How to use the MAC Address Lookup tool
- Paste MAC addresses, one per line. Any format works: 00:1A:2B…, 00-1A-2B…, 001a.2b3c….
- Click “Look up”.
- Read the vendor for each address and copy the formats you need.
How MAC vendor lookup works
A MAC address is 48 bits long. The IEEE sells blocks of addresses to manufacturers, and the first part of the address identifies the block. A large block (MA-L, the classic OUI) fixes the first 24 bits; medium (MA-M) and small (MA-S) blocks fix 28 or 36 bits. The tool checks all three, longest match first, against the full IEEE registry, which is loaded into your browser in small parts as needed.
Why some addresses have no vendor
If the second-lowest bit of the first byte is set, the address is locally administered. These addresses are not assigned by the IEEE, so no vendor can be found. Today you see them constantly: iPhones, Android phones and Windows use random MAC addresses on Wi-Fi to stop tracking, and virtual machines and containers get locally administered addresses too. A first byte ending in 2, 6, A or E (for example x2:, x6:, xA:, xE:) is the quick visual tell.
- Unknown device on your network with a random MAC: probably a phone with privacy addressing. Check the DHCP hostname.
- Vendor shows a chip maker (Espressif, Realtek): it is an IoT device or a network card built into something else.
- Same vendor appearing on many switch ports: often a fleet of printers, phones or cameras.
Privacy
The vendor database is downloaded to your browser and searched there. The addresses you enter are not sent anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Can a MAC address tell me the exact device model?
No. It only identifies the company that registered the block, and sometimes that is the maker of the network chip, not of the device.
Can a MAC address be used to locate a device?
No. MAC addresses only travel inside the local network and contain no location data.
How current is the vendor list?
It is built from the public IEEE registry and updated with the site. Very new blocks may be missing for a few weeks.
What is the IPv6 EUI-64 address shown?
The link-local IPv6 address a device would build from this MAC using the older EUI-64 method. Many systems now use random interface IDs instead.