Find Your Mac's Wi-Fi MAC Address
Print the hardware (MAC) address of a network service's interface with networksetup -getmacaddress.
Run `networksetup -getmacaddress "Wi-Fi"` — the 'Ethernet Address' line is the MAC address.
01Command
Command
$ networksetup -getmacaddress "Wi-Fi"02What it does
The MAC address is what routers use to identify the device — for DHCP reservations, MAC allow-lists, or checking which entry in the router's device list is actually this Mac. Each interface has its own, so repeat the command for Ethernet or Thunderbolt services as needed. Note macOS also uses randomized private Wi-Fi addresses per network; this command reports the real hardware address.
03Risk
04Undo
✓No undo needed — this command does not change persistent state.
05Sources
- What is a MAC address?Evidence: Explains that each network interface has a unique hardware (MAC) address used to identify the device on a network.
- networksetup — configure network settings (macOS man page)Evidence: Documents `networksetup -getmacaddress <networkservice>` which prints the Ethernet address (MAC) of the service's hardware port.
Last verified: 2026-09-18 · Category: Network