How to find your Wi-Fi MAC address on Android: all the methods for any phone

The MAC address of the Wi-Fi module on Android is a unique identifier that may be needed for setting up a router, connecting to a corporate network, or troubleshooting connection issues. Unlike IP addresses, which can change, the MAC address is firmly tied to the device's hardware. However, finding it isn't always easy: manufacturers hide this information in various menu sections, and on some models, it may not even be available in the standard interface.

In this article we will look at all current methodsHow to find your Wi-Fi MAC address on Android—from standard settings to using hidden commands and third-party apps. These instructions are suitable for phones Samsung, Xiaomi, Honor, Realme and other brands based on Android 10–15You'll also learn why a random MAC address is sometimes displayed instead of the real one (and how to fix it).

1. Standard method: via Android settings

The easiest method is to look up the MAC address in the system settings. However, there is a catch: on modern versions of Android (starting with Android 10) Manufacturers often hide the real MAC address for privacy reasons, showing it instead randomWe'll discuss this in detail in the section on "randomization."

To find the MAC address through settings:

  • 📱 Open the app Settings (gear icon).
  • 🔍 Go to the section About the phone (or About the device).
  • 📋 Find the item General information, Software Information or State (the name depends on the firmware).
  • 🔧 Scroll down to the block Wi-Fi MAC address (may be called Wi-Fi MAC or Wi-Fi address).

If there is no MAC address in this section, try the alternative path:

  1. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi.
  2. Tap the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Additionally or Wi-Fi settings.
  3. Search for the item MAC address in the section Network information.

2. Why does Android show a fake MAC address?

Starting from Android 10Google has introduced a feature MAC randomization (MAC Randomization). This means that when you connect to a new Wi-Fi network, your phone automatically generates temporary MAC address, instead of using a real one. This is done to protect privacy: a permanent MAC address can be used to track a device's movements between networks.

How it works in practice:

  • 🔄 When you first connect to a network, your smartphone assigns it a random MAC address.
  • 🔒 This address is saved for this network and is used for reconnections.
  • 📵 The device's real MAC address remains hidden and is not transmitted to the router.

Exceptions when a real MAC is used:

  • ⚙️ In some corporate networks (with 802.1X authentication).
  • 📡 When connecting to the network via Wi-Fi Direct.
  • 🔧 If the randomization function is manually disabled (not available on all phones).
📊 Did you know about MAC randomization in Android?
Yes, I knew and turned it off.
Yes, but I don't see the point in turning it off.
No, I found out only now.
It doesn't matter to me

If you need real MAC address (for example, to bind to a router), the standard settings will not help - you will have to use the methods from the following sections.

3. Advanced Method: Via ADB (without root)

If standard methods don't work, you can find out the real MAC address of your Wi-Fi through Android Debug Bridge (ADB)This method does not require rights. root, but will require connecting the phone to the computer.

Instructions:

  1. 🖥️ Install ADB drivers on PC (Windows, macOS or Linux).
  2. 📱 Turn on your phone Developer mode (go to Settings → About phone and tap 7 times Build number).
  3. 🔧 Return to Settings → System → Developer Options and turn it on USB debugging.
  4. 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC via USB (select the mode File transfer or MTP).
  5. 🐍 Open the command prompt (or Terminal) and run:
adb shell

ip link show wlan0

Find the line in the output link/ether — this is the actual MAC address of your Wi-Fi module. Example:

3: wlan0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc mq state UP mode DORMANT group default qlen 1000

link/ether 1a:2b:3c:4d:5e:6f brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff

What to do if the command doesn't work?

If ip link show wlan0 returns an error, try alternative commands: cat /sys/class/net/wlan0/address

or

getprop wifi.interface (then use the resulting interface name instead wlan0).

If the interface is not called wlan0, and for example wlan1 or wifi0, substitute it into the command. You can find out the interface name using the command:

adb shell ip link

4. Applications for viewing MAC addresses

If you don't want to connect to a PC, you can use specialized apps. They don't always show the actual MAC address (due to Android limitations), but they can be useful for quick viewing.

Top 3 verified apps:

Application Shows real MAC? Does it require root? Link (Google Play)
WiFi MAC Address Changer Yes (on some devices) No Download
Network Info II Yes (in the Wi-Fi section) No Download
DevCheck No (shows random) No Download

How to use Network Info II:

  • 📲 Install and open the application.
  • 🔍 Go to the tab Wi-Fi.
  • 📋 Scroll to the block Interface Info - there will be a line MAC Address.

Install Network Info II from Google Play

Open the Wi-Fi tab

Find the Interface Info section

Compare the address with the one in Android settings-->

Please note: Even if the application shows the MAC address, this does not guarantee that it is real. Android 10+ Many utilities display a random address due to system limitations.

5. MAC address on phones of specific brands

Manufacturers sometimes change the MAC address location in settings. Let's look at the differences for popular brands.

📱 Samsung (One UI)

On phones Samsung Galaxy (For example, S23, A54) The MAC address can be found like this:

  1. Open Settings → Device Maintenance → Status.
  2. Tap on Wi-Fi.
  3. The MAC address will be in the line MAC address.

📱 Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO (MIUI)

On firmware MIUI (For example, Redmi Note 12, POCO X5):

  1. Go to Settings → About phone → All specifications.
  2. Scroll to the block State.
  3. The Wi-Fi MAC address will be listed next to Wi-Fi address.

📱 Honor/Huawei (Magic UI/EMUI)

On Honor 90, Huawei P60 and others:

  1. Go to Settings → About phone → Device information.
  2. Select State.
  3. The MAC address will be in the section Wi-Fi.
⚠️ Attention: On phones Huawei With EMUI 12+ The actual MAC address may not be displayed due to privacy policy. Use ADB or specialized apps.

📱 Google Pixel

On Pixel 7/8 with pure Android:

  1. Open Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi.
  2. Tap the gear icon next to the connected network.
  3. Scroll down to MAC address (may be hidden).

6. How to disable MAC address randomization?

If you need permanent MAC address (for example, to connect to a router), you can try disabling randomization. However, this isn't possible on all phones.

Instructions for supported devices:

  1. 📱 Open Settings → Wi-Fi.
  2. 🔧 Tap on the connected network and select Additionally (or Network settings).
  3. 🔄 Find the option Use a random MAC (or MAC randomization) and turn it off.
  4. 🔄 Reconnect to the network - the real MAC address will now be used.

Please take into account the following nuances:

  • ❌ On Android 12+ Many manufacturers have removed the option to disable randomization.
  • ⚠️ Disabling randomization may reduce privacy (your device will be easier to track).
  • 🔄 After disconnecting, you may need to forget the network and reconnect.
⚠️ Attention: On phones Samsung With One UI 5.0+ And Xiaomi With MIUI 14+ The option to disable randomization is often missing. In this case, use ADB or contact your network administrator for manual pairing.

7. Common problems and their solutions

When trying to find a Wi-Fi MAC address on Android, users encounter common problems. Let's look at the most common ones and how to solve them.

🚫 Problem: MAC address not showing in settings

Reasons and solutions:

  • 📵 Wi-Fi is off: Turn on Wi-Fi even if you are not connected to a network.
  • 🔧 Hidden by the manufacturer: Use ADB or apps like Network Info II.
  • 📱 Outdated firmware: Update Android to the latest version.

🔄 Problem: MAC address changes every time I connect

This is normal behavior on Android 10+ due to randomization. Solutions:

  • 🔧 Disable randomization (if available in network settings).
  • 🖥️ Use ADB to get the real MAC address.
  • 📡 Configure your router to bind to IP address instead of MAC.

❓ Problem: Apps show different MAC addresses

This happens because:

  • One application shows real MAC (via low-level access).
  • Other - random (from system settings).
  • The third one can display MAC another network interface (for example, Bluetooth or Ethernet).

To avoid confusion, use ADB only to get a valid Wi-Fi MAC address.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about Wi-Fi MAC addresses on Android

🔍 Is it possible to change the MAC address on Android without rooting?

On most modern devices (Android 10+) change MAC address without root- it's impossible. Previously, this could be done through applications like MAC Address Changer, but now Android blocks such changes at the system level. The only reliable way is to use root or custom firmware (for example, LineageOS).

📱 Why isn't my phone's MAC address listed in the settings?

This may be due to:

  • Manufacturer's policy (e.g. Xiaomi or Huawei hide MAC by default).
  • Firmware features (on some custom ROMs MAC may not be displayed).
  • Android 10+ limitations (real MAC is hidden due to randomization).

Solution: Use ADB or specialized applications (see section 4).

🔧 How do I bind a device to a router using its MAC address if it's random?

There are several options:

  1. Disable randomization in Wi-Fi settings (if available).
  2. Get connected by IP address (set up a static IP on your phone or DHCP reservation on your router).
  3. Use device name (Hostname) for filtering (not all routers support it).
  4. Set up the binding by another identifier (for example, by IMEI, if the router supports it).

If nothing helps, contact your network administrator for manual configuration.

🛠️ Is it possible to restore the real MAC address after a factory reset?

Yes, the real MAC address does not change When resetting the phone to factory settings, it's hardcoded into the Wi-Fi module at the hardware level. However, after a reset, randomization may re-enable itself, and a random address will be displayed in the settings. To see the real address, use ADB (Section 3).

📡 Why does the router see a different MAC address than the one in the phone settings?

It's normal if:

  • It's turned on on the phone MAC randomization (Android 10+).
  • You are connected to the network for the first time (a new random MAC has been generated).
  • The router is caching the old MAC address (reboot it).

To make the router "see" the real MAC, disable randomization (if possible) or use ADB for binding.

📖 Read also

How to Find Your iPhone's Wi-Fi Password: iOS 16+ Instructions A complete guide: how to view saved Wi-Fi passwords on iPhone. Working methods for iOS How to Connect iTunes to Wi-Fi: Setting Up Syncing Step-by-step instructions: how to set up iTunes syncing via Wi-Fi on your computer and iPhone. Solution WiFi Transfer: How to Use It – A Complete Guide (2026) Detailed instructions on how to use WiFi Transfer to quickly transfer files between Android and PC. How to connect to Wi-Fi on the Sapsan: a complete guide Detailed instructions for connecting to free Wi-Fi on Sapsan trains. Troubleshooting authorization issues How to Block WiFi on Your Child's Android Phone: A Complete Guide Step-by-step instructions: how to block WiFi access on a child's Android device. Router setup How to View the Wi-Fi Password on a Samsung A5: 3 Methods Learn how to view your WiFi password on a Samsung A5. Detailed instructions for Android 10, 11, and 12.