Finding your MAC address

At some point, the Helpdesk may ask you for the "MAC address" or "physical address" of your device. This has nothing to do with whether or not it is a Macintosh computer. It refers to a unique identifier of your network card, which is the component that allows you to connect to the network, either wired or wireless. If your device can connect to both wired and wireless networks (example: most laptops), it will have different MAC addresses for each connection type.

What does a MAC address look like?

It should be a series of alphanumeric pairs (technically, two-digit hexadecimal numbers) separated by either a dash or a colon, like this:

  • 0a:1b:2c:3d:4e:5f:60
  • 0a-1b-2c-3d-4e-5f-60

Mac and Windows computers

See Step-by-Step: Finding the IP Address and MAC/Physical Address/Ethernet ID.


To find the MAC address of your Android phone or tablet:

  1. Open the Settings menu.
  2. Under Wireless & networks, select Wi-Fi and make sure it is turned on.
  3. Press the Menu key again and choose Advanced. Look under MAC address.


Go to Settings -> General -> About -> Wi-Fi Address.

Firefox OS

Go to Settings -> Wi-Fi and make sure it's turned on, then tap Manage networks and look for the MAC address.

Game Consoles and Other Devices

FSU has a helpful page for Wii, Xbox, PlayStation, etc.: MAC address by device

What if my device isn't listed?

Fear not! A quick Google search of [make and model] plus "MAC address" will usually reveal instructions. We'll also be expanding this list over time. If you need help, please contact the Helpdesk for assistance.

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