How to Change Your MAC Address on Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

Need to change your MAC address on Windows 11? Whether for privacy, troubleshooting network issues, or bypassing certain restrictions, modifying your MAC (Media Access Control) address can be useful. Luckily, Windows 11 makes it possible through both built-in options and third-party tools.

This guide will show you how to change your MAC address on Windows 11 step by step, explain why you might need to, and share tips to do it safely.

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What Is a MAC Address?

A MAC address is a unique identifier assigned to your network adapter. Think of it as a digital fingerprint for your device’s network card. It’s made up of six pairs of alphanumeric characters (e.g., 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E).

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Why Change Your MAC Address?

• Privacy protection: Prevent tracking on public networks.

• Bypass network restrictions: Some networks filter access based on MAC addresses.

• Troubleshoot connectivity problems: Resetting or changing your MAC may solve conflicts.

• Testing or development purposes: Developers often spoof MAC addresses for network testing.

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Is It Safe to Change Your MAC Address?

Yes, changing your MAC address is generally safe, but:

• Use a valid format to avoid conflicts.

• Avoid using someone else’s registered MAC address without permission.

• Temporary MAC changes reset after a restart (unless set manually).

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Method 1: Change MAC Address via Device Manager

This is the simplest way using built-in tools.

Steps:

1. Open Device Manager

   • Press Windows + X → Select Device Manager.

2. Locate Your Network Adapter

   • Expand Network adapters.

   • Right-click your active adapter → Properties.

3. Modify MAC Address

   • Go to the Advanced tab.

   • Select Network Address or Locally Administered Address.

   • Choose Value and enter your new MAC address (12 hexadecimal digits, no spaces).

   • Click OK.

4. Restart Your Network Connection

   • Disable and re-enable the adapter or restart your PC.

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Method 2: Change MAC Address via Settings (Randomization)

Windows 11 includes a feature for MAC randomization, ideal for public Wi-Fi.

1. Open Settings (Windows + I)

2. Go to Network & Internet → Wi-Fi.

3. Select your network → Properties.

4. Under Random hardware addresses, enable it.

This assigns a random MAC each time you connect.

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Method 3: Change MAC Address via Command Prompt (netsh)

For advanced users:

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin).

2. Type netsh interface show interface to see your adapter name.

3. Run:

   netsh interface set interface name="Wi-Fi" admin=disable
reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}\0001 /v NetworkAddress /d 001A2B3C4D5E /f
netsh interface set interface name="Wi-Fi" admin=enable


Replace 001A2B3C4D5E with your desired MAC.

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Method 4: Change MAC Address Using PowerShell

1. Open PowerShell (Admin).

2. Type:

   Get-NetAdapter


   Identify your adapter.

3. Disable it:

   Disable-NetAdapter -Name "Wi-Fi" -Confirm:$false


4. Change MAC:

   Set-NetAdapterAdvancedProperty -Name "Wi-Fi" -DisplayName "Network Address" -DisplayValue "001A2B3C4D5E"


5. Re-enable adapter:

   Enable-NetAdapter -Name "Wi-Fi"


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Method 5: Change MAC Address Using Third-Party Tools

For easier management, tools like:

• Technitium MAC Address Changer

• SMAC MAC Address Changer

• MACShift

These tools provide a user-friendly interface and allow quick switching.

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How to Verify Your New MAC Address

1. Open Command Prompt.

2. Type:

   ipconfig /all


3. Look for Physical Address under your network adapter.

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How to Restore Original MAC Address

1. Go to Device Manager → Network Adapter Properties → Advanced tab.

2. Select Network Address.

3. Choose Not Present or remove the custom value.

4. Restart your adapter.

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Common Problems and Fixes

• MAC address not changing?

  • Your adapter may not support manual changes—use third-party tools.

• Lost internet after changing MAC?

  • Enter a valid, unique MAC or revert to the original.

• MAC resets after reboot?

  • Use manual configuration, not randomization.

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Tips for Safe MAC Address Spoofing

• Always keep a record of your original MAC.

• Avoid using restricted MAC addresses.

• Only spoof when necessary—especially on corporate or restricted networks.

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Final Thoughts

Changing your MAC address on Windows 11 is straightforward—whether you use Device Manager, Command Prompt, or third-party tools. It’s a handy trick for troubleshooting, enhancing privacy, or bypassing restrictions, but always do it responsibly.

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FAQs

1. Is changing a MAC address legal?
Yes, but using it to bypass restrictions or impersonate devices without permission may be illegal.

2. Will changing my MAC address improve internet speed?
No, it doesn’t affect speed—it’s mainly for identification.

3. Does MAC randomization change my permanent MAC?
No, it only changes your MAC temporarily for specific networks.

4. Can I change the MAC address on Ethernet as well?
Yes, the same steps apply for wired adapters.

5. Do I need admin rights to change MAC address?
Yes, administrative privileges are required.