What is a MAC address lookup?
Every network interface has a MAC (Media Access Control) address, a 48-bit identifier written as six pairs of hexadecimal digits like 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E. The first half is the Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI), which the IEEE assigns to manufacturers. Looking up the OUI tells you who made the network card: useful for identifying unknown devices on your Wi-Fi, auditing a network or reading DHCP and switch logs.
How to read the results
- Vendor: the company that registered the prefix. We check the large MA-L blocks (24-bit prefixes) as well as the smaller MA-M (28-bit) and MA-S (36-bit) blocks.
- Locally administered: if the second-least-significant bit of the first byte is set (first byte ends in 2, 6, A or E), the address was set by software, not the factory. iPhone, Android and Windows use these random "private Wi-Fi addresses" by default to prevent tracking, so they have no vendor.
- Multicast: if the least-significant bit of the first byte is set, the address refers to a group of devices, not one interface.
How to find a device's MAC address
- Windows: run
getmac /voripconfig /all(Physical Address). - macOS: System Settings → Wi-Fi → Details, or
ifconfig en0 | grep ether. - Linux:
ip link. - iPhone/Android: in the Wi-Fi network's details (look for "Private Wi-Fi Address" or "Randomized MAC").
- Other devices on your network: your router's connected-devices list or
arp -a.
Learn more in What is a MAC address?
Frequently asked questions
Can I find a device's location or owner from its MAC address?
No. A MAC address only identifies the manufacturer and is visible only on the local network; it is not sent across the internet.
Is a MAC address the same as an IP address?
No. A MAC identifies hardware on the local link, while an IP address identifies a connection on a network and can change. Your router uses ARP to map between them.