MAC address format converter
What is a Mac Address Format Converter?
A MAC address is 48 bits, usually written as 12 hexadecimal digits, but every vendor and operating system formats it differently. Copying a MAC from a Windows machine into a Cisco switch or a DHCP reservation often means reformatting it by hand. This converter shows a MAC address in all common notations at once.
How to use it
- Paste a MAC address in any common format.
- Copy the notation you need.
The same address in different formats
- Colon (Linux, macOS, most documentation):
00:1a:2b:3c:4d:5e - Hyphen (Windows, IEEE):
00-1A-2B-3C-4D-5E - Cisco dotted:
001a.2b3c.4d5e - Bare:
001A2B3C4D5E, used in some databases and licence systems
Where each format is used
ip linkon Linux andifconfigon macOS print colon format.ipconfig /allandgetmacon Windows print hyphen format.- Cisco IOS commands such as
show mac address-tableuse dotted format. - Many DHCP servers, firewalls and MDM tools accept colon format; some require uppercase.
What the bits mean
- The first three bytes are the OUI, which identifies the manufacturer.
- The least significant bit of the first byte marks a multicast address.
- The second least significant bit marks a locally administered address. Phones that use MAC randomisation for Wi-Fi privacy set this bit, so their first byte ends in 2, 6, A or E, for example
da:....
MAC addresses are case-insensitive; case only matters for systems that compare strings literally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a MAC address case-sensitive?
No. Uppercase and lowercase hex digits represent the same address, although some systems compare text literally.
What is the Cisco MAC format?
Three groups of four hex digits separated by dots, such as 001a.2b3c.4d5e.
Why does my phone show a different MAC on each Wi-Fi network?
Modern phones use randomised, locally administered MAC addresses for privacy.
How do I find my MAC address on Windows?
Run ipconfig /all or getmac in a command prompt and look for the physical address.