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Is It Possible to Trace a MAC Address?

Finding the owner of a MAC address isn't so straightforward

By Bradley Mitchell Bradley Mitchell Writer Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of Illinois An MIT graduate who brings years of technical experience to articles on SEO, computers, and wireless networking. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 8, 2020 Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr Michael Heine is a CompTIA-certified writer, editor, and Network Engineer with 25+ years' experience working in the television, defense, ISP, telecommunications, and education industries. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Home Networking The Wireless Connection Routers & Firewalls Network Hubs ISP Broadband Ethernet Installing & Upgrading Wi-Fi & Wireless Computer manufacturers and people who buy computers do not register their MAC address with any sort of central administration. There isn't a way to find a stolen computer from the MAC address or to find the identity behind one of these addresses. Much like IP addresses, MAC addresses are assigned to network devices and are easy to determine with tools like Command Prompt. On the other hand, they're unlike IP addresses in that they can't be researched to find the owner. Matt Cardy / Stringer/Getty Images

MAC Address Searching

Although MAC addresses are not filed away somewhere with identifiable information attached to them, there are ways to search for a MAC address to find more information about it. What you find might help you further investigate and troubleshoot. For example, use the website MAC_Find to look up a MAC address to find its vendor information. If it works, you're one step closer to learning more about the manufacturer, but it doesn't really help in a search for finding who owns the MAC address. On a local network, the arp command with the -a switch identifies the MAC address of a connected device. It works if you know the IP address. arp -a 192.168.202.146
You can also try arp -a by itself to get a list of IP/MAC combos. Search for the MAC address you have to tie it to the IP address, and then run the tracert command with the IP address to identify the device's hostname. tracert 192.168.115.86

MAC Addresses Blocking

While blocking a MAC address won't be helpful if your computer was stolen, it can definitely come in handy if someone is stealing your Wi-Fi. When you block a MAC address, what you're really doing is explicitly allowing only certain MAC addresses to connect to your network. You can block MAC addresses through what's called MAC address filtering. The moment you implement this on your router, anyone using devices that don't comply with your approved listing of MAC addresses, are immediately kicked off your Wi-Fi. How to Find the MAC Address on an iPhone Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Use an IP Address to Find a MAC Address Can MAC Addresses Be Converted to IP Addresses? How to Find the MAC Address on an iPad What Is an IP Address? 4 Ways to Find Your Roku IP Address (With or Without the Remote) How to Look up an IP Address Owner D-Link Default Password List (Updated October 2022) How to Find a Wi-Fi Password on an iPhone How to Change Your Wi-Fi Password How to Find the Default IP Address of a Belkin Router How to Find a Google Home MAC Address How to Find the MAC Address of Your Laptop How to Kick People off Your Wi-Fi Can't Connect to the Internet? Try These 10 Tips How to Fix a "Failed to Obtain IP Address" Android Error What Is a Public IP Address? (and How to Find Yours) Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies