Some Wi-Fi networks only allow you to connect to devices with specific MAC addresses. For example, if MAC address filtering is enabled on an office network, we can replace our Address in Android with one that will allow us to connect. How do I do this?
The MAC address is the identifier of our network card – it is a string of characters unique to each network card and based on which the device is identified on the network. Most routers can filter MAC addresses. With this option, the network administrator can create a mac address blocklist or allowlist, which allows the network to accept devices with specific MAC addresses (whitelist) or block connection attempts from particular devices (blacklist).
At home, there’s usually no problem with this. Still, computer networks in the workplace are whitelisted — meaning that only office computers whose MAC addresses are on the whitelist can join the network. In this case, we will not be able to connect, for example, from our phone or tablet to the Wi-Fi network in the office. However, you can skip it – all you have to do is change the MAC address of the network card on the device you want to connect to the network from. This is very easy on computers and laptops, but on Android, it can also be done.
Change your MAC address on Android
There are many reasons to change the MAC address – just one case given above. If you want to change the MAC address on Android, you’ll need a rooted device. If you don’t already have ROOT, check out our one-stop guides:
- ROOT using Kingo Android Root
- ROOT using KingRoot
- ROOT using TowelRoot or VRoot
When you have an embedded device, all you have to do is install the Change My MAC app on your phone. It’s a simple tool that allows you to quickly and permanently change your MAC address.
Download Change My MAC from Play Store
After launching the app, you’ll be asked if you want to grant ROOT permissions – select “Allow” to agree. The app may appear suspended for a while and display a white screen — wait until the entire interface appears. If the application still does not work, you may need to install BusyBox, a set of tools that extends the work of ROOT.
Launch BusyBox and click install to install. Then restart the “Change My MAC” application – this time, the interface should be displayed in its entirety.
Once the app is launched, you’ll notice that information about the connected Wi-Fi network (network name) and your current address is displayed here. You can change it to any other by tapping the address field and typing a new one.
If you accidentally create a new MAC address, click the arrow button. After entering the MAC address you want to set, then finally tap the floppy disk icon to save it.
The MAC address will be changed according to your settings, and you can now try to connect to the Wi-Fi network.
Okay, but what MAC address should you enter? It depends on your Wi-Fi network situation and what you want to get. For example, if the Wi-Fi network you’re trying to connect to has a whitelist feature installed (so it only allows you to use devices with specific MAC addresses), then you should enter an address that’s on that list. If your computer can connect to the network, you can set the MAC address on your computer (however, we don’t recommend connecting to both devices simultaneously). In this case, use our guide, in which we described how to check the MAC address of the network card. With it, you can check the MAC address on your computer and then enter it into your phone.
If, in turn, the Wi-Fi network is set to a blacklist, and just the network administrator has banned the MAC address of your Android phone, enter any other (you can create it randomly using the arrow button). You can then connect to a Wi-Fi network. Of course, there are many applications for MAC addresses, and the way the application is used depends on the user.