Knowing how to find your MAC address on your iPhone 13 can be extremely useful—especially when connecting to secure Wi-Fi networks, setting up MAC address filters, or troubleshooting connectivity issues. While it may sound technical, locating your MAC address on an iPhone is actually very simple. This guide walks you through the process step-by-step in a clean, easy-to-understand way.
In this article, you’ll learn:
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What a MAC address is
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Why the MAC address on your iPhone 13 matters
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How to find the real (physical) MAC address
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How to find the private Wi-Fi MAC address
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Additional tips for privacy and network control
Let’s get started!
What Is a MAC Address?
A MAC address (Media Access Control address) is a unique identifier assigned to your device’s network interface. Think of it as a digital fingerprint that helps Wi-Fi routers recognize your device.
On iPhones—including the iPhone 13—there are two types of MAC addresses:
1. Physical (Default) MAC Address
This is the original hardware address of your device.
2. Private MAC Address
Starting from iOS 14, Apple introduced Private Wi-Fi Address for better privacy.
This feature gives your device a new, random MAC address for each Wi-Fi network.
Both types are easy to find, and you’ll learn how below.
How to Find Your MAC Address on iPhone 13
The following step-by-step instructions help you locate the MAC address quickly.
Method 1: Find the Physical MAC Address (Default Wi-Fi Address)
This is the simplest method and works on all iPhone 13 models.
Steps:
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Open the Settings app on your iPhone 13.
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Scroll down and tap General.
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Tap About at the top of the screen.
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Scroll until you see Wi-Fi Address.
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The value next to it—formatted like A1:B2:C3:D4:E5:F6—is your MAC address.
That’s it!
You now have the main Wi-Fi MAC address of your device.
Method 2: Find the Private MAC Address for a Specific Wi-Fi Network
If Private Wi-Fi Address is enabled (and it usually is), your iPhone uses a different MAC address for each network. Here’s how to find it:
Steps:
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Open Settings.
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Tap Wi-Fi.
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Find the Wi-Fi network you’re connected to and tap the small (i) icon.
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Scroll down to Private Wi-Fi Address.
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The number shown beneath it is the private MAC address for that network.
Bonus Tip:
If you toggle off Private Wi-Fi Address on a network, your device will use its default MAC address instead.
Why You Might Need Your iPhone 13 MAC Address
There are several situations where knowing your iPhone’s MAC address is extremely helpful:
✔ Setting up MAC filtering on a router
Some advanced networks only allow approved devices to connect.
✔ Troubleshooting Wi-Fi issues
Technicians often ask for the MAC address to identify your device.
✔ Improving network security
MAC control can help prevent unauthorized devices from joining.
✔ Enterprise or school network registration
Many institutions require the MAC address to grant access.
MAC Address Privacy on iPhone 13
Apple introduced Private Wi-Fi Address to stop networks from tracking your device across locations. While this improves privacy, it may cause issues on:
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Public Wi-Fi networks
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Office or school networks
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Routers with MAC filtering
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Hotspot portals requiring device registration
If you run into connectivity problems, try turning off Private Wi-Fi Address for that specific network.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is the MAC address the same as the IP address?
No.
An IP address changes depending on your network; a MAC address is tied to the hardware.
2. Can I change my iPhone’s MAC address?
You cannot change the default MAC address, but you can use a private MAC address per network.
3. Is it safe to share my MAC address?
Generally yes, but avoid sharing it publicly. It’s best to give it only to trusted networks or administrators.
Final Thoughts
Finding your MAC address on an iPhone 13 is simple once you know where to look. Whether you’re managing Wi-Fi settings, configuring a secured network, or improving your privacy, understanding how MAC addresses work can save you time and frustration.