To improve privacy, your device uses a different MAC address with each Wi-Fi network.
To communicate with a Wi-Fi network, a device must identify itself to the network using a unique network address called a Media Access Control [MAC] address. If the device always uses the same Wi-Fi MAC address across all networks, network operators and other network observers can more easily relate that address to the device's network activity and location over time. This allows a kind of user tracking or profiling, and it applies to all devices on all Wi-Fi networks.
Starting with iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and watchOS 7, your device improves privacy by using a different MAC address for each Wi-Fi network. This unique MAC address is your device's private Wi-Fi address, which it uses for that network only.
In some cases, your device will change its private Wi-Fi address:
- If you erase all content and settings or reset network settings on the device, your device uses a different private address the next time it connects to that network.
- Starting with iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and watchOS 8, if your device hasn’t joined the network in 6 weeks, it uses a different private address the next time it connects to that network. And if you make your device forget the network, it will also forget the private address it used with that network, unless it has been less than 2 weeks since the last time it was made to forget that network.
Join Wi-Fi networks with a private address
Connect to Wi-Fi networks like you normally do. A private address doesn't affect how you join or use most Wi-Fi networks, but if a network doesn’t allow your device to join, or doesn’t allow it further network or internet access after joining, you can turn off Private Address for that network.
Turn Private Address off or on for a network
Private Address is turned on by default. For improved privacy, leave it on for all networks that support it.
iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
Apple Watch
For network administrators
If you manage a Wi-Fi router that's configured to notify you when a new device joins the network, you are notified when a device first joins with a private address.
Businesses and other organizations might need to update their Wi-Fi network security to work with private addresses. Or they can use an MDM-defined network profile to turn off Private Address for enrolled devices that join their Wi-Fi network. Learn more about private Wi-Fi addresses and enterprise.
Learn more
- Connect to Wi-Fi from iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
- Connect to Wi-Fi from Apple Watch
- Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points
- Learn more about Apple and privacy
Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Contact the vendor for additional information.
Published Date: November 29, 2021
11 Replies
I have never seen it in AD. But in DNS you can ask Windows to display the MAC addresses and print the file. Better, since you are using Spiceworks, you should be able to get the MAC addresses from a report of the network cards on devices. This will give you MAC addresses for all devices, not just the workstations. If you wanted to give them only workstations, export the report to Excel and use data sorting to get what you want or modify the report queries to give you only the workstations in your database.
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Yep, a Spiceworks report would work best for this.
How do you get MAC's out of DNS? You can get them from DHCP, go into Address Leases and then click the button at the top to Export List, which will output a tab seperated TXT file.
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I will try using SW for it. My attempts at using the network scan haven't displayed all my machines yet, but I haven't used it much so far. I know how to see them via DHCP but that doesn't show me the host name to match them up. Thanks, all
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checkBest Answer
PING your host you want the MAC from.
Type: arp -a in DOS shell
Voila
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SW report gave me all the info for all the machines it detected [about 28 out of 40] and Jason's method will give me the rest. Thanks!!
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Your DHCP server will have all active hosts [excluding statically assigned nodes] and their MAC address...
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Your welcome
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I have a freeware program called Network Scanner 4.4.2 that gives you a list of all your network devices, IP addresses, Host names and Mac addresses.
//www.softperfect.com/products/networkscanner/?from=auto
I also can use my inventory reporting feature in Spiceworks to do the same thing.
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Chiefpropellerhead wrote:
I have a freeware program called Network Scanner 4.4.2 that gives you a list of all your network devices, IP addresses, Host names and Mac addresses.
//www.softperfect.com/products/networkscanner/?from=auto
I also can use my inventory reporting feature in Spiceworks to do the same thing.
I use too this tiny and userful app to know all turned on machines
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