How to Change Your Mac Address on Windows, Mac, and Linux

What a Mac address is and why you might change it

Your MAC address (Media Access Control address) is a unique identifier assigned to your network card — the hardware that connects your device to WiFi or ethernet. It looks like six pairs of numbers and letters: 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E. Every device on a network has one, and your router uses it to recognize which device is which on your local network.

You might change your MAC address to test network configurations, troubleshoot connection problems, bypass a device limit on a network (some public WiFi networks restrict how many devices one MAC can connect), or move a device to a different network segment. Some people also change it for privacy reasons — though this only affects what your local network sees, not what websites or internet providers see.

Changing your MAC address is temporary by default on most systems. When you restart your device or reconnect to the network, it usually reverts to the original. If you want the change to stick permanently, you need to modify your network driver settings or configuration files.

Key Takeaways

On Windows, use Command Prompt with administrator access to change your MAC address through the network adapter settings, or use Device Manager to modify the driver registry.
On Mac, use Terminal with the ifconfig command to change your MAC address, which persists until you restart or manually revert it.
On Linux, use Terminal commands like ip link set or ifconfig depending on your distribution, and edit network configuration files to make changes permanent.
Most MAC address changes are temporary and reset when you restart your device or reconnect to the network.
Changing your MAC address only affects what your local network sees — it does not hide your activity from your internet provider or websites you visit.

Changing your MAC address on Windows

On Windows, the simplest method is through Device Manager. Open Device Manager (right-click the Start button and select it, or search for it in the taskbar), then expand "Network adapters" and right-click the adapter you want to change. Select "Properties," then click the "Advanced" tab. Look for "Locally Administered Address" or "Network Address" in the property list, click it, and enter your new MAC address in the "Value" field without colons or hyphens — for example, 001A2B3C4D5E. Click OK and the change takes effect immediately. This change persists until you delete the value or restart your device.

If you do not see that property in the Advanced tab, your network driver does not support MAC address changes through Device Manager. In that case, you can use Command Prompt. Open Command Prompt as administrator, then type ipconfig /all to see your current MAC address and adapter name. Then use a third-party tool like TMAC or Technitium MAC Address Changer, which provide graphical interfaces for changing your MAC address without command-line work. Download from the publisher's official website, install it, select your network adapter, enter the new MAC address, and click "Change Now."

To make the change permanent across restarts, you need to set it in the registry or use a tool that runs at startup. Most users find it simpler to use a third-party tool that includes a "Start with Windows" option, which automatically applies your chosen MAC address each time you boot.

Changing your MAC address on Mac

On macOS, open Terminal (find it in Applications > Utilities or search for it with Spotlight). First, identify your network interface by typing ifconfig and pressing Enter. Look for the interface you want to change — usually en0 for ethernet or en1 for WiFi. Note the current MAC address next to "ether."

To change it, type sudo ifconfig en0 ether 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E, replacing en0 with your interface name and 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E with your chosen MAC address. Press Enter and enter your admin password when prompted. The change takes effect immediately. Verify it worked by typing ifconfig again and checking that the "ether" address has changed.

This change is temporary and reverts when you restart your Mac or disconnect and reconnect to the network. To make it permanent, you would need to create a script that runs at startup, which requires editing your system's launch daemon files — a more advanced process. For most users, the temporary change is sufficient.

Changing your MAC address on Linux

On Linux, the method depends on your distribution and whether you use systemd or older init systems. Open Terminal and type ip link show to list your network interfaces and see their current MAC addresses. Identify the interface you want to change — usually eth0 for ethernet or wlan0 for WiFi.

To change it temporarily, first bring the interface down by typing sudo ip link set dev eth0 down, replacing eth0 with your interface name. Then type sudo ip link set dev eth0 address 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E, replacing the MAC address with your chosen one. Finally, bring the interface back up with sudo ip link set dev eth0 up. Verify the change with ip link show.

To make the change permanent, edit your network configuration file. On distributions using systemd-networkd, create or edit a file in /etc/systemd/network/ with a name like 99-custom-mac.link and add the interface name and new MAC address in the appropriate format for your system. On distributions using NetworkManager, right-click the network connection in the system tray, select "Edit Connections," choose your network, click "Edit," go to the "General" tab, and look for a "Cloned Address" field where you can enter your new MAC address. Save and reconnect to apply it.

What happens when you change your MAC address

When you change your MAC address, your device appears as a different device to your local network and router. If you were previously connected to WiFi, you may need to reconnect — your router will see you as a new device and may ask for the network password again. Any device limits based on MAC address (like a guest network that allows only three devices) will count your changed MAC as a separate device.

Your internet service provider and websites you visit will not see the change. They identify you by your IP address and cookies, not your MAC address. MAC addresses only travel as far as your local network — they do not cross the internet. If you are trying to hide your activity from your ISP or websites, changing your MAC address will not help. You would need a VPN or other privacy tools for that.

Choosing a valid MAC address

When you create a new MAC address, follow this format: six pairs of hexadecimal characters (0-9 and A-F), separated by colons or hyphens. Valid examples include 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E or AA-BB-CC-DD-EE-FF. The first pair should be even if you want to avoid conflicts with manufacturer-assigned addresses — for example, 02:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E is safer than 01:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E.

You can generate a random valid MAC address online using a MAC address generator, or simply pick one that looks reasonable. The risk of a collision (two devices on your network having the same MAC address) is extremely low if you pick randomly. If you do accidentally create a duplicate, your router will see both devices as the same and may drop one connection, but no permanent damage occurs.

Reverting to your original MAC address

If you changed your MAC address temporarily through Terminal or Command Prompt, simply restart your device and it will revert to the original. If you changed it through Device Manager on Windows or a third-party tool, open the same tool, clear the custom MAC address field, and click "Reset" or "Remove." On Mac, you can type sudo ifconfig en0 ether followed by your original MAC address, or restart your device.

If you made the change permanent by editing configuration files on Linux, you will need to edit those same files and remove or comment out the MAC address line, then restart your network service or reboot. If you are unsure which file you edited, check /etc/systemd/network/ or your NetworkManager connection settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my MAC address hide my identity online?

No. Your MAC address only identifies you on your local network — your home WiFi, office network, or a coffee shop's WiFi. Websites and your internet provider identify you by your IP address and other data, not your MAC address. Changing your MAC address does not hide your activity from them.

Can I get in trouble for changing my MAC address?

Changing your own MAC address on your own device is not illegal. However, using a changed MAC address to bypass network restrictions (like a device limit on a network you do not own) could violate the network's terms of service or local laws. Check with your network administrator before doing this on a work or school network.

Why does my MAC address change back after I restart?

Most methods of changing your MAC address are temporary — they only last until you restart your device or disconnect from the network. To make the change permanent, you need to modify your network driver settings (Windows), create a startup script (Mac), or edit your network configuration files (Linux).

What if my network adapter does not support MAC address changes?

Some older or specialized network adapters do not allow MAC address changes through standard methods. If Device Manager does not show a "Network Address" property, try a third-party tool like TMAC or Technitium MAC Address Changer on Windows. On Mac or Linux, if the Terminal commands do not work, your driver may not support it — check your adapter manufacturer's documentation.

Can I use any MAC address I want?

Technically yes, but follow the format: six pairs of hexadecimal characters. To avoid conflicts with real devices, use an even number in the first pair (like 02, 04, 06) rather than an odd one. The risk of a collision is very low, but following this convention is a best practice.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.