Jump to content

Disabling Private and Random Wi-Fi MAC addresses: Difference between revisions

From Swarthmore Knowledge Base
Imported from Confluence
 
No edit summary
 
Line 1: Line 1:
Starting with iOS 14, Apple introduced the private Wi-Fi address feature.  This feature creates a new private MAC address for each wireless network the device joins and is enabled by default.
Apple devices have a private Wi-Fi address feature.  This feature creates a new private MAC address for each wireless network the device joins and is enabled by default.


Android 10 and higher has a similar feature called “MAC address randomization”.
Android has a similar feature called “MAC address randomization”.


These features are in conflict with the MAC address registration used for the "SwatDevice" wireless network SSID. Since the MAC address is "new", the device is no longer recognized by the network and will be prompted to re-register. Once the private address function is disabled, the registered device will connect again. Since the private address function can be disabled on an individual Wi-Fi network, this only needs to be done for "SwatDevice" at this time.
These features are in conflict with the MAC address registration used for the "SwatDevice" wireless network SSID. Since the MAC address is "new", the device is no longer recognized by the network and will be prompted to re-register. Once the private address function is disabled, the registered device will connect again. Since the private address function can be disabled on an individual Wi-Fi network, this only needs to be done for "SwatDevice" at this time.
Line 13: Line 13:
These instructions are adapted from the following page https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211227.
These instructions are adapted from the following page https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211227.


=== '''Android 10 or higher'''<br> ===
=== '''Android 10 or higher''' ===


# Open the '''Settings''' app.
# Open the '''Settings''' app.
Line 23: Line 23:
# Select '''Privacy'''.
# Select '''Privacy'''.
# Select '''Use device MAC'''.
# Select '''Use device MAC'''.
 
[[Category:Networking]]
 
[[Category:Networking & Telecom]]
 
 
<!-- Imported from Confluence page id=19661579 (https://swatkb.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/IAA/pages/19661579/Disabling+Private+and+Random+Wi-Fi+MAC+addresses) -->

Latest revision as of 16:45, 21 May 2026

Apple devices have a private Wi-Fi address feature.  This feature creates a new private MAC address for each wireless network the device joins and is enabled by default.

Android has a similar feature called “MAC address randomization”.

These features are in conflict with the MAC address registration used for the "SwatDevice" wireless network SSID. Since the MAC address is "new", the device is no longer recognized by the network and will be prompted to re-register. Once the private address function is disabled, the registered device will connect again. Since the private address function can be disabled on an individual Wi-Fi network, this only needs to be done for "SwatDevice" at this time.

iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

  1. Open the Settings app, then tap Wi-Fi.
  2. Tap the Information button ℹ️ next to a network.
  3. Tap on Private Wi-Fi Address and select Off.

These instructions are adapted from the following page https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211227.

Android 10 or higher

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Select Network and Internet.
  3. Select WiFi.
  4. Connect to the SwatDevice wireless network.
  5. Tap the gear icon next to the current Wi-Fi connection.
  6. Select Advanced.
  7. Select Privacy.
  8. Select Use device MAC.