Step-by-Step Guide: Changing Your MAC Address on macOS

Changing your MAC address in macOS can be a useful way to increase your privacy and security online. By spoofing your MAC address, you can mask your device's true identity and make it harder for hackers to track your activity. Plus, it can help you bypass restrictions on networks that limit access to certain devices. Here's how to do it on a Mac computer.

Category: Tech

If you're concerned about privacy and security on your device, changing your MAC address in macOS is a simple yet effective measure to take. A MAC address is a unique identifier assigned to your device's Network Interface Controller, and by changing it, you can hide your device's identity and get around restrictions on a network.

For example, if you're on a public network, changing your MAC address can prevent others from tracking your device's activity. Additionally, you may encounter restrictions on a network that prevent you from accessing certain content or services, but by changing your MAC address, you can bypass these restrictions and gain access.

In this article, we'll show you how to change your MAC address in macOS and enjoy a more secure and unrestricted browsing experience.

How do I find and modify my MAC address on macOS?

This tutorial makes use of the Terminal app that comes built-in with macOS.

1. Find your MAC address

Finding your computer's MAC address in macOS is a simple process. First, hold down the Alt or Option key on your keyboard, and then click on the Wi-Fi icon located in the top bar of your macOS screen. From there, locate the MAC address in the Wi-Fi section of the dropdown menu.

Find your MAC address

It's also important to make a note of the Interface name, as you will need this information to modify your MAC address. Make sure to keep both pieces of information safe for future reference.

2. Launch Terminal

To open the Terminal app on your Mac, you can search for it using the Spotlight feature or go to the Applications folder, then the Utilities folder, and finally, click on Terminal. If you're new to using Terminal, don't worry, it's a powerful tool that can help you accomplish many tasks on your Mac beyond just changing your MAC address. Taking a little bit of time to get comfortable with it will be worth it in the long run.

3. Type in the commands

Now that Terminal is open, there are two main options to change your MAC address. If you already have a MAC address in mind, skip stepping 4. But if you want to generate a random one, enter the following command and press Enter:

openssl rand -hex 6 | sed 's/\(..\)/\1:/g; s/.$//'

After pressing Enter, a hexadecimal number will appear on the screen. This number (in the example provided, it's 9a:3c:cd:b7:36:c4) will be the randomly generated MAC address that you can use.

Type in the commands

4. Go offline

To prevent any potential issues during the MAC address-changing process, it's recommended to disconnect your Mac from the internet. To do this, click the Wi-Fi icon located in the menu bar, then toggle the Wi-Fi button off. This will disconnect your Mac from any Wi-Fi networks and prevent any interruptions while changing your MAC address.

5. Enter a second command

To change your MAC address, enter the following command in Terminal, replacing <interface name> with the Interface name you saw in step 1, and <MAC address> with the MAC address generated by Terminal in step 4:

sudo ifconfig <interface name> ether <MAC address>

Make sure to enter your Apple Mac computer's password when prompted. After the command runs successfully, you can reconnect to a Wi-Fi network.

Enter a second command

Great job! Now that you know how to change your MAC address in macOS, you can use this knowledge to enhance your privacy and bypass certain restrictions on Wi-Fi networks. Remember to always use this feature responsibly and be cautious of any potential risks.

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