Spoof MAC Address to Bypass Internet Filtering

TL;DR

Some routers block internet access based on a device’s MAC address. You can often get around this by changing (spoofing) your device’s MAC address to one that isn’t blocked. This guide shows you how to do it on Windows, macOS and Linux.

How to Bypass MAC Address Filtering

1. Understand the Risks: Changing your MAC address can sometimes violate your internet service provider’s terms of service or network policies. It’s best to check before proceeding. Also, if multiple devices on your network use the same MAC address, you will have connection issues.
2. Find Your Current MAC Address: You need this to restore it later if needed.
   • Windows: Open Command Prompt (search for ‘cmd’) and type

     ipconfig /all

     . Look for ‘Physical Address’ under your network adapter.

   • macOS: Open System Preferences > Network, select your connection, click Advanced, then Hardware. The MAC address is labelled as “MAC Address”.
   • Linux: Open a terminal and type

     ifconfig

     . Look for ‘HWaddr’ under your network interface (e.g., eth0 or wlan0). Alternatively use

     ip link show

3. Change Your MAC Address: The method varies by operating system.
   • Windows:
     1. Open Device Manager (search for it).
     2. Expand ‘Network adapters’ and right-click your network connection.
     3. Select ‘Properties’.
     4. Go to the ‘Advanced’ tab.
     5. Find ‘Network Address’ or ‘MAC Address’ in the list.
     6. Click ‘Change…’.
     7. Uncheck ‘Use current address’.
     8. Enter a new, random MAC address (e.g., 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E). Make sure it’s in the correct format!
     9. Click ‘OK’ on all windows. You may need to restart your computer.
   • macOS:
     1. Disconnect from the network.
     2. Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities).
     3. Type

        sudo ifconfig en0 ether 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E

        (replace ‘en0’ with your interface name – use ‘ifconfig’ to find it, and replace the MAC address with a new one). You will be prompted for your password.

     4. Reconnect to the network. This change is temporary and resets on reboot.
   • Linux: (Example using ‘ifconfig’ – method varies by distribution)
     1. Disconnect from the network.
     2. Open a terminal.
     3. Type

        sudo ifconfig eth0 down

        (replace ‘eth0’ with your interface name).

     4. Type

        sudo ifconfig eth0 hw ether 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E

        (replace the MAC address with a new one).

     5. Type

        sudo ifconfig eth0 up

        .

     6. Reconnect to the network. This change may also be temporary. Consider editing your network configuration file for persistence.
4. Test Your Connection: Try accessing the internet. If it still doesn’t work, try a different MAC address.
5. Restore Your Original MAC Address (if needed): Repeat the steps above, but enter your original MAC address instead of a new one.