How to Change MAC Address in Android Devices

MAC address, or the Media Access Control address is a unique address assigned to the network interface of a device. On your Android smartphone, or tablet, network cards such as those for WiFi, Bluetooth, etc. will have unique MAC addresses assigned to them. These addresses are used to uniquely identify devices on a network. While the IP address is assigned by network interfaces such as routers, MAC addresses are fixed for devices, and are assigned by the manufacturer, hardcoded into the network hardware that the device is using. However, while changing the MAC address of a device isn’t possible unless you replace the network hardware itself, there are ways to fool the OS into broadcasting a different MAC address to the network.

Spoofing MAC address can help in situations like, if your friend blocked you from using their WiFi network out of spite, you can most probably get access by spoofing your MAC address. So, if you want to change the MAC address of your Android device, here is how you can do it:

Find Android MAC Address and Interface Name

Before you can change the MAC address of your Android device, you will need to figure out (and note down) the default MAC address for your device. You will also need to know the interface name for your WiFi network card. To do this, just follow the steps below:

  • On your Android device, go to Settings -> WiFi. Here, tap on the Settings cog icon, to open the “Configure WiFi” screen.

How to Change MAC Address in Android Devices

  • On the bottom of the screen, you will be able to see the MAC address of your WiFi network card. Write it down, in case you need to revert your MAC settings back to their original state.

How to Change MAC Address in Android Devices

To find the interface name for your WiFi network, you’ll have to install the “Terminal Emulator for Android” app (free) from the Play Store. Once you’ve done that, just follow the steps mentioned below:

  • Open the Terminal Emulator app, and type the following command:
    ip link

How to Change MAC Address in Android Devices

  • A whole lot of information will get printed out to your screen, simply scroll down to the bottom, and check the value for which the “link/ether” value matches the MAC address of your WiFi. In my case, it’s “wlan0“. For most modern devices, the WiFi interface name will be “wlan0”, but in some cases it could be something like “eth0” as well.

How to Change MAC Address in Android Devices

Change MAC address with Terminal Emulator

Now that you’ve figured out the interface name for your device, you can go ahead and change the MAC address to a new value. To get a random MAC address that you can use, just head on over to any random MAC address generator website. Once you have the new MAC address you want to use, just follow the steps below:

  • Launch Terminal Emulator for Android, and type the following command:
    su
    This will get you superuser access on your Android device. You will require a rooted device for this.

How to Change MAC Address in Android Devices

  • Next, type:
    ifconfig [interface_name] hw ether [new_mac_address]
    Hit enter, and your MAC address will have changed.

How to Change MAC Address in Android Devices

  • You can confirm the change in your MAC address, by running the following command:
    iplink show [interface_name]

How to Change MAC Address in Android Devices

NoteI tried various MAC address changing apps for non rooted devices, but either they asked for Root access (weird), or they only supported devices using MediaTek processors.

SEE ALSO: How to Change MAC Address on Windows 10 PCs

Spoof MAC Address in Android Easily

Now that you’ve successfully changed the MAC address of your Android device, you can easily connect to any networks that may have blacklisted you by your MAC address. Since the most common method of banning devices from networks uses MAC addresses to do this, so changing MAC addresses should usually allow you to connect to most networks. However, if a network is using a MAC address based “whitelist”, to only allow devices with specific MAC addresses to connect to the network, then this method will not work… that is, unless you change your MAC address to the MAC address of a device that is allowed on the network, and is not currently connected to it; the chances of which are pretty slim.

So, have you ever changed the MAC address on your Android device? How did you do it? Also, if you know of any other method to change the MAC address on an Android device, do let us know about it in the comments section below.

comment Comments 12
  • Tem says:

    Ok so thanks so much this would’ve worked but my internet is blocked right now on my phone but not my computer, but if my internet is blocked on my phone then i cant unblock it. Also i will go change my ip address and doing that i can get a bit of wifi then i can mac spoof then i can do what i want to do

  • Mohan says:

    How much time mac address will change for android? Plzz tell me whatsapp hacking by mac address I need it. So. Plzzz tell. Me.

  • William says:

    I followed strictly your guidance but when I typed ” ifconfig wlan0 he ether [new mac adress ]”, it said : eror: SIOCSIFADDR (invalid argument)

  • nona says:

    of ALL the things on the internet that I tried and failed, this miraculously worked in a snap!!!
    I can’t thank you enough.
    works on Poco F1 running pixel experience ROM

  • abdul ahad says:

    i am using huawei nova 3e .but when give command su it says not found
    could you tell me where is problem

  • alex says:

    Comment:my interface is only up to 11 and I can’t find the one that corresponds with my address

  • Kinan says:

    Thank you…. it worked perfectly on my device 😀

    • epi says:

      Hi, which phone do you have?

    • epi says:

      Hi, which phone do you have?

  • some says:

    This changes the mac but wifi refuses to connect it says authentication problem.
    I don’t have MAC filtering active in my router.
    This problem is not router specific every wifi after changing the MAC refuses to connect says authetication probelm,
    The packets for authetication aren’t even being sent to the router, i am monitoring the router it doesn’t show any activity with my device. Android some how restricts to even send the data after checking the MAC.
    I don’t know why but MAC changed by “Change My Mac” (android app) works.

  • Vinay says:

    I tried to follow the method every thing is ok but when i tried to change Mac address i observed that in settings it is showing wifi mac addrrees unavailable

  • Juan says:

    Hi , hola

    No funcionó en Samsung galaxy s5
    Not work in Samsung s5

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