MAC Address Lookup Tool

Identify device manufacturers and vendors instantly. Look up OUI (Organizationally Unique Identifier) information from any MAC address with our free online tool.

MAC Address Lookup

What is a MAC Address?

A MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique identifier assigned to network interface controllers (NICs) for use as a network address in communications within a network segment. This 48-bit address is typically represented as six groups of two hexadecimal digits, separated by hyphens, colons, or no separator at all [^1^][^4^].

The MAC address serves as the hardware address of your device at the Data Link Layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model. Unlike IP addresses which can change dynamically, MAC addresses are usually assigned by the manufacturer and burned into the device's network hardware, making them permanent unique identifiers [^5^][^14^].

What is an OUI (Organizationally Unique Identifier)?

The OUI consists of the first three bytes (6 hexadecimal digits) of a MAC address. For example, in the MAC address 00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E, the OUI is 00-1A-2B [^1^].

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) assigns these unique identifiers to device manufacturers. Companies must purchase and register OUIs, and large manufacturers like Apple, Cisco, Dell, and HP own multiple OUI prefixes. The remaining three bytes (24 bits) represent the device-specific serial number assigned by the manufacturer [^1^][^3^].

Did you know? There are over 57,000 registered MAC address prefixes in the IEEE database, representing more than 32,000 unique vendors worldwide [^3^].

How to Find Your MAC Address

Windows

Press Win + R, type cmd, press Enter
Type ipconfig /all and press Enter
Look for "Physical Address" under your network adapter [^4^][^7^]

macOS

Click Apple menu → System Settings → Network
Select your connection → Click Details → Hardware
MAC address is displayed at the top [^4^][^7^]

iOS / iPhone

Settings → General → About
Scroll down to "Wi-Fi Address"
Note: iOS 14+ uses private MAC addresses by default [^4^][^7^]

Android

Settings → About Phone → Status
Look for "Wi-Fi MAC address" or "Ethernet MAC"
Path may vary by manufacturer [^4^][^7^]

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find a device's location using its MAC address?

No, MAC address lookup tools cannot track the physical location of a device. They only provide manufacturer information such as company name, address, and country. The MAC address identifies the hardware manufacturer, not the current geographical location of the device [^1^][^5^].

What is the difference between MAC address and IP address?

A MAC address is a permanent hardware identifier burned into your network interface card (physical/Datalink layer), while an IP address is a logical address assigned by the network for routing purposes (Network layer). MAC addresses are 48-bit hexadecimal numbers (e.g., 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E), while IP addresses are 32-bit (IPv4) or 128-bit (IPv6) numbers [^1^][^5^][^14^].

Can I find a device's IP address from its MAC address?

On a local network, yes. You can use the ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) command. On Windows or macOS, open Command Prompt/Terminal and type arp -a to see the ARP table mapping IP addresses to MAC addresses. However, you cannot find a device's public IP address from its MAC address over the internet [^1^][^5^][^10^].

Can MAC addresses be changed or spoofed?

Technically, MAC addresses are burned into the hardware and cannot be permanently changed. However, most operating systems allow "MAC spoofing" or changing the MAC address at the software level. This temporary change lasts until the device reboots. While not illegal, MAC spoofing can violate network policies and terms of service [^1^][^14^].

Why does my device have multiple MAC addresses?

Devices often have multiple network interfaces—each with its own MAC address. For example, a laptop typically has one MAC address for Ethernet (wired) and another for Wi-Fi (wireless). Additionally, Bluetooth adapters have separate MAC addresses. Modern devices may also use randomized MAC addresses for privacy when connecting to different networks [^4^][^7^].

What are the valid MAC address formats?

Standard MAC addresses are 12 hexadecimal digits (0-9, A-F) formatted as:
• Colon-separated: 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E (most common)
• Hyphen-separated: 00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E
• Dot-separated: 001A.2B3C.4D5E (Cisco format)
• No separator: 001A2B3C4D5E
All represent the same address. Our tool supports all standard formats [^7^].

Common Use Cases

Network Security: Identify unknown devices on your network by their MAC address to detect unauthorized access [^2^].
Asset Management: Track hardware inventory by identifying device manufacturers in enterprise environments [^2^].
Troubleshooting: Verify network equipment vendors during technical support and diagnostics [^5^].

Forensics: Investigate network traffic and identify device types from captured MAC addresses [^14^].
Device Registration: Register devices on networks requiring MAC address filtering (MAC whitelist) [^9^].
Virtual Machine Detection: Identify if a MAC belongs to a VM (VMware, VirtualBox, etc.) [^12^].

This MAC address lookup tool uses the IEEE OUI database and maclookup.app API to provide accurate vendor information. Last database update: April 2026. Supports MA-L, MA-M, MA-S, and IAB block types.