They can be upper or lowercase (although not mixed), and divided by colons, dashes, or written together. For any devices to communicate, one must send information to another’s MAC address.Ī MAC address is a string of six two-character combinations (both numbers and letters). But why?Įssentially, what a MAC address does is manage the NIC (network interface controller), or network adapter, that you need to connect to any network, be it Ethernet, WiFi, or Bluetooth. What Is A MAC Address Exactly?Įvery network-connected device has a unique MAC address assigned by its manufacturer. If you’re using a public Wi-Fi connection, the service provider can use your MAC address to limit or track your usage.So what is a MAC address exactly? How is it used? How do you locate it? Can you be traced through it? Can you change it? Let’s explore these and other questions in our comprehensive MAC address guide.

Internet cafes often use the MAC address to identify a particular device on their network.

MAC addresses can also be used to assign static IP addresses and can be filtered further to limit the number of device connections in a network. However, if you know how to find the MAC address on your MacBook, you can use that to help identify your computer’s IP address.Īdditionally, internet service providers can use your MacBook’s MAC address to control your access. Your MacBook can also sometimes fail to display its IP address, leading to the said error. That’s because IP addresses can be hidden through VPNs (Virtual Private Networks). Sometimes, you might encounter a “No Valid IP Address” error. Why Would You Need to Find the MAC Address on MacBook The MAC address is often found on a device’s network interface card (NIC) and is required when locating a device or when doing diagnostics on a network device.

The last six digits, on the other hand, represent the Network Interface Controller assigned by the manufacturer to the device. The first six digits, called the Organizational Unique Identifier, represent the manufacturer of the device. The MAC address, or media access control address, is a 12-digit hexadecimal number assigned to each network device. Let me walk you through the simple steps to find the MAC address on your MacBook. For instance, configuring a network router to filter devices or troubleshooting that network requires the MAC address. Knowing how to find the MAC address on your MacBook could sometimes be useful.

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