MAC address lookup
Find the vendor and manufacturer of a device by its MAC address.
Enable JavaScript to use the interactive tool. The guide below explains how it works.
MAC Address Lookup
What it does
The MAC Address Lookup tool allows you to identify the manufacturer or vendor of a network device based on its Media Access Control (MAC) address. By analyzing the first three octets (the OUI), the tool searches a comprehensive database to return the organization's name and details.
Why professionals use it
- Network Troubleshooting: Identifying unknown devices on a network to determine if they are legitimate hardware (e.g., finding out that a mysterious device is actually an HP printer).
- Security Auditing: Detecting potential rogue devices or unauthorized hardware connected to a corporate network.
- Inventory Management: Verifying hardware details during infrastructure audits or asset tracking.
- Protocol Analysis: Understanding the source of network packets during packet sniffing or traffic analysis.
Instructions
- Enter MAC Address: Type or paste the MAC address into the input field. The tool supports various formats (e.g.,
20:37:06:12:34:56,20-37-06-12-34-56, or203706123456). - View Results: The "Vendor info" card will automatically update with the manufacturer's name and address information if found in the database.
- Copy Info: If a vendor is found, click the Copy vendor info button to save the details to your clipboard.
Examples
- Cisco:
00:00:0C-> Cisco Systems, Inc. - Apple:
00:03:93-> Apple, Inc. - Google:
3C:5A:B4-> Google, Inc. - Microsoft:
00:03:FF-> Microsoft Corporation
FAQs
- What is an OUI? OUI stands for Organizationally Unique Identifier. It is the first 24 bits (3 bytes) of a MAC address that uniquely identifies a vendor or manufacturer.
- Why is my MAC address showing as "Unknown"? This usually happens if the OUI is very new and not yet in the database, if it's a "locally administered" address (often used in virtualization), or if it's a randomized address used for privacy.
- Does this tool store the MAC addresses I search? No, all lookups are performed locally in your browser for maximum privacy and security.
Common Mistakes
- Typos: Accidentally entering an incorrect character (e.g., 'O' instead of '0' or 'I' instead of '1').
- Invalid Format: Including characters that are not part of the hexadecimal set (0-9, A-F) or common separators.
- Short Addresses: Entering fewer than 6 characters (the minimum required to identify the OUI).
Use Cases
- Wi-Fi Monitoring: Checking the manufacturer of devices connected to your home or office router.
- IoT Discovery: Identifying the brand of smart home devices that appear on your network with cryptic names.
- Forensics: Investigating the origin of hardware involved in security incidents.
Related Tools
- MAC Address Generator: Create random MAC addresses for testing or simulation.
- IPv4 Subnet Calculator: Analyze network ranges and CIDR blocks.
- User Agent Parser: Identify browser and OS details from a user agent string.