Find Physical Address in Windows 10 (Easy Steps)

This guide shows you how to find the physical (MAC) address of your network adapter in Windows 10. You’ll need this for network troubleshooting, MAC address filtering on your router, or setting up static IP reservations. The steps below work on all current versions of Windows 10.

What You’ll Need

• A PC running Windows 10
• Administrator access is not required for viewing, only for changing settings
• Your network adapter must be enabled (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)

Step-by-Step

1. Open Command Prompt. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog. Type cmd and press Enter. Alternatively, click the Start button, type “Command Prompt” and click the app.
2. Run the command. In the Command Prompt window, type ipconfig /all and press Enter. This displays detailed network configuration for all adapters.
3. Find your adapter. Scroll through the output. You’ll see sections labeled “Ethernet adapter Ethernet” for wired connections or “Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi” for wireless. If you have multiple adapters (e.g., virtual ones from VPNs), identify the one you’re using.
4. Locate the Physical Address. Under the correct adapter section, look for the line that says Physical Address. It will appear as a series of six pairs of characters separated by hyphens, like 1A-2B-3C-4D-5E-6F. That’s your MAC address.
5. Copy it (optional). Right-click the Command Prompt window and select “Mark”, then highlight the address and press Enter to copy it to your clipboard. You can paste it into a text file or router settings.
6. Alternative method (Settings app). If you prefer a GUI, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status > View hardware and connection properties. Scroll down to find your adapter’s Physical Address.
7. Alternative method (Control Panel). Open Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings. Right-click your adapter, choose Status, then click Details. The Physical Address is listed there.

Common Mistakes

• Looking at the wrong adapter. Many systems have multiple adapters (Bluetooth, virtual, VPN). Make sure you’re reading the Physical Address for the adapter that actually connects you to the network (usually Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
• Confusing IPv4 address with MAC address. The IPv4 address looks like 192.168.1.5 and is not the physical address. The physical address always uses hex digits (0-9, A-F) and is 12 characters long (excluding hyphens).
• Typing the command wrong. Ensure it’s ipconfig /all (with a space before the slash). Typing ipconfig/all may still work, but ipconfig alone will not show the physical address.
• Copying extra spaces. When copying manually, avoid including leading spaces or the trailing period if present.

Tips

• Use a single command for faster results. Instead of scrolling through all output, type getmac /v in Command Prompt. This lists only the MAC addresses and their associated adapters, making it easier to spot.
• Know the difference between physical and virtual addresses. Virtual adapters (like those from VPN software) also have physical addresses. If you’re setting up MAC filtering on your router, use the address of your physical Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter.
• Write it down. If you need the address often (e.g., for MAC filtering), keep it in a note file. It rarely changes unless you replace the network card or reset the adapter.
• Check the label on your device. For Ethernet adapters, the physical address is often printed on a sticker on the back or bottom of your PC. For laptops, it may be under the battery.

Troubleshooting

Command Prompt says “ipconfig is not recognized.” This is rare but means the System PATH variable is broken. Try typing the full path: C:\Windows\System32\ipconfig.exe /all or open Command Prompt as Administrator (right-click > Run as administrator) and try again.

No Physical Address appears for your adapter. This usually means the adapter is disabled. Go to Device Manager (right-click Start > Device Manager), expand “Network adapters”, right-click your adapter, and select “Enable”. Then retry the command.

The address looks wrong (e.g., only 4 pairs). Some virtual adapters or older drivers may show a shortened address. For real hardware, it should be 6 pairs. If you’re seeing fewer, you might be looking at a virtual adapter or a misconfigured driver. Update your network driver from the manufacturer’s website.

You see multiple physical addresses and can’t tell which is real. In the ipconfig /all output, look for the adapter that has a default gateway listed (usually 192.168.x.1 or 10.0.x.1). That’s the one actively connected to your network.

The Settings app method shows “Unknown” for some adapters. Those are typically virtual or disconnected adapters. Focus on the one that shows a connected status or has an IP address assigned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the physical address the same as the MAC address?
A: Yes. The terms are used interchangeably. MAC stands for Media Access Control, and it’s the unique hardware identifier burned into your network card.

Q: Can I change the physical address?
A: Yes, you can spoof or change it through the network adapter’s properties in Device Manager (under the Advanced tab, look for “Network Address” or “Locally Administered Address”). This is not recommended unless you know what you’re doing, as it can cause network conflicts.

Q: Why does my physical address have letters and numbers?
A: It’s in hexadecimal format (base-16), which uses digits 0-9 and letters A-F. This is a standard way to represent the 48-bit MAC address.

Q: Does the physical address change when I connect to different Wi-Fi networks?
A: No. The physical address is burned into the hardware and stays the same regardless of the network. However, Windows 10 has a feature called “Random hardware addresses” that can generate a different MAC for each Wi-Fi network. If you have this enabled, you’ll see a different physical address per network. You can disable it in Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > “Use random hardware addresses”.

Q: I need the physical address for a printer or other device, not my PC. How do I find it?
A: For most devices, you can print a network configuration page (check the device’s manual) or access its web interface via its IP address. For printers, the MAC is often listed on the network status page printed from the front panel.

Q: Can I find the physical address without using Command Prompt?
A: Yes. The Settings app method (Step 6) and Control Panel method (Step 7) both work without typing any commands. You can also check the sticker on your network card or the documentation that came with your PC.

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