the Phone application. This method works on many devices with processors MediaTek i Qualcomm, but the codes may vary.

Try entering one of the following codes when dialing: ##4636## or ##8255##. After entering the last character, the testing menu should automatically open. Select item Information about Bluetooth or Bluetooth Test. The window that opens will display the current status of the module and its Hardware Address.

If standard codes do not work, manufacturers often use their own combinations. For example, on Sony it could be ##7378423##, and on Meizu — ##3646633##. Be careful when changing settings in this menu: resetting the radio module parameters unnecessarily can lead to loss of connection with accessories.

• 📱 Code ##4636## works on most pure Android and Xiaomi.
• 🔧 Code #0# opens the general test menu on Samsung.
• ⚙️ The code ##3646633## is specific to MediaTek processors.
• 🚫 On some telecom operators, entering service codes may be blocked.

Receiving data via ADB and computer

The most reliable method, which works on 99% of devices, regardless of the Android version and the presence of root access, is to use a debug bridge ADB (Android Debug Bridge). To do this, you will need a computer, a USB cable, and USB debugging enabled on your smartphone. This method allows you to query system services directly.

Activate developer mode first. Go to Settings → About phone and click on Build number 7 times in a row until the activation notification appears. Then in the menu For developers turn on the toggle switch USB debugging. Connect your phone to the PC and open the command line in the ADB tools folder.

Enter the following command to get a list of all network interfaces and their addresses:

adb shell ip link show

In the output, find the line starting with hci0 or containing the word bluetooth. Next to link/ether the required hexadecimal code will be indicated. If this command does not produce results, try a deeper query to the system properties:

adb shell getprop | grep bluetooth

Sometimes the address is hidden in the properties persist.service.bt.bdaddr. The command adb shell getprop persist.service.bt.bdaddr can output a clean value without unnecessary text. Please note that some commands may require temporary granting of rights via adb rootif the device is rooted.

Analysis of system files without root access

The Android file system stores the hardware configuration in specific files, access to which is sometimes possible even without superuser rights, if you use file managers with access to system partitions (requires permission through ADB or special utilities).

The key file is often /data/misc/bluetooth/bdaddr or /persist/misc/bluetooth/bdaddr. However, on modern devices the partition /data is encrypted and cannot be read by third-party applications. An alternative is to view the kernel logs.

Use applications like Logcat Reader or connect via ADB and run the command dmesg | grep -i bluetooth. In the logs, when the driver is initialized, the module almost always “screams” about its address. Look for lines like Bluetooth: hci0: BCM... or mention BD_ADDR.

⚠️ Attention: Files in the /sys/class/bluetooth directory may be empty or contain symbolic links that do not reveal the real address on new versions of the Linux kernel.

Why can the address change?

Starting with Android 8.0, the system uses a MAC address randomization mechanism when scanning to protect against location tracking. This does not change the physical address of the chip, but masks it for external observers.

Specifics of different versions of Android and manufacturers

Differences in the implementation of the Bluetooth stack create a situation where a universal “Find out address” button does not exist. Google in the latest versions Android 13 and 14 has maximally limited application access to unique hardware identifiers for security purposes.

Below is a table showing typical ways to obtain information for popular brands. Data may vary depending on the specific model and firmware update.

Manufacturer	Shell	Typical path / Method	Availability
Samsung	One UI	Settings -> About phone -> Status	High
Xiaomi	MIUI / HyperOS	Engineering menu (##6484##)	Medium
Google Pixel	Stock Android	ADB command ip link show	High (via PC)
Huawei	EMUI	Settings -> System -> About phone	Low (hidden)

On devices Huawei and Honor without Google services, access to diagnostics is often locked with a password that changes depending on the date of generation. In such cases, the only way out is to use Bluetooth sniffers on another device (PC or second phone) to intercept the advertising packet from your smartphone.

Diagnostics and resolution of display problems

There are situations when none of the methods returns a valid address. This may indicate a driver software failure, a disabled module in the kernel, or a physical failure of the chip. If the Bluetooth adapter is displayed as “Unknown Device” in Device Manager (when connected to a PC), the problem lies deeper.

Try a full reset of the network settings. This won't delete your photos or contacts, but it will clear all saved Wi-Fi passwords and paired Bluetooth devices. The path is usually located in Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile data and Bluetooth settings.

If after resetting the address continues to be displayed as zero or is missing in the logs, perhaps the calibration file bdaddr in the section persist was damaged during an unsuccessful flashing. Recovery requires a backup of this partition or flashing the stock image.

• 🔄 Resetting the network settings often solves the problem of the "missing" address.
• 🛠 Checking in safe mode will eliminate the influence of third-party applications.
• 💾 Damage to the persist partition requires the intervention of the service center.

⚠️ Attention: Settings interfaces and system commands may change with the release of new security updates. Always check the current paths in the official documentation for your model.

Is it possible to change the Bluetooth MAC address?

Technically, this is possible on rooted devices by replacing the address in the driver, but this disrupts the operation of many services and can lead to account blocking in some applications.

Often asked questions (FAQ)

Why do you need to know the Bluetooth MAC address?

This address is used to uniquely identify your device to other gadgets. It is necessary for setting up white access lists on routers, connecting car multimedia systems that remember only specific devices, as well as for debugging developers’ own software.

Does changing the MAC address affect the warranty?

Viewing the address does not affect the warranty in any way. However, an attempt to programmatically replace (spoof) an address through modifying system files can be regarded by the service center as interference in the software, which could theoretically become a reason for denial of warranty service if software failures occur.

Why is one address shown in the settings, and another in ADB?

This is due to the randomization function. Settings for the user may show the public address used for pairing, while ADB shows the physical address of the chip or the address used for background scanning. On Android 10+, this difference has become the norm.

Is it possible to find out the MAC address of someone else's phone?

Only if you are within Bluetooth range (about 10 meters) and use special scanner applications (for example, nRF Connect). However, due to randomization, you will see a temporary address that will change every few minutes, which makes tracking a specific person difficult.

What to do if Bluetooth is working, but the address is nowhere to be found?

Most likely, the manufacturer has hidden this information at the firmware level. Try installing the application Device Info HW from the Play Market store - it often knows how to get hidden data about hardware that is not displayed in the standard menu.